Expert: Edward Bode - 1/24/2008

Question
Is the Old Testament based on myth?  I attended a class on Evolution and the Bible and the priest that taught the class talked in length about the Old Testament stories being myth, "but in a good sense of the word." That all culture/traditions are based on myths. It would be similar to our writing a story with a message.  It is the message that's important.  If the Old Testament is myth, then would this then make the Gospels, based on the old testament also myth?  He also said that Adam wasn't the name of a person, but the Greek word for humanity.

Answer
From what you have said, Sue, I think that several observations are in order:
1 - The OT and the NT contains many kinds of stories and other types of literary forms.  
2 - The word myth is has many meanings.  When I hear that word, I ask: how do you define myth?
3 - That the bible [a library composed over many centuries] contains stories that are not historically verifiable does not invalidate stories/accounts/narratives that do have historical validity.  There was an Abraham, a Moses, a David, a Hezikiah, a Jesus who was crucified and rose, a Peter, a Paul, etc.
4 - The NT does not depend on the OT for its reliability.
5 - The word, Adam, is Hebrew, which can have the meaning of "man."  No matter what you call him, the NT insists that original sin [a lack of God's grace]does affect all humanity.
6 - The book of Genesis in its first three chapters insists that the first couple violated God's command and fell from their special friendship with God.  This account is not a videocam of what occurred but does teach important theological truths.  No matter what is the account's literary type, that does not affect other accounts in the bible, each of which has to evaluated on its own.  
I hope that these thoughts are of some help.  You are welcome to write again if you so desire.
Best wishes, Sue.