Noah, the ark, and the flood in early Christian literature
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch University
Abstract
This article surveys the literary traditions related to Noah, the ark, and the flood in early Christian literature. Mention of Noah, the ark, and the flood is found in five New Testament books – Matthew, Luke, Hebrews, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter – as well as in two documents in the Apostolic Fathers – 1 Clement and 2 Clement. The relevant passages in these books will be discussed seriatim. Significant historical and grammatical issues related to the texts will also be noted. Finally, the rhetorical functions – moral, homiletic, eschatological, and ecological – will be discussed. Early Christian literature depended on the Jewish Scriptures, particularly the LXX, and Intertestamental literature for the motifs and allegorisation found its own interpretations. The traditions related to Noah, the ark, and the flood were important for Jesus and the early church, and an attempt will be made to elucidate their significance for each author.
Description
Please cite as follows:
Wilson, M. 2014. Noah, the ark, and the flood in early Christian literature. Scriptura, 113(1): 1-12, doi:10.7833/113-0-910.
The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/910
Wilson, M. 2014. Noah, the ark, and the flood in early Christian literature. Scriptura, 113(1): 1-12, doi:10.7833/113-0-910.
The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/910
Keywords
Noah's ark, Repentance, Judgment, Ecology
Citation
Wilson, M. 2014. Noah, the ark, and the flood in early Christian literature. Scriptura, 113(1): 1-12, doi:10.7833/113-0-910.