Note: This post should not be confused with a similar attack by the skeptic of How long did the flood last?
For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How long was the ark afloat?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
For seven months or so.
“In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:4)
For at least ten months.
“The water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible.”” (Genesis 8:5)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit Genesis 8:4 as affirming the claim “The ark floated seven months or so” against Genesis 8:5 as affirming “The sfs”
- One must always ask if the skeptics interpret each verses properly. It turns out one of the error the skeptics makes is the claim of how long the ark was floating for.
- When Genesis 8:4 says “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month” it does not mean ““The ark floated seven months or so” as the skeptics claimed. The “seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month” is a designation of the month of the calendar year and the day in that month, kind of like how we say our seventh month of the year is understood as what we often call “July.” That’s not the same thing as saying the ark floated for seven months as the skeptics claimed. If one looks at Genesis 7:11 it tells us when the flooding began: “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.” From Genesis 7:11 we see that the flood began on the second month of the year, during the seventeenth day. Based upon Genesis 7:11 when we turn to Genesis 8:4 when it talks about the seventeenth day during the seventh month we should understand that the activity in Genesis 8:4 it has been five months since the storm began.
- When Genesis 8:5 says “in the tenth month, on the first day of the month” it does not mean ““The ark floated for at least ten months” as the skeptics claimed. Similar to Genesis 8:4, the “tenth month, on the first day of the month” is a designation of the month of the calendar year and the day in that month, kind of like how we say our tenth month of the year is understood as what we often call “October.” That’s not the same thing as saying the flood was for ten months as the skeptics think. Based upon Genesis 7:11, Genesis 8:5 when it talks about the first day during the tenth month we should understand that the activity in Genesis 8:5 it has been seven months since the storm began.
- The skeptic was right though to interpret Genesis 8:4 as a passage that tells us when the ark stopped floating. The second half of the verse states “the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.” This of course took place “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month” as the first half of the verse stated.
- Genesis 8:4 does not contradict with Genesis 8:5 since Genesis 8:5 was misinterpreted by the skeptic to be about when the ark stop floating. Look again at Genesis 8:5 and note it does not say anything of when the ark stopped floating: “The water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains became visible.” While it talks about when the tops of the mountains became visible that is not the same thing as when the ark stopped floating. In fact when ships are place in dry dock it will stop floating first before one can see visibly what’s underneath the ship. Likewise Genesis 8:4 tells us when the ark stopped floating while Genesis 8:5 tells us when the rain water receded enough for Noah and his family to see visibly the mountain tops.
- There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] How long was the ark afloat? […]
If they don’t believe there is a God then why point out so called discrepancies. If there be no God, there is no word from God to be written. Yet, they use the Bible for point of argument. That is a discrepancy in itself. They are a fairly tale living in their own fairy tale or is that possible? 🤪
It dawn on me you are right and well put of these atheist are living in their own fantasy. So ironic
Very straightforward. Thanks for clearing that up.
Blessings.
You’re welcome! Last night some of my comments on people’s blog seem to get caught in WordPress spam filter (I think when I have a lot of late night comments and people don’t respond for hours WordPress thinks I’m spamming). Can you check to see if I have any caught in you Spam filter? Hope you are having a blessed day!
They all seem to have come through with no problem. Blessings.
Thank you for this lesson on Biblical time and date, Jim! I’ve said a lot on these skeptics so on a different note, perhaps someday in heaven, we will know exactly where those water went/drained; it did not just evaporate and form into clouds or the cycle continues. Yes, we lived in faith that it was done by the omnipotent GOD.
You’re welcome! I wonder about the water too. Like you said we believe it happened by faith in our all powerful God. Which is a great theme for your current series (faith). I’ve been enjoying it. In the end People need to have their faith in the Living Water (Jesus), amen?
Amen! There is no other way than the Living Water, Jim!
Thorough job refuting this!!
You’re welcome! Emailed you by the way about the church service super late last night…hope you got it!
Yes I did! Thank you! I have Zoom downloaded for Sunday!!! I’m assuming it’s 11am your time 2pm my time?!
Thank you for refuting this shamelessly poor excuse for an alleged Bible contradiction. Steve/Stephen Well’s lack of anything resembling critical rigor is amazing. I see the SAB is self-published. Not surprised.
Indeed his lack of reasonable reading of the Bible is amazing that people gives him a platform. He’s like the flat earther and Aliens conspiracies theorists compared to those who do study and read the Bible including every day ordinary Bible reader like you and I: He’s just whacky! Praying for you all in ROC btw from reading the news…
Thanks, brother! The affected area is near the city center, about 8 miles from us. Our oldest son drives to/from work directly through that area. I told him he needs to find a different route. He’s really disturbed by the social upheaval in general and my wife and I have used the opportunity to continue to share the Gospel with him.
The skeptics is suppose to be higher evolved reasoning and enlightened humans, but this shows they just don’t know anything about interpreting the Bible. A Bible quoted out of context doesn’t prove their point. You explained why this is garbage.
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Thank you for refuting this poor excuse to attempt to show that there is a Bible contradiction.
The skeptic has no shame.
This is a poor excuse of an alleged contradiction indeed as you said. I hope God uses this post to draw people to Himself and also help believers have increase confidence in His Word. Have a blessed day today!
Thank you !
Blessings for your weekend ministry .
Well done
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? How long was the ark afloat? […]
Some treat them as an authority of Bible errors but that website have been making stuff up out of thin air for years.
Those skeptics know nothing and their ignorance is shown when they quote from that Website
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? How long was the ark afloat? […]
This is a great article. I’m looking forward to more of your responses. Keep up the good work brother
Awesome refutation!
Thanks! I’m watcching Fantastic Four tonight inspired by your posts on Marvel movies lol! I think you have blogged about Fantastic Four?
No, I haven’t blogged about Fantastic Four, but I’ll be interested in hearing your opinion on it! (I saw part of the first Fantastic Four on TV when I was very young, but haven’t seen the whole movie or the other two.)
(Forgot to add: hope you enjoy it!)
[…] How long was the ark afloat? We already answered it here. One of the passage stated “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4). I love how there’s a play on words: “rested” in Hebrew is playing on the name of Noah. Noah’s ark “rested” on the seventh month. Way after the Noahic age, according to Leviticus 23:23-36 during the time of Moses we see various holidays implemented on the seventh month (the month of Tishri). This include the Feast of Trumpets, Tabernacles and Scared Assembly. Leviticus 23:27 also indicate the seventh month was the month of atonement. This theme of “rest” and “atonement” from the seventh month makes me think of how Christ is our rest and atonement. Have you found your rest in Christ by trusting in the atonement of Christ? […]
It is incredible how some people make fun of religious people not having ability reason to think for one self then turn around and without having read the book listen to everything they are told by someone who pride themselves as “skeptics.” Then they argue incorrectly against Christians, misrepresenting the BIble’s content along the way. Professing to be wiser than the Christians ironically they still can not see that they have been manipulated all their lives.
[…] Note: This post should be confused with a similar attack by the skeptic of How long was the ark afloat? […]
[…] How long was the ark afloat? […]