Persons and history in Genesis 6

Says The New Testament treats Noah as a man of the past. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family” (Heb 11:7, BSB). 1 Peter 3:20 speaks of the days of Noah, while the ark was being built, and of eight souls saved through water. 2 Peter 2:5 speaks of Noah as a preacher of righteousness, preserved when the flood came on the ungodly. “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt 24:37, BSB). Luke 17:26–27 speaks in the same way of the days of Noah and of the flood.

Implies Noah is a real person, consistent with those texts and with the notes on Genesis 2 for Adam. No lean is taken here between historical narrative and history told with literary features, such as the name-play of נֹחַ and חֵן, the heading at 6:9, or the measured dimensions of the ark.

Uncertain A purely non-historical reading, in which Noah is not a real person, is presented by its grounds and stands outside that core. Ground: other ancient traditions also tell of a man warned to build a vessel before a flood. Objection: this chapter names Noah and his three sons, and the New Testament texts above treat him as a man who built an ark and was preserved. No lean is taken here between historical narrative and history told with literary features.