Genesis 1-4 Flashcards
What is the genre (the type of literature) of the Pentateuch as a whole?
Several genres have been preposed:
Biography of Moses
National History
National Constitution
Torah or Law
These all have good points and shortcomings. For example, Moses is a major figure in the Pentateuch, so maybe it makes sense to think of it as his biography. In that case, though, what role does Genesis play in Moses’ biography?
Seeing the Pentateuch as Torah makes the most sense to me. Unfortunately, Torah (תּוֹרָה) is usually translated ‘law.’ The word has a much broader meaning than that. It is better translated as ‘instruction’ or ‘teaching.’ If we think of the Pentateuch as teaching or instruction from God, that may help us later as we seek to interpret it for today.
What does “Genesis” mean, and where does it come from?
The name ‘Genesis’ comes from the Greek γένεσις, meaning ‘origin’. The Hebrew name for the book is בְּרֵאשִׁית, ‘in (the) beginning’, comes from the first word of the book. The name is quite appropriate, since Genesis recounts the beginnings of many things:
the universe humanity mortality sin aspects of life and culture Israel and more
In this sense, much of the book may be seen as aetiology, or tale about the origin of various aspects of human experience.
What is the central claim of the book of Genesis?
The central claim of the chapter = God created the universe [heavens and earth is what we call a merism, meaning that the extremities of something are listed to mean the whole thing]!
What is the structure of Genesis 1?
Day 1 Light; Dark; Day; Night Day 2 Dome: Sky and Sea Day 3 Dry land and vegetation Day 4 Sun; Moon; Stars Day 5 Birds and Fish Day 6 Land animals, humans and fruits & vegetables Day 7 Sabbath
Note how the days lay out in such a clear pattern. The first three days establish environments, while the last three inhabit those environments.
What is one possible use of Genesis 1?
Is it possible that Genesis 1 is a celebration of God’s creation? Genesis 1 is not a scientific text. It may not even be considered a historical text. What it is, is a celebration of all that God has made.
Which near East literary works influenced Genesis, and how?
Creation (Enuma Elish)
Flood (Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh Epic)
The Tower of Babel: ‘Babel’ is Babylon
How did the fact that Israel was surrounded by powerful nations influence its writings and theology?
How was Israel to maintain and communicate their unique identity in such a situation? One strategy for small nations surrounded by larger ones is to use stories or motifs that are well known from the dominant culture and ‘subvert’ them: transforming them into vehicles for the perspective and values of the smaller culture.
Note how much of Genesis 1-11 has connections with Mesopotamia:
Creation (Enuma Elish)
Flood (Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh Epic)
The Tower of Babel: ‘Babel’ is Babylon
Then, we turn the page to Genesis 12, and what do we see? Abram, from Ur of the Chaldees (in Babylonia), is called away to a new land.
Genesis 1-11 reads like a subversion of Mesopotamian mythology and a rejection of its culture.
What are three lessons in biblical anthropology we can draw from Genesis 1-4?
- 2:7-We are animals with God’s breath. God formed the human from the dust of the ground. He made him from the ground that you would cultivate. Earthling from the earth. We are dust creatures. But he breathes into him the breath of life and becomes a human being. We are dirt creatures, biological, but there’s something further going on. It was put together, and then becomes complete when God breathes into it. We are dual natured. We are fully animal, but we partake in the breath of God. There’s the human nature, and then the spiritual self, all rolled up into one.
- 1:27-We are created gendered in his image. He creates them in his image. He creates them, and the author wants us to know that. He says it twice. The image of God is paralleled by male and female. Together they reflect the image of God. Not just man, not just woman. Together.
- 2:18-We are created to not be alone. The first thing that is not good in Genesis is that man should be alone. So he makes him a helper different to him. Look up the word “helper”, it is often used to describe God.
How might we interpret the tree incident?
1) Disobedience.
2) You will be like God. There is pride here. You had a certain place in creation, and you didn’t know it.
3) Sloth. You leave your decision making to the snake. Heteronomy, Eve allowed the snake to rule her. But, this is Adam’s problem, because he’s right there with her in verse 3. His sin is passivity. He didn’t do anything.
4) A birth of human consciousness. There was inevitability in their knowing good and evil. God prepared for it. (What? Why did God us to know good and evil?)
In order for communication to happen, we need three things:
- an origin (speaker, writer, etc.)
- a medium (sound waves, a book, email, etc.)
- a recipient (hearer, reader, us)
merism
heavens and earth is what we call a merism, meaning that the extremities of something are listed to mean the whole thing
