What is the definition ofantediluvian?

The first five chapters of this book give us an account of antediluvian times, or, as they have been called, "the world before the flood." And it is those chapters I now purpose to look at a little particularly.

In earlier parts of the book of Genesis, I have already traced two distinct histories — that of the antediluvian saints, or the times from Adam to Enoch; and that of Noah and of those who followed him, down to the scattering of the nations.

The trial of natural conscience simply, in the time before the flood.

The state of the antediluvian world, leading up to the Deluge.

Civilisation is not merely post-diluvian.

What a study is the antediluvian world; physical monstrosities, and the inner heart of man! Notice that as yet there was no established government, and the human race had run into violent and corrupt practice — that is, into advanced socialism.

The antediluvian world, to whom a way of blessing through sacrifice was intimated, and attested by the altar of Abel, sinned against the precious light, went in the way of Cain, and filled the earth with corruption and violence, until the wickedness of man was such a grief to the heart of God that He repented that He had made him (Gen. 6). A flood of water brought this world to a conclusion, Noah and his house only being saved through the universal deluge.

The world before the flood was ruined at the fall, and became utterly lawless. For sixteen hundred and fifty years God bore with the increasing wickedness of men, until the whole world having become corrupt before God and filled with violence, judgment fell and "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3:6).

When we come to the application, we find it in the main as simple as possible. That the first day answers to the antediluvian period is plain. Its light before the sun is the promise before Christ. Yet the world lay unchanged - a sea of disordered lusts and passions; and God, while acting in grace on individuals, did not publicly interfere with it. This lasted till the flood.

The world before the flood earned for itself the title of “The world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5), and a flood of water brought that to an end. God had no place among men who were animated only by lust and violence. But He has no more place in the world after the flood than He had in that which preceded it. It seems to be the world after the flood that is taken up from verse 19 of this first chapter. We see from this (chap. 1:19 to 3:19) that God never left Himself without a witness, and that that witness was invariably disregarded. It does not appear that in the antediluvian world men worshipped idols. This seems to have been a post-diluvian invention. The descendants of Noah possessed the knowledge of the true God. They had the traditions that were handed down through a long line of long-lived men. They could not have been ignorant of the fall of man, of God’s intolerance of sin, of His judgment of the wicked, and of His favour and mercy to the righteous; for all these things had come before them in very manifest and striking ways. Added to this there was the testimony of creation, and this the apostle takes up here, and leaves those who are without the law or the gospel excuseless. Creation witnesses to the power and divinity of God. It is the work of the Son. It has been often remarked that when creation is attributed to any single person of the Trinity, that person is in every instance the Son. “Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands” (Heb. 1:10); and “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16).