In the Beginning Bringing the Book of Genesis to Light - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

In the Beginning

Bringing the Book of Genesis to Light(an overview of Genesis 1 – 11)Slide2

Genesis as an Introduction to the Bible Creation Narratives and The Fall

Notice the Plural—narratives Adam’s Family (not the Addams Family)Noah and the FloodThe Tower of Babel

OverviewSlide3

Not the first book of the Bible by accident

Introduces biblical vocabulary and overarching themesSets the stage for the full purview of the BibleGenesis 1-11 deals with all people, not just Jews/IsraelGod dealt with all people; all people turned away from Him; thus, all people are in need of redemption “In the Beginning…” (ἐν ἀρχῇ

)

ἀρχῇ

(“arch”) means first as in basis, not

necessarily first in chronological timeShows the story in Genesis is not necessarily to be viewed as a scientific/historical text, but as a basis to understand/interpret lifeOften juxtaposed to the general Babylonian understanding

Genesis as Intro to the BibleSlide4

Two Accounts of CreationGenesis 1:1 – Genesis 2:3

Genesis 2:4 – end of Genesis 2Genesis as compilation of earlier, separate sourcesDiffering, Irreconcilable (from literal perspective) Accounts First account is the one with which we are most familiar and is most often cited by “literalists”Second account is the famous “Fall of Mankind”

Notable differences, most especially the order of creation (man first vs. man last;

Elohim

vs.

Yahweh)Creation NarrativesSlide5

Creation of Heavens and EarthEarth was

tohu wa vohu (without form and void)Nothing was functionalNotice God does not explicitly create two of the human/biblical enemies: darkness and water

Creation of Light

God immediately begins conquering human enemies

Light named first; given priority

“One day,” not “the first day”: definitive of a dayEvening first, then morningLiturgical tradition

Death, then Resurrection

Notice no sun yet even though there is light

Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3Slide6

Creation of Earth and SeasOn third day God now conquers the second enemy: seas

“Mother Earth” is put under God’s jurisdictionNotice, again, still no sun despite vegetationCreation of “Two Great Lights”Sun and Moon not mentioned by nameReferred to as “larger lantern” and “smaller lantern”

Placed as essentially equal to the stars; placed after light and after vegetation

They were deities in Babylonian pantheon

Set in place by God like a star on top of a Christmas tree

Three times the passage mentions they are simply a reference, not deitiesCreation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3Slide7

Creation of AnimalsSea animals on 5

th dayLand animals on 6th dayThey co-habit the earth with usBlessed by God with humans, not separately like sea animals

Blessing is clearly related to ability to produce offspring

Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3Slide8

Creation of HumanityIn the image and after the likeness of God

In ancient Near East, Kings alone considered to be the image of GodMeans we are to behave like GodOur task is to make God’s presence known in this worldGiven dominion over sea and land animalsJust as kings have dominion over a city

God is the model—i.e. stewardship not lordship

“Male and female He created them”

Anti-individualism

SabbathCreation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3Slide9

Creation of Adam (i.e. “man”)Occurs at the

beginning of this second storyOnly the male was made at the beginningFormed from dust, but given the breath of GodThe Garden of EdenPlanted by God and given to Adam

Consistent problem: humanity thinks it owns/controls what God gives as a gift

First commandment issued by God

Not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil

Shows primary problem with humanity is conceitDeath (i.e. shortened life) is punishment

Creation Narrative: Genesis 2:3 – 2:25Slide10

Creation of AnimalsGod formed them same as Adam, but without breathing His own breath into them

God brought animals to Adam to nameNone was found as a comparable helperCreation of Eve (i.e. “woman”)Eve was “built,” not “made”Adam presumptuously considers woman to be a product of him and not of God

Adam unilaterally names Eve

Interdependence of male/female

Creation Narrative: Genesis 2:3 – 2:25Slide11

Woman tempted by serpentSin is two-fold

Disobeying God’s commandmentAttempting to be as knowledgeable as GodProblem happens after Adam eatsHe was the one to whom the command was givenGod does not immediately cause deathFirst act of God’s forgivenessThe primary punishment is by adding difficulty to the previous blessings

The Fall of Humanity: Genesis 3Slide12

Eve said she “acquired” CainCain’s name comes from same root as property

Abel means “breath” or “vanity” (i.e. passing)Names are often functional in the BibleCain kills AbelDifference in offering (Abel offers “firstfruit”)God sets a mark on Cain so Cain will not be killed by others; vengeance belongs to God alone

Cain

builds a city

Contrary to God’s commandment to spread out on the earth

Adam’s Family: Genesis 4Slide13

7th Generation –

Lamech introducedSeems to be a play on “king” (malak)Lamech lives like kings (multiple wives, arrogant view of himself)Thus far, negative view of humanity; but a different option is now presented

Introduction of Seth

Seth is Abel’s “replacement”

His name means “appointed” or “posited”

The geneaology continues through SethEnosh, his son, means “human being”

After

Enosh

“men began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26); through him comes Noah

Adam’s Family: Genesis 4Slide14

Immediately before Noah“

Now it came to pass…that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose” (Genesis 6:1-2).“And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not

strive

with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years

.’ There

were giants on the earth in those days” (Genesis 6:3-4).“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great…and

that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And

the

Lord

was sorry that He had made man on the

earth” (Genesis 6:5-6).

Noah: Genesis 6 – 9 Slide15

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

Introduction of one man as savior of allAnd notice that at no time is that man YOUNoah is said to be “blameless” (legal terminology)Noah is said to be “culticly pure” (like the sacrificial lamb must be pure)

Notice Noah has only one wife

Noah: Genesis 6 – 9 Slide16

Two accounts merged into one“P” or Priestly account

“J” or Yahweh accountPriestly AccountRefers to God as Elohim (more universal name)Merged accounts open and close with P accountIn these accounts, God commands and Noah does

Yahweh Account

Refers to God as

Yahweh

(more restrictive name)References “clean” and “unclean” animals Indicates notion that rituality pre-dates the text itself

The Flood Stories – Two AccountsSlide17

Preview of God’s Final JudgmentNearly total destruction

Both man and beast pay for humanity’s sinThe Flood is a passing eventContained within one person’s lifetimeGod’s punishment in this life is meant for instruction, not destruction

The Flood Stories – General ThemesSlide18

God’s Covenant One-way, unconditional covenant

Man has no control over the rainbowMade with all humanity, not specifically with Jews“Baptism of the earth” Like a new creation After the first year, during the first month, on the first day the earth was finally dry and habitable again

New opportunity for

humanity

via the faith of NoahThe Flood Stories – General ThemesSlide19

Three Sons: Shem, Ham, JaphethNoah’s “family tree” is established in such a way in Genesis 10 as to show the entire (known) inhabited world to be populated from Noah and his sons

Indicates God’s concern is with all humanity, not only Abraham’s descendants, on whom the biblical story will begin focusing in Genesis 11 and 12The covenant made with Noah, and the blessing that comes through the faith of Noah, is open to all humanity

Noah’s Sons: Genesis 10Slide20

People of the earth are united in one languageThey wish to “make a name” for themselves

Contrary to God’s command, they do not want to be scatteredLike Adam, who wanted to have knowledge like God, they tried to “reach to the heavens”The text, like the rest of the Bible, is anti-imperialisticBabel is likely a reference to or play on the Babylonian EmpireTheir punishment is to be scattered and for the language to be confused

Tower of Babel: Genesis 11Slide21

Genesis itself serves as an intro to the BibleThe (hi)story of Israel is told within the purview of all creation/all humanity

The stories are meant to inform our views of our relationship with God and each otherHumanity’s primary job is to represent GodGod is shown as supreme; humanity constantly turns from His ways; humanity in need of redemption

Conclusions/Important ThemesSlide22

God does not like human selfish ambition (buildings, acquisitions)God wants us to

behave like Him, but does not want us to try to be HimWe should not attempt to usurp God’s positionThe way to God is through faith and trusting in His appointments

Conclusions/Important Themes