Bible and Theology Matters: Insightful Conversations with Bible Scholars podcast

BTM 211- Genesis vs. Ancient Myths: Where Scholars Got It Wrong

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Did Moses borrow the creation and flood accounts in Genesis from ancient Near Eastern myths? What should Christians make of the similarities between Genesis 1–11 and texts such as Enuma Elish, the Atrahasis Epic, and the Epic of Gilgamesh?

In this episode of Bible and Theology Matters, Dr. Paul D. Weaver sits down with Dr. Michael Grisanti, Professor of Old Testament at The Master's Seminary and a leading scholar of the Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern literature, to explore these important questions.

Dr. Grisanti explains why understanding genre, historical context, and the ancient Near Eastern world can be valuable for interpreting Scripture—but also why those backgrounds should never become the controlling lens through which we interpret Genesis.

Together, they discuss:
What is genre criticism, and why does genre matter for biblical interpretation?
What are the major ancient Near Eastern texts compared with Genesis 1–11?
What are the actual similarities between Enuma Elish and Genesis 1?
How does the Epic of Gilgamesh compare with the biblical flood account?
Did Moses borrow from Babylonian or Sumerian creation accounts?
How should Christians understand similarities between ancient texts?
When does comparative ancient Near Eastern study become "parallelomania"?
How can ancient Near Eastern customs and literature genuinely illuminate the biblical text?
Does Genesis 1–11 present history or myth?
Why does the historicity of Genesis 1–11 matter theologically?
Do you need a PhD to understand the Old Testament?
How should pastors and students respond when critics use ancient Near Eastern parallels to challenge confidence in Genesis?

One of the central themes of the conversation is that ancient Near Eastern literature can help us understand the world of the Bible without becoming the ultimate authority for interpreting the Bible. As Dr. Grisanti emphasizes, the biblical text itself must remain primary.

The conversation also explores the theological significance of creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, and the flood—and why our understanding of Genesis ultimately shapes how we understand the character, power, and purposes of God. 

ABOUT MICHAEL GRISANTI
Dr. Michael A. Grisanti is a professor of Old Testament at The Master's Seminary and has spent decades studying the Old Testament, ancient Israel, and the ancient Near Eastern world. He has visited Israel more than forty times and has written extensively on Old Testament interpretation, biblical backgrounds, and ancient Near Eastern literature.

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