The Lost World of the Flood

Mythology, Theology, and the Deluge Debate

By: Tremper Longman III, John H. Walton, Stephen O. Moshier - contributor

Narrated by: Adam Verner

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

"The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth . . . and the ark floated on the face of the waters." (Gen 6:17-18 NRSV)

In our modern age the Genesis flood account has been probed and analyzed for answers to scientific, apologetic, and historical questions. It is a text that has called forth flood geology, fueled searches for remnants of the ark on Mount Ararat, and inspired a full-size replica of Noah's ark in a biblical theme park. Some claim that the very veracity of Scripture hinges on a particular reading of the flood narrative. But do we understand what we are reading? Longman and Walton urge us to hit the pause button and ask, what might the biblical author have been saying to his ancient audience?

As with other books in the Lost World series, The Lost World of the Flood is an informative and enlightening journey toward a more responsible reading of a timeless biblical narrative.

©2018 Tremper Longman III and John H. Walton (P)2019 Tantor

Intriguing

Interesting perspective on the Biblical account of the flood

Comprehensive flood ancient story

Food for thought for serious believers and unbelievers alike

For open minded readers

Lots of food for thought! Approach the content with an open mind and you will be rewarded with fresh insights.

Great book explaining the Biblical flood account

This book in one in a series of books which enable believers and nonbelievers to take the Bible seriously but not literally. It highlights where Christians throughout time have misinterpreted the Bible and God and invited ridicule by trying to make the Bible says things that was never intended. A huge thank you to the authors.

Very "Scientific"

The authors seem to focus more on science and other ANE writings than the Bible itself. The theories presented are, I believe possible, while the authors portray them as more than just theory. The reference to ANE writings was overwhelming, it seems they spent more time talking about those than the Bible toward the middle of the book. Overall the theories presented was intriguing and interesting enough to make me want to research them more. The book does a wonderful job not putting down one belief or another. While you can tell it leans a specific way it does not insult the other ways. I do encourage anyone reading/listening to this book to have an open mind otherwise you may just get "offended" by the suggested theories.

Literarily or Literally?

As our understanding in science, history, and ancient civilizations progresses through discovery and serious scholarship, the question of whether we should take the Bible literally or literarily is always going to surface. The Bible is a literary masterpiece and cannot be continued to be distorted into literal understandings without serious consequence. Those that blindly hold to literal readings choose to be ignorant of incredible scholarship and insight into the message the Bible actually expresses. This book is another well defended nail in the coffin of the perspective that the Bible should be ripped from its context and be treated as a modern accounting of history or science. Poetry and polemic are a much more accurate depiction of what it's pages contain. Instead of losing meaning or impact, understanding it in its natural context amplifies the Gospel and the Good Nature of God. Thank you to the writers for adding another "Lost World" book to further the understanding of the Text so near to our hearts. Great read, wonderful arguments, and serious critique without being disrespectful. Recommended.

Informative, but flawed by modern bias

Authors are deeply steeped in a modern, naturalistic methodological approach, if not directly, then indirectly - and even subconsciously - by the interpretive stream from which they derive their authority to commentate on the text. Read with caution. With such materials, the bottom line is this: if you want to know how Jesus (and, by Him, all of God’s Word) wants to be interpreted, look to the paradigm given by Him on the Emmaus road. If you want to know by what agency Jesus is interpreted, look to his final discourse in the book of John (esp. ch.14-16). And If you want to get into interpreting the original material itself, then most likely, you will need to learn the original languages and read the documents for yourself; shortcuts to this approach may prove to be detours in the final result. With this caution in mind, the careful student of Scripture may still be benefited from the material and perspective presented in this book, especially if he or she has not been thereto previously introduced.

A defence of a hyperbolic interpretation of the flood

Makes a compelling case for the usage of hyperbole in the historical passages of the Bible. However, when applied to the Flood account, this is less than compelling.

For example, it is not well established that the original Israelite audience could have recognized the relevant details as an obvious hyperbole. And should we really think that people from the age of megalithic architecture were incapable of constructing large wooden structures, even to the degree that such descriptions would be seen as hyperbole? After all, it is not that easy to cut through and move monumental blocks of stone.

The book also covers most of the relevant fields of evidence, including biblical interpretation, mesopotamian flood narratives, archaeology, universal flood mythology as well as a scientific critique of Flood Geology.

I found the arguments weak or superficial on multiple points, especially the critique of alternative theories. The arguments against the local flood interpretation have a number of important points, but don't engage in a dialog with more sophisticated versions of the local flood account, so some options are abandoned on weak evidential grounds. A similar tendency can be seen when discussing global flood accounts.

However, this lack of depth seems to be a common problem with books on the topic, and in comparison The Lost World of the Flood is a fairly good introduction to the topic.

Great book, but probably wouldn't convert.

I liked the book, bought into it, but I don't believe it would have convert anyone who wasn't already part of the way there. Must read other Lost World books to fully grasp this one.

Definitely worth the read/listen

Don’t agree with every conclusion or even assumption or “fact” put forth but this needs to be part of the conversation. Good job!

Good information until it wasn’t

A good book but another example of this saying I coined.. “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝗼𝗺𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝗼𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝗺𝐚𝐧 𝗺𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝗺𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝗼𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝗼𝐮𝐥.“ 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝗼𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝗼𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐬𝐢𝗺𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝗺𝐩𝐥𝐞... 𝐒𝗼𝗺𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲.. 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝗺.. 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝗺𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝗼𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝗼𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐮𝐩𝗼𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞. 𝐆𝗼𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝗼𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝗼𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥..