Throughout cultures that are geographically, religiously, and intellectually diverse, we have sources and people groups such as the Bible, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Australians, Chinese, and even modern scholars which tell of a catastrophic flood event in earth’s history. Some believe that there may be over five hundred different flood legends worldwide.²2 We can compare the flood stories of the world to the Bible, which we as Christians hold to be absolute truth. What are the similarities and differences between these stories, and if there was a worldwide flood, then why are these different stories so - different?

In Genesis we are told of a worldwide flood which destroyed all living creatures, both man and beast, because of their wickedness. Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord."³ We are told that Noah walked with God and was a just man who was perfect in his generations. God spoke to Noah and warned him that he should build an ark out of gopherwood and cover it both inside and out with pitch. Noah, his wife, his three sons and his son's wives were to be preserved inside the ark during the coming flood of judgment. They were to bring two of every animal, male and female inside the ark. Being six hundred years old at the time of the flood, Noah was warned again by God one week before the deluge began. The great waters poured upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

Unearthed among ruins of an ancient library in Nineveh, the Epic of Gilgamesh contains a flood story as well. The story bears some resemblance to that of Genesis, along with numerous differences.⁴ Two of the most remarkable similarities are the extent and cause of the flood; both Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh state that the flood was a worldwide consequence of the evilness of mankind. Also, both Noah and the hero of the Gilgamesh story, Upnapishtim, were righteous. A major difference in the two accounts, however, is that of length of the flood; Genesis says that it lasted forty day and forty nights whereas the Gilgamesh legend says that it lasted only six days and six nights. Further, the Epic tells of not one sovereign God as in Genesis, but a plethora of deities. Following the flood, both Upnapishtim and Noah made sacrifices to their God/gods, and they in turn were blessed. Interestingly, the two stories may possibly be traced to the same general area; Mt. Ararat and Mt. Nisir which were located about three-hundred miles apart in the Middle East.

The Australian Aborigines also tell of a flood story, yet this time there are not many similarities to Genesis.⁵ Wickedly, mischievous children caused it by hurting an innocent bird, and this act angered the gods. Filling the sky, a storm cloud appeared, and the earth was flooded so high that only the tops of a few enormous mountains were not covered. One man rapidly tried to escape the flood by rowing his canoe to the top of a mountain, where he arrived safely with several other survivors. The people who did not reach the mountaintops were killed. This legend differs in respect to the mountaintops not being covered. Although the acts of the children were not found in Genesis, this symbolically represents the evil of the people upon the earth.

Chinese legends tell of a massive flood as well. This story seems quite similar to that of Genesis. Immense flooding covered the entire earth, and only one family, “the family of Fuhi”⁶ was saved. This family consisted of a man, his wife, three sons, and three daughters, who were all saved alive in a boat. The story continues to draw similarities to the Genesis account as it says that these eight people were the only souls alive upon the earth and thus had to repopulate it.

In conclusion, we should examine the two possible causes of the differences in these accounts. First, these early cultures may have simply gotten the facts confused as the story was passed around. Or secondly, they may have changed it purposely, trying to fit an actual historical event into their mythology. To determine which one of these happenings are most likely true, we should examine another flood story circulating in modern times.

In our own day and age, another flood myth is rising. It is not solely circulated by people ignorant of God's truth, but also by the church.⁷ This is caused by the immense compromising that is going on among Christians today. Buying into supposedly more scientific claims, these people are all too eager to discount the
Bible as the errant, rather than inerrant, Word of God. Instead of searching the scriptures daily to see if these things are true like the Bereans did⁸, they search the thoughts of scientists and then discredit the Bible. Next they try to claim that there was no worldwide flood, and that it was only a localized event. If Christians can do this, is there any doubt that early pagan cultures could have known the true flood story but purposely changed it to fit their desired beliefs and religion? The scriptures say that “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened”⁹ and “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”¹⁰

These differing stories help to affirm the truths found in God's word. By recognizing that cultures in geographically diverse areas have legends of a flood that are so similar, we realize that the flood must have been worldwide. By analyzing the facts of differing religious worldviews present in these societies, we realize that the story, perhaps once well known in its truth and entirety, may have been purposely changed to meet the demands of a particular society's religious ideas. Amidst the myriads of details that differ, one main similarity and one main difference may be seen. Primarily, the stories are similar in that the entire earth was flooded and life was destroyed, while virtuous people were preserved. As would be expected, however, these cultures all add the ideologies of their religions to the story and distort it. Ultimately, although these stories may encourage Christian belief of their scriptures. The true flood story is accepted by faith, scientific evidence, and the words of Jesus: "as it was in the days of Noah..."

Quick Quiz:

1) True/False - Flood stories from different cultures all share thee things in common:
a. a global flood
b. eight souls being saved from total destruction
c. the flood being a result of man's wickedness.

2) The Biblical flood story says that the following were saved alive on the ark:

a. Eight people, two of every clean animal, and seven of every unclean animal
b. Five people, seven of every clean animal, two of every unclean animal
c. Eight people, seven of every clean animal, two males of each unclean animal
d. Eight people, seven of every clean animal, two of every unclean animal

3) Differences between the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis flood stories DO NOT include which of the following:

a. The length of time when the flood waters poured down upon the earth
b. The geographical area - one story occurred in Canada while the other occurred in the Middle East
c. The names of the main character saved from the flood
d. The gods who caused the flood to be brought upon man for his wickedness

4) All of the following are similarities between the Genesis and Australian-Aborigine flood stories, EXCEPT:

a. They both were caused by a God/god
b. They both were a result of wickedness or wicked acts of people on earth
c. They both state that the flood covered the tops of every mountain
d. They both contain a part about one of the survivor’s giving a sacrifice to his God/god

Answers:

1: False, 2:d, 3:b, 4:c

Endnotes:

up¹ The New King James Version Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

up² “Flood Legends from Around the World.” <http://www.nwcreation.net/noahlegends.html> (October 14, 2004)

up³ See “Genesis 6-7” The New King James Version Bible." Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

up⁴ Lorey, Frank. M.A. "The Flood of Noah and the Flood of Gilgamesh". 2004. <http://www.icr.org/pubs/imp/imp-285.htm> (October 7, 2004)

up⁵ Barangga, Albert. "Australian Aboriginal Flood Stories, The Flood". <http://aig.gospelcom.net/docs/3765.asp>(October 6, 2004)

up⁶ “Flood Legends from Around the World.” <http://www.nwcreation.net/noahlegends.html> (October 14, 2004)

up⁷ “Church leader ‘aghast’ at belief in a worldwide Flood?” July 15, 2002. <http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0711ark.asp> (October 13, 2004)

up⁸ See “Acts 17:10-11" The New King James Version Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

up⁹ See “Romans 1:21” The New King James Version Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

up¹⁰ See “Romans 1:25” The New King James Version Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982.

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