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Exploring the Creation Narrative: Contrasts and Divine Power in Genesis

This analysis delves into the Genesis creation narrative, examining the distinctions between the Priestly Writer's account and Babylonian myths like Enuma Elish. It highlights God's creative acts over six days, the establishment of the Sabbath, and the implications of humanity's role within creation. The focus on divine immanence vs. remoteness, the vegan diet imposed on humanity, and the call to be fruitful are discussed alongside the literary structure of Genesis. The study invites reflection on the meaning of creation in both ancient and contemporary contexts.

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Exploring the Creation Narrative: Contrasts and Divine Power in Genesis

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Presentation Transcript

  1. In the beginning... • When God began to create the heaven and the earth---the earth was at that time without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep---then God said: Let there be light…. • Creation out of nothing?

  2. Signs of the Priestly Writer • God • Six days/seven days (God keeps sabbath) • Be fruitful and multiply--9:1 • Vegetarian diet; 9:3 • Elleh toledoth • Remoteness of God vs. immanence of Yahweh in chaps 2-3 • “Creates” vs acts, forms, breathes, plants • male and female vs. the man and his wife • Wild animals of the earth; animals of the field (2:19)

  3. Day One: Let there be light Day Two: “firmament” Day Three: land and vegetation Day Four: big one, little one…and also the stars Day Five: birds and fish Day Six: animals and man-woman The Days of Creation

  4. The Sabbath • Focus moves from heaven to earth • artificiality of 7-day structure (8 creation events) • 7 regular days in a regular 7-day week • If God rests, why not we? (counter cultural) • Exod 31:12-17: Sabbath as sign of covenant

  5. Enuma elish (when on high…) • Ti’amat and Kingu challenge divine council • Marduk elected king of the gods (word) • Defeats Ti’amat; Kingu imprisoned • creation of earth and sky from Ti’amat • gods complain about work; Marduk creates humans out of blood of Kingu to work in place of gods; city of Babylon and temple of Marduk

  6. Contrast between Babylonian and Biblical Worldviews • political function--rise of city of Babylon • Conflict among gods; Genesis--only birdies, beasties, and fishies • power of word…in Babylon and in Israel’s exile • transcendent God (no sex, magic) • does creation “end” in space (temple) or in time?

  7. Message to Israel in exile • word--power behind God’s promise = Genesis 9; only reliable basis for faith • Be fruitful and multiply • vs. astrology

  8. The human vocation • anthropology: humans are evil and slaves in Enuma elish vs. “very good” and royal vocation in Genesis 1 • Psalm 8 • image of God--rulership. We are God’s good creatures

  9. Heaven and earth (2:4a) Adam (5:1)* Noah (6:9) Sons of Noah (10:1)* Shem (11:10)* Terah (11:27)* Ishmael (25:12)* Isaac (25:19) Esau/Edom (36:1, 9)* Jacob (37:2) [Aaron and Moses--Numbers 3] Toledoth = Generations Asterisk = followed by genealogy Italics = no longer center stage

  10. Creation and evolution • Variety of biblical pictures (Gen 1 and 2; Yahweh vs the sea--Isa 27:1-2; 54:9-11; Psa 74:12-17; 89:1-14; 25) • Genesis 1 is truthful expression within one ancient worldview • I believe that God made ME and all creatures • How do we affirm creation within early 21st century science?

  11. The Structural Beauty of Genesis 1 • 7 x “created” (1:1, 21, 27-27-27, 2:3, 4) • 7x good: light, land and seas, vegetation, heavenly bodies, sea monsters and birds, animals, everything was very good • Blessings announced: • 1:22 first biological life--fish and birds • 1:28 man and woman--but not land animals • 2:3 the seventh day

  12. 7 elements in descriptions of days • God said • Let there be • It was so • God separated…God made • Word of blessing or naming • God saw it was good • Evening and morning

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