ev·i·dence
noun
1.
the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Evidence,
broadly construed, is anything presented in support of an assertion. This support may be strong or weak.
The strongest type of evidence is that which provides direct proof of the truth of an assertion. At the other extreme is evidence that is merely consistent with an assertion but does not rule out other, contradictory assertions, as in circumstantial evidence.
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly - i.e., without need for any additional evidence or inference.
On its own, circumstantial evidence allows for more than one explanation. Different pieces of circumstantial evidence may be required, so that each corroborates the conclusions drawn from the others. Together, they may more strongly support one particular inference over another. An explanation involving circumstantial evidence becomes more likely once alternative explanations have been ruled out.
Circumstantial evidence allows a trier of fact to infer that a fact exists.
Inferences are steps in reasoning, moving from premises to logical consequences.
When we make an inference, we draw a conclusion based on the evidence that we have available.
inferred evidence
to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence.
Are you joking, nPeace?
First you give me some definitions on evidence, and then you talk of primary sources as such, and then you write this at the end:
The event of a global flood is referred to by later historical figures, and there is evidence to indicate that the event is true - did happen.
Matthew 24:38 Jesus Christ
Most scholars believe it was composed between AD 80 and 90, with a range of possibility between AD 70 to 110 (a pre-70 date remains a minority view)
2 Peter 2:5 Simon Peter
Josephus -
The Antiquities of the Jews
Sorry, but neither the gospel of Matthew, nor Josephus in Antiquities, provide 1st-hand eyewitness accounts to the Flood, so as a literary evidences, not very reliable.
Second, although according to traditions, Moses have been attributed to being the author to the Genesis, but there are no evidences that ancient Hebrew writing existing in the late Bronze Age, which Moses supposedly lived (late 2nd millennium BCE).
But the fact, there are no literary texts in the Bronze Age, regarding to Flood or to Moses, it is highly unlikely that Moses wrote anything in Bronze Age, let alone existing to write the Genesis and Exodus.
The oldest writing of the Old Testament is a late 7th or early 6th century BCE fragments from scrolls found in Ketef Hinnom cave, near Jerusalem, that served as a tomb.
The scrolls are known today as the “Silver Scrolls” because the materials used is silver. It contained passage in Numbers 6, regarding to the Priestly Blessing.
There are nothing older than these scrolls.
But the oldest Hebrew writings, are the Gezer Calendar and Zayit Stone, written in 10th century BCE in Paleo-Hebrew (Old or ancient Hebrew). Neither inscriptions contain anything from the Old Testament.
