It Doesn’t Matter What These Scholars Say—Noah’s Flood Was Global

There’s really no way to get around it, unless you’re willing to do hermeneutical (interpretative) gymnastics with the Bible. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament affirm the global nature of the flood.

For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. (Genesis 6:17)

The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. (Genesis 7:17–22)

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37–39)

Because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. (1 Peter 3:20)

Man’s interpretation of geology is now the authority, not the Word of God.

And yet despite the absolute clarity of Scripture, so many scholars, Christian leaders, and others still insist the flood could have been local. That’s not because of the text—it’s because they have already adopted the idea of millions of years of slow and gradual processes. Man’s interpretation of geology is now the authority, not the Word of God.

Dr. Hugh Ross is one of these compromising leaders who has adopted man’s ideas and added them into the Bible, including in a new book that he recently talked about with Eric Metaxas. I responded to their interview in this video posted to our Answers in Genesis YouTube channel.

It’s so discouraging to see men like Dr. Ross and Eric Metaxas influencing so many people to abandon the authority of God’s Word and instead adopt man’s word as they reinterpret the clear teaching of Scripture. It’s an attack on biblical authority.

Because of men like them, so many Christian colleges and other institutions have likewise abandoned biblical authority, adopting man’s word as their real authority. I am very thankful for the minority—and, sadly, it is the minority—of Christian colleges who stand on God’s Word in every area from the very first verse, colleges like Maranatha Baptist University, one of our official partnership colleges.

Located in Watertown, Wisconsin, this school—which offers dual enrollment, undergraduate, graduate, and even seminary degrees—exists to “develop leaders for ministry in the local church and the world ‘to the praise of his glory’” (a mission statement taken directly from Ephesians 1:12 KJV: “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ”). They believe the “primary purpose of every Christian is to glorify God through one’s chosen occupation and church membership, and by serving others in God-honoring ways.”

Here’s what their CEO said of their partnership with us,

We are grateful for AiG’s dynamic initiative “to proclaim the authority of the Bible” and we appreciate that, though exposing error, AiG’s champions are always gracious in their methods. The message captivates audiences of all academic levels and is scripturally sound. Maranatha and AiG share a passion to inspire others to uphold the faith. We both strive to develop leaders who will champion Truth in a culture that has largely rejected the very concept. Therefore, we are excited to partner with Answers in Genesis, “To the Praise of His Glory.”

There are so few Christian colleges that stand on God’s Word, so we are very thankful for the ones that do!

There are so few Christian colleges that stand on God’s Word, so we are very thankful for the ones that do!

You can meet representatives from colleges like MBU at our upcoming Creation College Expo (November 5–7, 2026) at the Ark Encounter. It’s a free event for 7th–12th grade students (and includes free admission to the Ark Encounter, along with discounts for family). Speakers this year include myself, astronaut Captain Barry Wilmore, and Dr. Calvin Beisner, and there will be a presentation from Logos Theatre.

Register today.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.