great moments in genesis last session we examined both the theological context and the structure of...
TRANSCRIPT
Great Moments in Genesis
• Last session we examined both the theological context and the structure of the Book of Genesis
• This session we’ll look at the probable meaning of the Creation Accounts
• We have an overview (1:1-2:3) and a repetition with some different emphases (2:4-4:26)
The Overview 1:1-2:3
• Problems with science may be built upon misunderstandings of what the text is trying to say (example: 4004 BC)
• Remember we are looking for the author’s intent—why was this written?
• Need to understand that a story can be told in more than one way
Important ideas
• Logical rather than chronological order(Gospels, normal story-telling)
• Many pre-biblical ideas of a 7 day framework from this part of the world (example: the building of Baal’s castle in Canaanite literature)
• Genesis 1 a complicated work of genius, almost like a literary puzzle
Horizontal and vertical relationships in Genesis 1
TOHU = unformed
Day 1—light/dark
Day 2—waters above/waters below
Day 3—waters below/dry land & vegetation
BOHU = unfilled
Day 4—sun, moon, starsDay 5—birds/fishes
Day 6—land animals & humans
What does it mean?
Nicky Gumbel: “sincere Christians hold many different interpretations of Genesis . . . In light of the uncertainty and the difference of opinions among genuine Christians, I think it is unwise to be too dogmatic about the issue.”
Possible interpretations
• Six 24 hour days• Days longer, represent periods• Days of revelation for Moses• All made in seed form (Augustine)• A logical, not a chronological order making
significant declarations about what God has done without describing how it was done
The last one makes sense
Galileo: “The Bible teaches us how to go to heaven; astronomy teaches us how the heavens go.”
What God has done . . .
• He has created all that is• He has made it good• He has created man in His own image• He has given man stewardship and dominion• He has created the things that are worshiped
by the other nations
Our God reigns!
• Difference between bara and asahBara = createAsah = make
• Bara is found in v. 1, v. 21, and v. 27• God made the sun (and all else worshiped in Egypt)• He created the sea monsters that were worshiped by
the Hebrews’ ancestors in Mesopotamia