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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Adam, Eve, Noah; Real People? or Myths?
Before Charles Darwin came to his conclusion that evolution is more credible than creation, he had to conclude that the biblical account of “beginnings” is unreliable. More recent writers have decided that the Genesis account of creation is mostly filled with “myths and legends.” Bultmann declared Genesis is merely Israel’s “creation myths.” Bernard Ramm wrote that Genesis “is a purified ancient world myth.” Is their assessment of Genesis correct? Are they right in saying the first eleven chapters of Genesis are purely figurative, mythical, not literal?
First, allow me to assert that the Bible often uses figures and metaphors. But there is nothing— repeat nothing—in these chapters or in subsequent biblical material that indicates they are anything less than an historical account of creation and early man.
There are several ways of attempting to prove this point, but if we truly believe the Bible to be God’s Word given to man by means of “inspiration,” (see 2 Timothy 3:16f, 2 Peter 1:20-21), we must allow the entire Bible to enter into the debate. When we do so, we find these eleven chapters to be in complete harmony with every other part of the Bible.
Therefore, note the following as descriptive of the evidence for the historical reliability of Genesis 1-11:
All major characters and all major events in Genesis 1-11 are also mentioned elsewhere in the Bible and are regarded as literal people and literal events.
- The Adam and Eve narrative is assumed to be literal in the New Testament in 1 Timothy 2:13-14: “Adam was first formed, then Eve.” Nothing here is mythical. In fact, Paul uses this point to substantiate a principle of marriage in the Bible.
- Adam himself is mentioned by name seven times in the New Testament, including 1 Corinthians 15:45: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” If the “first Adam” was merely a mythical character, what about the “last Adam,” Christ? Is He mythical as well? Adam is mentioned by name in connection with the first sin (Romans 5:14), and Enoch is said to be “seventh from Adam,” Jude 1:14. No, there are no myths in Genesis chapters 1-11.
- The temptation of Eve is given historical status in 2 Corinthians 11:3: “…the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety.” No mythical characters there.
- Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:1-17, sons of Adam and Eve, were part of the first murder and the first death. That is the very point made in Matthew 23:35, that Abel’s blood was the first to be shed. Even Hebrews 11:4 describes the sacrifices made by each, and that Abel, though dead, still speaks. No myths here!
- Enoch, whose son was the oldest man recorded (Genesis 5:19-24), is so described in Luke 3:37, and the fact that he did not die is found in Hebrews 11:5. A mythical character here would make no sense at all.
- The narrative of Noah and the flood is mentioned many times, not only in the Bible, but indirectly in secular history. Even the names of his sons, the number of those saved in the ark, the preparing of the ark—they are all authenticated. Note Hebrews 11:7: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of righteousness by faith.”
When the Holy Spirit sought to emphasize the plight of Israel in Ezekiel 14:20, Noah was a literal character: “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.”
No basis exists on which to deny that events and characters found in Genesis 1-11 were literal people and literal events. The only reason one would even suggest that is to cast doubt on the Bible’s credibility.
Again, we emphasize: many figures of speech, metaphors, etc., are found in the Bible. Just as we use them today, the Bible uses them. However, that does not diminish the Genesis account of creation one iota. No—there are no myths in Genesis 1-11.
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“It is the privilege of men to dispense with an historical Adam if they so desire. But they do not at the same time have the privilege of claiming that Jesus Christ spoke the truth. Adam and Jesus Christ stand or fall together, for Jesus said, “If ye believed Moses, ye would believe me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” John 5:46-47.
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