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God and Creation

God and Creation. Fruit of the Tree: Creation and Sin. © 2011 David W. Opderbeck Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike. Genesis 2-3.

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God and Creation

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  1. God and Creation Fruit of the Tree: Creation and Sin © 2011 David W. Opderbeck Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike

  2. Genesis 2-3 • The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. • The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” • Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

  3. Genesis 2-3 • What is the “Garden”? • What does the “tree of life” represent? • What are evil and sin and how do they affect creation?

  4. Genesis 2-3 • Some things we must acknowledge, try to understand, and try to contextualize if we are seeking God’s truth and offering it as truth to our culture….

  5. Genesis 2-3 • According to the natural sciences, the history of life on earth spans about 4 billion years • Innumerable species of organisms lived, died and went extinct prior to the advent of modern humans

  6. Genesis 2-3 • Some options • Ignore the questions and hope they go away • Create an alternative science with a different timeline • Consider more carefully what the Biblical text is saying and how it relates to the “text” of nature

  7. Genesis 2-3 • The “trees,” the “serpent,” “evil” and “death” in the “garden”: a few thoughts • Most interpreters from the time of the early Church forward – prior to modern science – understood these, at least at one level, as metaphorical symbols • The “garden” imagery and structure reflects key features of the construction and structure of the Tabernacle and Temple in the OT, and is reflected in the New Jerusalem in the NT (as is the “Tree of Life”)

  8. Genesis 2-3 • The “trees,” the “serpent,” “evil” and “death” in the “garden”: a few thoughts – the cosmic temple in the ANE • The earthly temple is an archetype of the cosmic temple • The earthly temple is the center of the cosmos • The earthly temple is built on the primeval hillock that emerges from cosmic waters Source: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary

  9. Genesis 2-3 • The “trees,” the “serpent,” “evil” and “death” in the “garden”: a few thoughts – the cosmic temple in the ANE • The deity rests in his temple after bringing order to the cosmos • The deity’s rest includes creating people to work on his behalf • The deity’s rest can be disturbed by rebellion Source: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary

  10. Genesis 2-3 • The “trees,” the “serpent,” “evil” and “death” in the “garden”: a few thoughts • Many interpreters therefore understand the “garden” to represent sacramental space – a place where God uniquely dwells • Many interpreters understand the “tree of life” to represent a sacrament providing unmediated relationship with God – without the blood of sacrifice • The “garden,” then, represents a “place” of perfect relationship with God, other humans, and the rest of creation

  11. The Harmony of adam’s relationships in the garden God Sacrament (“Tree of Life”) Vice-Regency Adam Eve Animals One Flesh Sacramental Space (“Garden”) Land

  12. Genesis 2-3 • What does the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” represent? • What does the “serpent” represent? • Is there evil prior to Adam’s sin? • Is there “death” prior to Adam’s sin?

  13. Genesis 2-3 • The other “tree,” the “serpent,” evil and death – a few thoughts • Early interpreters – again, prior to modern science – also wrestled with the presence of the “serpent” and the possibility of temptation in the Garden • Note that Adam had “named” all the animals prior to encountering the serpent’s invitation (Gen. 2:19-20) • “Naming” was a sign of authority in the ancient near east • Recall that in the first creation narrative the man and woman were to “subdue” and “rule over” the earth (Gen. 1:28)

  14. Genesis 2-3 • The other “tree,” the “serpent,” evil and death – a few thoughts • Note that the serpent’s “craftiness” (Gen. 3:1) seems to derive from its created nature • Note that the serpent already has the will to deceive Adam, and Adam already has the capacity to choose the serpent’s way rather than God’s way, prior to eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil • Note that Adam understood God’s warning about “death” if he were to eat the forbidden fruit

  15. Genesis 2-3 • The other “tree,” the “serpent,” evil and death – a few thoughts • Genesis 2-3 does not tell us about the absolute origin of “evil” or suffering – it is not in itself a complete “theodicy” • Throughout the Hebrew Bible, evil and suffering are often presented as a mystery: esp. in the Wisdom Literature (Job, Ecclesiastes)

  16. Job 38-42 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?    Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!    Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set,    or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together    and all the angels shouted for joy? “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness    and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens    or lie in wait in a thicket? Who provides food for the raven    when its young cry out to God    and wander about for lack of food? “Can you bind the chainsof the Pleiades?    Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons   or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens?    Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

  17. Does the eagle soar at your command    and build its nest on high? It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;    a rocky crag is its stronghold. From there it looks for food;    its eyes detect it from afar. Its young ones feast on blood,    and where the slain are, there it is.” Job 38-42 “Do you give the horse its strength    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust,    striking terror with its proud snorting? It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,    and charges into the fray. It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;    it does not shy away from the sword. The quiver rattles against its side,    along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’    It catches the scent of battle from afar,    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

  18. Job 38-42 Then Job replied to the LORD:   “I know that you can do all things;    no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,    things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;    I will question you,    and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you    but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself    and repent in dust and ashes.”

  19. Genesis 2-3 • What about the curses (Gen. 3:14-19)? • What about the Apostle Paul’s connection between “sin,” Adam, and “death” • “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15: 20-22).

  20. The DisHarmony of adam’s relationships Outside the garden God Cherubim with flaming sword (Gen. 3:24) Return to Dust Adam Eve Animals Pain Rule Toil Thorns Sweat Separated Space (Exile) Land

  21. Genesis 2-3 • Relationships are broken: • Humans and the earth • Humans with each other (including man and woman) • Humans (woman) and the serpent (Note: Mary’s faithfulness strikes a final blow) • Humans and God

  22. Genesis 3 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

  23. Genesis 2-3 • The relationship between humans and God, previously transparent and harmonious, is now characterized by human shame and human fear • “Death” is the enemy because it finally cuts us off from all relational sources of good: the earth, others and God

  24. Genesis 2-3 • Without sin, we would not know the terrible alienation and loss of death • Though human anatomy is not itself immortal, we do not know what it would have meant to walk in unbroken fellowship with God (c.f. Enoch? Gen. 5:24) • A thought: “ontology” – what things are – encompasses more than just what we see • We only truly understand what we are in light of Christ’s resurrection

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