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

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

Overview

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

Genesis as Intro to the Bible

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)

Creation Narratives

Creation of Heavens and Earth◦ Earth was tohu wa vohu (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

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

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

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

Creation Narrative: Genesis 1 – 2:3

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

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

Creation Narrative: Genesis 2:3 – 2:25

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

The Fall of Humanity: Genesis 3

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

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

Adam’s Family: Genesis 4

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

“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

Noah: Genesis 6 – 9

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

The Flood Stories – Two Accounts

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

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 humanity via the faith of Noah

The Flood Stories – General Themes

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

Noah’s Sons: Genesis 10

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

Tower of Babel: Genesis 11

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

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

Conclusions/Important Themes