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

In the Beginning Bringing the Book of Genesis to Light (an overview of Genesis 1 – 11). Overview. 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 Flood The Tower of Babel.

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

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  1. In the BeginningBringing the Book of Genesis to Light(an overview of Genesis 1 – 11)

  2. Overview • 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 Flood • The Tower of Babel

  3. Genesis as Intro to the Bible • Not the first book of the Bible by accident • Introduces biblical vocabulary and overarching themes • Sets the stage for the full purview of the Bible • Genesis 1-11 deals with all people, not just Jews/Israel • God 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 time • Shows the story in Genesis is not necessarily to be viewed as a scientific/historical text, but as a basis to understand/interpret life • Often juxtaposed to the general Babylonian understanding

  4. Creation Narratives • Two Accounts of Creation • Genesis 1:1 – Genesis 2:3 • Genesis 2:4 – end of Genesis 2 • Genesis as compilation of earlier, separate sources • Differing, 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)

  5. Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3 • Creation of Heavens and Earth • Earth was tohuwavohu(without form and void) • Nothing was functional • Notice 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 day • Evening first, then morning • Liturgical tradition • Death, then Resurrection • Notice no sun yet even though there is light

  6. Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3 • Creation of Earth and Seas • On third day God now conquers the second enemy: seas • “Mother Earth” is put under God’s jurisdiction • Notice, again, still no sun despite vegetation • Creation of “Two Great Lights” • Sun and Moon not mentioned by name • Referred 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 deities

  7. Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3 • Creation of Animals • Sea animals on 5th day • Land animals on 6th day • They co-habit the earth with us • Blessed by God with humans, not separately like sea animals • Blessing is clearly related to ability to produce offspring

  8. Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3 • Creation of Humanity • In the image and after the likeness of God • In ancient Near East, Kings alone considered to be the image of God • Means we are to behave like God • Our task is to make God’s presence known in this world • Given dominion over sea and land animals • Just as kings have dominion over a city • God is the model—i.e. stewardship not lordship • “Male and female He created them” • Anti-individualism • Sabbath

  9. Creation Narrative: Genesis 2:3 – 2:25 • Creation of Adam (i.e. “man”) • Occurs at the beginning of this second story • Only the male was made at the beginning • Formed from dust, but given the breath of God • The Garden of Eden • Planted 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 conceit • Death (i.e. shortened life) is punishment

  10. Creation Narrative: Genesis 2:3 – 2:25 • Creation of Animals • God formed them same as Adam, but without breathing His own breath into them • God brought animals to Adam to name • None was found as a comparable helper • Creation 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

  11. The Fall of Humanity: Genesis 3 • Woman tempted by serpent • Sin is two-fold • Disobeying God’s commandment • Attempting to be as knowledgeable as God • Problem happens after Adam eats • He was the one to whom the command was given • God does not immediately cause death • First act of God’s forgiveness • The primary punishment is by adding difficulty to the previous blessings

  12. Adam’s Family: Genesis 4 • Eve said she “acquired” Cain • Cain’s name comes from same root as property • Abel means “breath” or “vanity” (i.e. passing) • Names are often functional in the Bible • Cain kills Abel • Difference 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

  13. Adam’s Family: Genesis 4 • 7th Generation – Lamech introduced • Seems 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 Seth • Enosh, his son, means “human being” • After Enosh “men began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26); through him comes Noah

  14. Noah: Genesis 6 – 9 • 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 Lordsaw 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).

  15. Noah: Genesis 6 – 9 • “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). • Introduction of one man as savior of all • And notice that at no time is that man YOU • Noah 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

  16. The Flood Stories – Two Accounts • Two accounts merged into one • “P” or Priestly account • “J” or Yahweh account • Priestly Account • Refers to God as Elohim (more universal name) • Merged accounts open and close with P account • In 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

  17. The Flood Stories – General Themes • Preview of God’s Final Judgment • Nearly total destruction • Both man and beast pay for humanity’s sin • The Flood is a passing event • Contained within one person’s lifetime • God’s punishment in this life is meant for instruction, not destruction

  18. The Flood Stories – General Themes • God’s Covenant • One-way, unconditional covenant • Man has no control over the rainbow • Made 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 humanityvia the faith of Noah

  19. Noah’s Sons: Genesis 10 • Three Sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth • Noah’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 12 • The covenant made with Noah, and the blessing that comes through the faith of Noah, is open to all humanity

  20. Tower of Babel: Genesis 11 • People of the earth are united in one language • They wish to “make a name” for themselves • Contrary to God’s command, they do not want to be scattered • Like 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-imperialistic • Babel is likely a reference to or play on the Babylonian Empire • Their punishment is to be scattered and for the language to be confused

  21. Conclusions/Important Themes • Genesis itself serves as an intro to the Bible • The (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 other • Humanity’s primary job is to represent God • God is shown as supreme; humanity constantly turns from His ways; humanity in need of redemption

  22. Conclusions/Important Themes • 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 Him • We should not attempt to usurp God’s position • The way to God is through faith and trusting in His appointments

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