I actually don't agree with that statement, since Genesis 6:9 clearly says that he was a righteous man. Nevertheless, Mark Driscoll makes an interesting and important observation about the story of Noah in this 4-minute clip (if reading in RSS reader, you might need to click through to view the video).
Check it out and let me know what you think...
Wow, never thought about that!
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteIs there a difference between being "righteous" and "good"? In the verse you reference, it says "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God." It seems, as with Abraham in Romans 4, that Noah is only righteous because his faith is credited to him as righteousness--he's walking with God and, like Abraham, is thus considered righteous.
Do you think our problem is with our definition of the word "righteous". The children's books he's referencing seem to be saying Noah is sinless. However, we know that's not the case: "No one is righteous, NOT EVEN ONE".
Is the word used in this sense to describe our works, but in Genesis 4:9 to describe our standing before God? In this sense, Noah both is AND isn't righteous.
Maybe this is a case of the translation to English causing and oversimplification. I wish I knew enough to be able to tell.
Will
Hey Will,
ReplyDeleteI think the main point that Driscoll was trying to make, and what I found interesting, is how often the statement about Noah receiving favor/grace from God is ignored.
The text indicates that Noah's righteousness was preceded by God's favor to him; whereas most people who are familiar with Noah's story would think that it was his righteousness that earned God's favor.
LL
Larry,
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, but you said it much more clearly than I did!
Yeah, I think the point he makes should be made about any "hero" of the Old Testament (or the new--for that matter). This is the route I often find to seeing the text in the light of redemptive history and in showing my kids Jesus in any Scripture we're studying. It's good to see that these men are all sinners in need of grace the same as us.
Thanks for posting this.
Will