Month: May 2019

Genesis: Was there a Flood?

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Genesis Chapters 7 and 8

Almost all cultures have some type of “flood” story but the Bible is the only version that explains the flood in terms of man’s sin.  In most cultures, the flood is the result of the gods being bored with, or tiring of, man.  See Britannica Encyclopedia for more information on flood stories from different cultures.

Critics point to The Epic of Gilgamesh (written during the Sumer Empire) as being the source for the biblical Flood.  I had never heard of The Epic of Gilgamesh until I began this study.  Apparently, it is one of the classic epics, even pre-dating Homer.  If you enjoy reading ancient texts, here is a link to the Penguin Classic on Amazon. Kindle copies are also available.

How long was the Flood?

How long did the Flood last?  Many scholars interpret the 40 days and 40 nights as symbolic rather than actual time, especially since the number 40 indicates completeness in Middle Eastern cultures.  The same has been said of the 150 days.  It is merely an approximation. 

I tried to put together a time line for the Flood, but I couldn’t quite get the numbers to add up.  There is a timeline based on months and another based on days.  And of course, there is the question of how many days were in a biblical month. 

  • Flood started in the 2nd month and 17th day of year 1
  • Flood ended in the 2nd month and 27th day of year 2
Months of Flood

If I look at the months and if we assume an average of 30 days per month, the total days come to 371.

Days of Rain

Some scholars suggest that the 150 days of flood waters and the 150 days before the Ark rested should be viewed as the same 150 days, which makes the flood 244 days long.  Some timelines include the first 40 days in the first 150 days, which makes the flood 354 days long. 

If I look at the days, I calculate 394 days. So which is it 371, 394, 244 or 354?

Dr. Danny R. Faulkner gives a comprehensive discussion of how the length of the flood has been calculated in his article How Long Did the Flood Last? He concludes with the following statement:

“What difference does it make how long the Flood was? Ultimately, it matters relatively little. However, from time to time we are asked about the Flood’s duration, and it behooves us to offer the best answer. . . . However, to dogmatically state that “The Flood was x days long” elevates one’s opinion, and it ignores the fact that others with an equal commitment to the authority of Scripture have reached different conclusions. ”

I have to admit it was nice to come across an article where the author was willing to admit that the Bible is not clear on a topic and to suggest a response that begins with “I think.”

Genesis: That Snake!

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GENESIS 3

Where’s Satan in Chapters 3 and 4? The Bible only mentions a serpent. If you believe the serpent was Satan, then how do you answer such questions as:

  • Did Satan take on the form of a snake?
  • Is Satan actually a snake?
  • Did Satan possess a snake?

Metaphor

I never really thought about how my view of Satan impacts my belief in other supernatural theories. I don’t believe snakes have or had rational thought and speech so that leaves me with shape-shifters and demonic possession. Or, I could opt for the metaphorical interpretation which views Adam and Eve as representative of man and views Satan as representing man’s shortcomings. Whether they existed and in what form doesn’t matter.

An article entitled “Interpretations of the Fall of Man” has a reasonable summation of the current views of the fall as allegorical, metaphorical or historical with a slight doctrinal bias. Or, you can use the online Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.  Be warned. The site is academic and has multiple links to follow to the point you may never return.

Supernatural

So, demonic possession or shape-shifting? To be honest, I don’t want to believe in either one. Along with demonic possession comes exorcism and that invokes visions of “The Exorcist.” If I believe in shape-shifting, does that mean I have to believe in vampires, werewolves and the zombie apocalypse?

I believe humans fell from grace; beyond that I don’t know. Does that lessen my faith? I don’t think so. It just means the Bible doesn’t stipulate and I’m not going to speculate.

Genesis: Garden

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Genesis 3

How did the poor apple became the temptation fruit? John Milton. According to an article by Nina Martyris, John Milton was responsible for making the fruit an apple when he used apple instead of fruit in “Paradies Lost”. See NPR, The Salt, April 30, 2017. Jewish tradition has the fruit as a pomegrante, fig or other native Mediterrean fruit. The Bible only says “fruit.”

Ever wonder how much time passed between creation and the fall? I always thought it was a short time, because of the way the events were taught in church. But, the Bible doesn’t specify a time frame. However that hasn’t stopped people from speculating.

Sex in the Garden?

Some suggest a short time because no children are mentioned prior to the fall. These people must assume that conception and birthing were the same before as after the fall. We know that it isn’t true since childbirth was to become painful, implying that it wasn’t painful before. Do we even know if sex as we know it existed before the Fall?

Who said Satan has no patience?

Others believe it was a short time because Satan wouldn’t wait around before causing trouble. Plus, Satan would want to deceive Adam and Eve before they came to trust and believe in God. Again, a lot of assumptions. Who said Satan has no patience? Since when does time have anything to do with trusting God? Look at the Israelites. They experienced God’s miracles throughout the Old Testament and that didn’t stop them from disobedience. (See answersingenesis.org for arguments related to the subject.)

Fake News?

Few believe it was a long time. Personally, I don’t think the fall was immediate, but exactly how long I have no clue. What I do know is I would rather say the Bible doesn’t say than perpetuate “facts” based on assumptions that others accept without question.

The map shows a possible location in modern day Iraq for the Garden of Eden; another possible location is to the north closer to the Black Sea. But no one knows that location of the Garden of Eden.

Have you contributed to fake news today?

Photo by icon0.com from Pexels

Jesus in Hell

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Sunday morning.

In the middle of the sermon, Pastor says: Jesus went to Hell during the three days between his death and resurrection.

Say what?

Where in the Bible does it say Jesus spent time in Hell?

How did I miss that?

Fake News?

Turns out I didn’t miss a thing. What I missed were the theological disagreements as to where Christ was between his death and resurrection.

Simple me. I never gave it a second thought. I thought Christ went to heaven. I’m not going to go into all the details regarding the philosophical and theological reasons for the belief that Christ was in hell, but I will give you an overview with biblical references to read for yourself.

Hell?

There is still disagreement among those who believe Christ spent time in hell. Some scholars agree with John Calvin that Christ endured hell while he was on the cross. Others state that Christ was in a state of death until his resurrection, which was like a hell. Still others believe Christ descended into hell.

For these theologians, Christ could not have gone to heaven because he was carrying the sins of the world. Apparently, going nowhere wasn’t an option. Christ had to go somewhere until the sins were removed. For Calvin and others, Christ experienced hell on the cross, but once he died physically the sin was removed and he could return to heaven. If sin was not removed on the cross, then where did Jesus spend the three (3) days since heaven wasn’t an option?

The following verses are used as support for the theory that Christ spent time in Hell.

  • 1 Peter 4:6
  • 1 Peter 3:18-20
  • Ephesians 4:8-9
  • Romans 10:6-7
  • Acts 2:27

A Zondervan article lists three (3) verses in support of Christ spending the three (3) days in heaven.

  • Luke 23:43
  • Luke 23:46
  • John 19:30

These are the verses that I am most familiar with. They contain the words Christ spoke on the cross.

I don’t care where Christ was for the three (3) days between his death and resurrection. I don’t think the answer impacts my faith. What matters are the church leaders who make statements about what the Bible says that are not based on what is written but on what is theorized.

Honestly, how hard is it to say: I believe that during the time between Christ’s death and resurrection, He descended into Hell; however, other theologians or biblical scholars do not agree. They believe he ascended to heaven.

Genesis: Cain’s Curse

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Genesis Chapter 4

I always viewed the Mark of Cain as a negative. Cain was marked because he had killed his brother. The mark of Cain has been interpreted to mean “the curse of Cain,” which could be passed down from generation to generation. Throughout history, people have used the “mark of Cain” as a basis for discrimination and racism.

For example, many Americans during the Civil War believed the mark of Cain was dark skin, which they used as justification for slavery; i.e., descendants of Cain were cursed. Slavery was the result of Cain’s curse passed from generation to generation. See PBS’ series “This Far by Faith” for information on how the issue of slavery divided Protestants.

I wasn’t aware of how the issue of slavery led to the formation of the Northern and Southern Baptists or created the division within the Methodist Episcopal Church. The PBS series gives a fascinating look into the impact of church doctrine on society as a whole.

Protection

As I read these verses in Genesis, I see the mark of Cain as a way for God to protect Cain as he wandered the earth. It wasn’t a mark to separate him from the rest of the world. It was a way to give Cain another chance.

One reason I think God was giving Cain a second chance is based on verse 4:13. The NIV, as do most versions, translates the verse as “punishment is too great.” However, the word for punishment can also mean iniquity or guilt. If guilt is substituted for punishment, Cain is saying that his guilt is overwhelming. Because he is sorry for what he has done, God is willing to protect him.

A second reason also rests on how a verse is translated. As discussed, verse 4:8 is translated differently in the Christian verses Masoretic texts. If Cain lured Abel into the field as the Christian translations suggest, the murder would have been premeditated and the punishment should have been death, according to the Old Testament laws. Since God didn’t kill Cain, I think the Hebrew and Aramaic texts are correct. Cain came upon Abel in the field; they may have argued and Cain killed him in anger. It was a crime of passion.