Was the Genesis flood universal?
Introduction. I have several questions pertaining to different aspects of the Genesis flood which I shall attempt to address in different, interrupted replies. The first is: was Noah's flood local or global?
According to the Bible, there was a flood. If one believes the Bible, one believes in the Noah's flood (Gen. 6: 14-ch. 8). The Bible is explicit about the fact of the flood (Gen. 7). The source of the flood waters was both "rain" and "the foundations of the great deep broke up," - underground water (Gen. 7: 11-12). According to Gen. 7:19, the "waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered". The purpose of the deluge was spiritual purification and the elimination of all humanity except for Noah and his immediate family (Gen. 6: 5, 7, 17).
How do we know the flood was universal? There is the belief among some religious people that the flood did occur, but it was limited to Noah's local area. The description of the ark suggests universality (Gen. 6: 14-16). In view of the revealed facts, the ark would have had a displacement of about 43,000 tons, the same capacity as the Titanic. Why would such a huge ship be needed if the flood was only local? We are told the flood covered all the high hills, and the mountains (Gen. 7: 19-20). The science of hydrology would suggest such a depth of water, when leveled out, would cover the earth. Moreover, there are about 30 expressions found in Genesis six through nine which indicate the flood was worldwide. Beloved, if the flood was only local, why go to all the trouble of building the ark, animal gathering, etc.? Why not just migrate to another area?
In like manner, the New Testament indicates the deluge was global (1 Pet. 3: 20; 2 Pet. 2: 5; 3: 5-6). Geologic as well as fossil evidence also show the flood was universal in its scope.
According to the Bible, there was a flood. If one believes the Bible, one believes in the Noah's flood (Gen. 6: 14-ch. 8). The Bible is explicit about the fact of the flood (Gen. 7). The source of the flood waters was both "rain" and "the foundations of the great deep broke up," - underground water (Gen. 7: 11-12). According to Gen. 7:19, the "waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered". The purpose of the deluge was spiritual purification and the elimination of all humanity except for Noah and his immediate family (Gen. 6: 5, 7, 17).
How do we know the flood was universal? There is the belief among some religious people that the flood did occur, but it was limited to Noah's local area. The description of the ark suggests universality (Gen. 6: 14-16). In view of the revealed facts, the ark would have had a displacement of about 43,000 tons, the same capacity as the Titanic. Why would such a huge ship be needed if the flood was only local? We are told the flood covered all the high hills, and the mountains (Gen. 7: 19-20). The science of hydrology would suggest such a depth of water, when leveled out, would cover the earth. Moreover, there are about 30 expressions found in Genesis six through nine which indicate the flood was worldwide. Beloved, if the flood was only local, why go to all the trouble of building the ark, animal gathering, etc.? Why not just migrate to another area?
In like manner, the New Testament indicates the deluge was global (1 Pet. 3: 20; 2 Pet. 2: 5; 3: 5-6). Geologic as well as fossil evidence also show the flood was universal in its scope.