One of the best known personalities on television today, and one whose comments I typically respect, was defending the Bible on his show recently, but actually did more harm than good. I’m not interested in evaluating this individual’s motives, but more concerned about how his views of the Bible are typical of “well-meaning,” Bible-believing people today.
The guest who was on this show is a staunch atheist and demeans all who believe in God and the Bible. He commented, with amaze and disgust, “Sixty percent of the American people believe the Noah’s Ark story is literally true….Why is stuff in the Bible untrue?” The host replied, “Well, because it’s allegorical…these are parables. They’re designed to teach you a greater truth… It’s not a literalist interpretation, the Bible.” Later, he remarked, “I respect the Bible, and I take it as an allegorical book…I’m a Christian.”
What a pitiful (yea, outright fallacious) attempt to defend the Bible! He basically threw the Book into the trash by claiming the stories in it, including the one about Noah’s Ark, are allegorical and not literal. That’s not a defense of the Bible! That’s a denial of God’s Holy Word!
Allegorical is “the expression, by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions, of truths or generalizations about human existence.” So, the “defense” made about the account of Noah’s ark in the Bible is that it was symbolic and fictional, intended to teach or represent truths about life. Is that true?
God, through Isaiah, taught Genesis 6-9 was literally true. “This is like the waters of Noah to Me…I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth” (54:9).
Jesus taught Genesis 6-9 was literally true. “As it was in the days of Noah…They ate, they drank…until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-27).
Peter taught Genesis 6-9 was literally true. “…In the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Pet. 3:20; cf. 2 Pet. 2:5).
The Hebrews writer taught Genesis 6-9 was literally true. “By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the saving of his household…” (Heb. 11:7).
If the Bible is allegorical, the whole story of redemption would be allegorical. If even one part is allegorical (like Noah), it makes those who said it was literally true to be liars or fools. Either way, it has no value. However, honest research and careful study finds it accurate and true every time.