THE LITERARY PLOT OF GENESIS

14. Genesis tells of Israel's origin as a nation and gives a message of hope for non-Jews. 15. The Book of Genesis has fifty chapters that fall into two sections. 16. The first section of Genesis, Chapters 1-11, focuses on the relationship between God and all humanity. 17. Genesis, Chapters 12-50 reveal God's relationship with the nation of Israel’s ancestors. 18. In section 1, God brings order out of chaos and creates humans to help govern the earth. 19. Humans were supposed to reflect God’s character. 20. The narrator refers to the Garden of Eden as a “Garden Temple.” 21. The setting of the Book of Genesis is in the Ancient Near or Near East. 22. Garden temples were important to the ancient Hebrews. 23. The Hebrew temple in Jerusalem takes center stage for a large part of the Old Testament. 24. In the first major section of Genesis, a sense of the supernatural surrounds the narrative about an evil serpent that comes into the garden and tricks the woman into rebelling against God. 25. The Genesis narratives continue with an account of the sons of God having relationships with humans. 26. In ancient Jewish tradition, the Nephilim were part demon and part human. 27. People believed that the Nephilim were regular humans that eventually became so powerful that they were worshipped as gods. 28. In Genesis, supernatural evils, along with the human disobedience, corrupt the world. 29. As the stories progress, the world becomes increasingly corrupt. 30. A glimmer of hope for humanity appears when God foretells that a human will defeat the serpent that is a representative of evil. 31. The Flood narrative is one of divine judgment upon humankind from which God spares only one family. 32. In the Genesis stories, God values human life, and He wants humanity to continue to grow and flourish. 33. In the last sub-section, people repopulate the earth and decide to build their own structure that will reach into heaven. 34. In the Tower of Babel narrative, God disburses humanity into various nations so that each group speaks a distinct language. 35. In the Torah, ancient Israelites believed that God also distributed the nations to different gods. 36. The second section of Genesis begins with a man named Abram. 37. God promises to make Abraham a very great person in history. 38. God says that Abram will have innumerable descendants. 39. Abram, later named Abraham, obeys God’s order to leave his home. 40. God promises Abraham a place called Canaan, also known as the Promised Land. 41. God’s promises pass from Abraham to his son Isaac, to Isaac's son Jacob, and on to the nation of Israel. 42. God instructs Abraham to leave his relatives and travel to Canaan, but Abraham never settles in the land. 43. Chapters thirty-seven to fifty focus on the sons of Jacob, Abraham’s grandson. 44. Jacob has twelve sons that later became the tribes of Israel. 45. The story about Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, tells of a coat with assorted colors. 46. The story centers on sibling rivalry and divine intervention.

47. God tests Joseph’s loyalty and integrity of character. 48. Joseph has vicissitudes in his life. 49. He stays upright in character. 50. Joseph becomes an Egyptian leader and saves his family from starvation.

Study Questions

(Reference: Study Guide: Genesis, Chapters 1-11 by the Bible Project) 1. How does Yahweh create a good world? 2. What is the Hebrew word for “image” and what does it mean? 3. Who or what are “divine image bearers”? (Genesis 1:26-30, 2:15) 4. Fill in the blank: An “image” is a physical _________that points to another person or object. (A. painting B. matter C. representation D. person E. none of these) 5. How does the term “image” relate to humans in Gen. 1:26-30? 6. What are humans assigned to do in Gen. 2:15? 7. What factors lead to the fracturing of the divine-human relationship and the ruin of human relationships on all levels in Genesis, Chapter 3?

Are the following statements (A) TRUE or (B) FALSE? 8. The stories in Genesis 3-11 explore the various sides of human sin and its consequences. 9. In Genesis, Chapter 4, humans build corrupt and sinful cities that are offensive to God. 10. Another name for God is “Yahweh.” 11. Yahweh wants a personal relationship with humans in Genesis, Chapters 1-4. 12. Yahweh brings justice for mankind’s rebellion in Genesis, Chapters 3-11. 13. In Genesis, Chapters 3-11, Yahweh offers unmerited divine aid to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. 14. In Genesis, Chapters 3-11, Yahweh promises future blessing for His world. 15. In Genesis, Chapter 11, humans turn to technological progress. 16. The “Tower of Babel” narrative records a scattering of the people because of their defiance toward one another. 17. In Genesis, Chapter 11, humans fall because of arrogance and autonomy. 18. The “Tower of Babel” narrative is continuation of the theme of human rebellion against their Creator and the consequence of their defiance toward God.

19. Which of the following is not a theme in Genesis, Chapter 3 and 4? a) suspicion of God’s goodness b) self-deception c) quest for wisdom and goodness independent of God d) jealousy and violence e) All the above are themes in Genesis, Chapters 3 and 4.

20. Which of the following DOES NOT occur in Genesis, Chapter 6? a) “The sons of God” interact with humans.

b) Spiritual beings disrupt God’s hood order. c) Humankind becomes become morally corrupt. d) Humans ruin God’s good world. e) All the above occur in Chapter 6.

For Reflection:

The stories in Genesis, Chapter1-11contain profound insights about the relationship between God and humankind. The themes of human rebellion against a faithful God, consequential judgment, human remorse, and God’s grace unify the narratives in Genesis, Chapters 1-11. Discuss one lesson learned from the stories? Give specific details and Scripture references (fiveeight sentences). Edit writing to correct errors. Label the post: An Overview of Genesis, Chapters 1-11. Post the response to the discussion board.

A Closing Thought:

“Life is a culmination of the past, an awareness of the present, an indication of a future beyond knowledge, the quality that gives a touch of divinity to matter.”- Charles Lindbergh

LESSON NINE

HEBREW CREATION NARRATIVES IN JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS

Lesson Overview:

The early chapters of Genesis present two accounts of cosmic and human origins in the language and ideas of the ancient Hebrews. This lesson explores the differences between the two historical accounts of creation according to the Jewish and Christian traditions and the literary style of the ancient Hebrew biblical narratives. Key Concepts: cosmic and human origins, foundational Abrahamic religions, biblical allusions, idioms

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

 Read and summarize the main ideas of the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.  explain terminology associated with the literary elements of biblical text.  distinguish between the figurative and literal textual expressions.  write an effective reflection paragraph on Genesis, Chapters 1-2.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Learning Outcomes

At the end on this lesson, students will be able to:  demonstrate a general knowledge of the creation narratives in the Book of Genesis.  use terminology associated with the literary elements of biblical text.  distinguish between the figurative and literal textual expressions.  recognize biblical allusions in idiomatic expressions.  write an effective reflection paragraph on a given topic.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Duration: 3-4 hours

Materials:

 a Hebrew Bible  a computer with internet access, email, and editing capability  video: The Book of Genesis-Part 1

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUV7mWDI34)  chart (below): An Overview of Genesis, Chapters 1-2  notebook/paper/pen  internet access/e-mail/computer editing ability

Procedure (Assignment one):  Read Genesis, Chapters 1-2 (any translation).  Watch the video: The Book of Genesis-Part 1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUV7mWDI34)  Review the chart of Genesis, Chapters 1-2.  Note details from assigned readings not mentioned on the chart.  Use a dictionary or other credible online sources to define unfamiliar vocabulary terms.  Respond in full sentences to the study questions on the overview chart.  Post questions about the assignment on the discussion board to receive help in completing the assignment(s).  Respond to all study questions related to the lesson.  Respond to the reflection questions in complete sentences.  Edit writing to correct errors.  Post the reflection(s) and extended assignment(s) on the discussion board

Genesis, Chapter 1

Title of the Narrative Literary Themes Plot Summary Study Questions

“The First Creation Account” (Gen. 1:125)  The Origin of the

Universe  Order in Creation  Goodness in

Creation  God’s Sovereignty  The Self Existence of God  Boundaries Genesis means “origins.” The first account of the origin of creation begins with its famous declaration of God creating the heavens and the earth. During the six days of creation, everything that is now a part of the world has its existence from a sovereign God. In a series of affirmations, Genesis declares the goodness of God’s creation. With the creation of humanity as the climax, the work of creation ends. The theme of goodness of creation is central to the Book. 1. What is the state of the earth before the

Creation narrative begins? 2. How does God show

His sovereignty in this narrative? 3. What is “good” about God’s the Creation of the world? 4. How does God set boundaries in His

Creation?

“Humanity  Man Created The high point of this creation 1. In what ways is the