Did Jesus Think Noah Was Real?

(5 Minute Read. 2Feb2022)

What is the most disputed and disbelieved book of the Bible? The most attacked book of Scripture has always been Genesis. In particular, the Genesis record of Noah and the Flood is often mocked and scorned. Is that justified?

Its drama is unquestioned. The account of Noah’s Flood in Genesis 6-9 is one of the most enthralling and iconic historical records possessed by mankind. It’s the account of the end of the world as man knew it. The world’s most famous mariner rescued animals and his family of eight from a world-destroying flood in a massive ship.

Its fame is unequaled. Oral traditions and histories of hundreds of people groups all over the world reflect the historical account in Genesis.

But is the account true? Or is it just a fable as so many people suppose? Did Jesus view it as a myth?

Did Noah, son of Lamech, really exist in human history? Did this man build an enormous Ark? Did a real Noah escape a Great Flood that covered the entire earth?

Many people answer “No” to these questions — even many Christians. Many people regard the Genesis record of Noah, the Ark, and the Flood as a complete myth and fairy tale. Do these quotes from the Internet sound familiar?

“Yes, Noah’s Flood may have happened, but not over the whole earth.”

“The ark NEVER was! It’s just a fairy tale. Not even today would it be possible to build a construction that big only using wood. Only fools believe that the story could be true.”

“The Noachian Flood story cannot describe a whole-earth flood, but it could only represent a large regional flood.”

“The Titanic actually existed, while “Noah’s Ark” didn’t. It was just a story.”

“And is it possible that a human at that time period can build the Ark? No. A human might be able to do one or two of the things in the story but there is no way to make the whole story work. None of it adds up.”

“Even paper boats are bigger than Noah’s Ark. Anything is bigger than something that never existed.”

“I’m not sure how you can honestly compare the size of a completely imaginary vessel, Noah’s Ark, to that of a real ship, the Titanic. The mythical biblical story of the Great Flood says that Noah’s Ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.”

“There is literally nothing in the story of the Ark that is possible, logical, or true. Even suggesting it makes “there may be fairies at the bottom of the garden” look like a rigorous, scientific hypothesis.”

Can We Know the Truth about Noah?

Is there any credible attestation to Noah, independent of the Genesis record, by someone who would know the truth and who can be trusted?

Yes! The man who has influenced the course of human history more than any other believed in Noah. Jesus of Nazareth believed in Noah. The Son of God Himself believed Noah was real.

How do we know that Jesus thought Noah was a genuine, historical person? We have the record of His words and teaching in the Gospels.

Jesus Believed Noah Really Lived and the Flood Really Happened!

Jesus based His own teaching about His second coming on the historicity of Noah’s Flood. He said this:

“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man: people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, and they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:24-27)

Notice Jesus’ words “just like” and “so will. . .be” in the Matthew passage and “just as it happened” and “so will it also be” in Luke. Jesus equated the conditions on earth at the time of Noah’s Flood with the conditions at the time of His Second Coming. He straightforwardly referred to Noah and the Flood as a real historical person and event just as He proclaimed His return would be real. Jesus gave Noah and the Flood equivalent truth value to the events of His own life.

Jesus could not have believed that Noah and the Flood were fictitious, for then He would be likening His real return to a fictitious event. Since Jesus referred to Noah and the Flood to illustrate teaching about His Second Coming, it is certain that Jesus believed Noah was a real person of history..

Moreover, Jesus said this about what Moses wrote, which includes the Genesis record of Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood:

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John‬ ‭5:46-47)

If it is difficult to believe the testimony of Moses in Genesis, then it will likewise be difficult to believe Jesus, for in the above passage Jesus equated believing His words with believing Moses’ writings.

Therefore, Jesus believed in Noah, because Jesus believed Moses, and Moses wrote about Noah.

We also learn what Jesus thought about Noah from the men he taught and trained and whom He charged with conveying His teaching in their writings. He authorized them to speak and teach with His authority.

Three times the Apostle Peter wrote of Noah and his family as real people and the Flood as a real event:

“. . .who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.” (1 Peter 3:20)
“. . .and did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 2:5)
“. . .through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.” (2 Peter 3:6)

Similarly the author of Hebrews attested to the reality of both Noah, his family, and the Flood:

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

These four passages refer to Noah and the Flood as real history, including concrete details about Noah’s character and his building an ark to escape a globe-destroying flood with his family. Moreover, the verses immediately following the Hebrews passage on Noah mention Abraham and Sarah (Hebrews 11:8-13); these two people are widely recognized as historical — among skeptics as well as believers. Clearly the author of Hebrews viewed all three, Abraham, Sarah, and Noah, to be real people of history.

Luke says that he investigated everything carefully from the beginning (Luke 1:3). No doubt his background information on Jesus came from Mary. Luke includes Noah in his genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23-38). Ancestors of a real person of history must be real. Therefore Luke also testifies to Noah being a real historical personage.

What Would Jesus Say?

Ten times in the Gospels Jesus uses the phrase “Have you not read” to introduce a Scripture-based argument.

See for example Mark 12:18-27 where He says “Have you not read” in answering a question from the Sadducees about marriage in heaven. Likewise Jesus said “Have you not read” to quote from the Genesis account of Adam and Eve’s creation and marriage when the Pharisees asked Him about marriage (Matthew 19:3-6; Mark 10:2-9; Genesis 1:27; 2:24).

So if Jesus had been asked about Noah, I think He would likely have quoted from Genesis with a similar “Have you not read” reply.

If the Sadducees had asked Jesus, “Was there ever a real Noah? Did he survive a global Flood?” then I can envision Jesus replying something like this:

“Have you not read in the Scriptures, ‘Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord and Noah walked with God.‘
Or again, have you never read, ‘I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you [Noah]; and you shall enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.‘
The Lord neither favors a fable nor walks with one. He did not command an imaginary flood to destroy all flesh. Noah did not build an imaginary ark to save his family and animals.
Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
(Words in italics are from Genesis 6:8-9, 17-19; Mark 12:24)

Beyond all doubt, Jesus certainly believed Noah was a real historical person who was the literal earthly savior of the human race and animal kinds in a mammoth ark. Beyond all doubt, Jesus certainly believed the Flood was a real event. Those who claim Jesus as Lord must accept His view of Noah and the Flood as their own.

Questions to Ponder

1. Have you accepted Jesus’ authority by embracing His view of the historical Noah and the Flood?
2. What question about Noah perplexes you the most?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria. Alere Flammam Veritatis.

This is the second in a series of articles on Noah. This Noah Series will suggest answers to many of the questions believers and skeptics have about Noah, Noah’s Ark, and Noah’s Flood.
Read the prequel:
1. Think You Know Noah?

Read the sequel:
3. How Long Did It Take Noah to Build the Ark?

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday February 2, 2022 A.D.

Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
(Genesis 6:13-17)

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