The Old Testament & Gilgamesh

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I saw a article, reviewing the validity of the Old Testament & it used the Story of Gilgamesh as being written before the Old Testament. There were also many Parallels in the Storys?

Could Some shed some light on this subject. History lesson and / or a good reference book to read.

I Would like to have some solid answers if & when the question does arise.

Defend the Faith…

Thx

Peace in Christ
 
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PAX777:
I saw a article, reviewing the validity of the Old Testament & it used the Story of Gilgamesh as being written before the Old Testament. There were also many Parallels in the Storys?
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The Sumerians go back to around 5,000 BC when they settled in the Mesopotamian region, present day Iraq. There’s a good general introduction to their history and others like the Babylonians and Hebrews on this site:

home.cfl.rr.com/crossland/AncientCivilizations/Middle_East_Civilizations/Sumerians/sumerians.html

The Epic of Gilgamesh contains the oldest known written flood story and some recent archeological work points to this being a cataclysmic event which flooded the Black Sea, variously estimated around 5600-7600 BC.

answersingenesis.org/docs/4168.asp

We’re much more informed of the history of this area through the many Sumerian stories and documents it’s now possible for us to read - several of their creation stories appear to be related to the biblical Adam and Eve.
 
It is a certainty that:
  1. There are similarities between the Gilgamesh and Genesis
  2. Gilgamesh pre-dates the writing of Genesis.
However, it is a logical falsity to assert that because 1 and 2 are true, that Genesis must be derived from Gilgamesh (which is, I assume, the point made by the folks who are troubling you). To demonstrate, there are certain similarities in the stories of Jesus and the Greek myth of Hercules - e.g., both were the son of God, both were raised from the dead, etc… Does that prove that the stories of Jesus are derived from the older Greek myths about Hercules? Certainly not. Or a more modern example: books have been written concerning the similarities and coincidences between the assasinations of Lincoln and Kennedy. Does that mean Kennedy’s assasination didn’t happen the way it was recorded, but was a fable made up based on the story of Lincoln’s assasination?

Similarity doesn’t prove descent.
 
If you can, try to get a copy of a currently out of print book titled

Before Abraham Was

by

Kikawada and Quinn

first published by Abingdon Preaa and later by Ignatius Press

it is very good on your question and Genesi 1-11 in genreral. I love the book.

theology.edu/journal/bookreviews/beforeab.htm
 
The similarities between the Gilgamesh Epic and the Genesis Flood story may simply mean that both are memories of the same event.
 
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