This is Essay6b in a
series of debate topics between CSFNM and NMSR.
See CSFNM Homepage for details.
Space does not permit addressing all six "inconsistencies."
The "inconsistency" between Genesis 12 and Acts 7:4 can be resolved
with
study. It is one thing to say that everything in the bible is truthful, and
another to say that everything is true. For example, Genesis 4:3 is a
truthful account of Satan's words, but his words were a lie. A similar
situation exists between Genesis and Acts, though not to the same extreme.
Acts 7:4 is a truthful account of what Stephen said during his trial. That
Stephen misunderstood or misstated the chronology does not impugn the
accuracy of the Genesis narrative.
The "inconsistency" with the animals can be resolved with study.
Genesis 6:19-20 indicates that all animals were to be loaded in pairs, a male
and a female. Genesis 7:2-3 gives additional information. Because some
animals were considered "clean" there was a need to have more than
one pair.
Mr. Thomas correctly observes that dietary laws were introduced 1,000
years after the flood (compare Gen. 9:3 with Deut. 14:3-21). Therefore, the
function of the "clean" animals was not dietary, it was sacrificial
(Gen:
4:4). Sacrifice had occurred from the beginning and the knowledge of what
was acceptable would have been common.
The "inconsistency" with the Nephilim can be resolved with a literal
interpretation and an acceptance of the supernatural. The "sons of
God" are
wicked angels. The "daughters of men" are human women. Their
genetically
mixed offspring were giants. Human procreation cannot produce giants. New
genetic information is required. That the nephilim reappeared after the
flood suggests a reoccurrence of activity by wicked angels.
The "inconsistency" with the extent of the flood can be resolved
with
study. Mr. Thomas turns "can mean many things" into "cannot mean
world-wide." Evolutionists find justification for their rejection of a
world-wide flood in the semantic range of erets. However, even evolutionists
now recognize that all of the continents use to be a single super-continent,
they call it Pangaea. Given that Genesis 8:9 uses the adjective
"whole" to
describe the amount of land that was covered means the entire super-continent
was covered.
Mr. Thomas' focus on the semantic range of erets may be technical, but
it is also a diversion. Genesis 7:19-20 gives the best information
concerning the extent of the flood. All of the mountains everywhere were
under at least 15 cubits of water (22.5 feet). Given that the ark was 30
cubits high (Gen. 6:15), it is likely this means that the ark was buoyant and
able to float freely over the highest mountains. Only a world-wide flood
could produce this effect.
Inconsistencies can be resolved through additional study, a literal
interpretation, and the elimination of anti-supernatural biases. There is
one final requirement, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The unsaved cannot
accept the things of God. They are foolishness to him, because they are
spiritually appraised.