THE LITERARY DESIGN OF GENESIS, CHAPTER ONE

19. The repetitive phrase evening and morning appears in the narrative at the conclusion of each stage of Creation. 20. On days one through three, God separates the unordered darkness into three orderly states. 21. On days four through six, God fills the uninhabited barren earth with living creatures. 22. One can conclude from reading Genesis, Chapter One that God existed before recorded time. 23. Based on the biblical Creation narrative, God sets up the order of time on the first day. 24. In Genesis, Chapter One, the sky is a solid dome that holds back waters. 25. The waters under the sky gather into one place, and afterward, the dry ground appears. 26. On day three, God sets up the realm (boundaries) for the land and the waters. 27. The land appears from the chaotic waters, and afterward, God calls forth plants and fruit trees to appear from the land. 28. This Creation narrative explains the realms of time, the realm of the sky, and the boundaries of the seas and the land. 29. On days four through six, God creates lights in the vault (arch) of the sky. 30. God creates the sun, moon, and stars to be signs and symbols. 31. On day five, God fills the waters with sea creatures and the sky with fowls. 32. On day six, God creates living creatures (including humans) from the earth. 33. Throughout the narrative, God says that everything He has created is good. 34. The creation of humans is different from that of other living creatures. 35. Adam is a Hebrew term for man, humans, or humankind. 36. Humanity is the climax of God’s Creation. 37. The statement that God created man (humanity) in His image means that people embody and represent their Creator. 38. In the narrative, God blesses the people and tells them to increase in number and subdue (rule over) the earth. 39. God rests on the Sabbath (seventh) day from all His work. 40. God blesses the seventh day and sets it apart as a holy day. 41. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship in all Jewish and

Christian communities. 42. According to the presenters of the video, God's ideal vision for the whole cosmos is a place where He lives with His Creation. 43. The video presenters say that the author of Genesis, Chapter 1 weaves the number seven into every part of the story. 44. Within this Creation narrative are seven announcements that Creation is good. 45. Based on the narrative, God plans for humans to rest and rule the world with Him forever. 46. A triad consists of a group or set of three connected people or things. 47. In Genesis One, each of the triads has its own internal shape. 48. In Genesis One, the reader can compare matching elements in the first and last aspects of the triads.

49. The framework interpretation (also known as the literary framework view, framework theory, or framework hypothesis) is a description of the structure of the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. 50. As presented in Genesis 1:2, days one through six are two triads that address the

“problems” of the cosmic disorder.

Study Questions:

(Resource-Genesis 1 Study Guide: https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Study%20Notes/VC_Genesis 1_Study %20Notes_final.pdf )

Are the following statements (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT? 1. The literary design of this first chapter of Genesis is intentional. 2. The presenters say that the prologue in Genesis 1:1-2 is the introductory section of the entire Hebrew Bible. 3. The epilogue in Genesis 1:31-2:3) functions as a macro frame around the internal sequence of six days. 4. The term “prologue” is often used for “exposition.” 5. An” exposition” gives background information about what is happening in the story. 6. A “prologue” is a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work. 7. An “exposition” has to be in the “prologue.” 8. In Genesis, Chapter 1, the exposition of the prologue is in these words: “the earth (land) was wild and waste (Heb: tohu va-vohu) and “darkness was over the face of the deep abyss (Heb: tehom). 9. “The breath of Elohim was hovering over the face of the waters (Heb: hamayim)” is a part of the exposition. 10. The “epilogue” finishes the story in Genesis 1 with the words: “Thus were finished, the skies and the land and all their hosts. 2:2-3. 11. The number seven (7) is a part of the literary design in Genesis, Chapter 1. 12. The design structure of Genesis 1 has a sequence of six days, with a clear strategy of emphasizing the seventh day. 13. Genesis 1 has both an introduction and a narrative about the pre-creation state of the universe. 14. The word “beginning” (Heb. Redshift) refers to a first point in time. 15. A “preliminary” period denotes an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important. 16. According to Genesis 1, the Hebrew phrases “tohu vavohu” and “tehom” are a part of the pre-created state of the world. 17. The storytelling design of God’s creation of the universe relates to forward symmetry. 18. Eschatology is a part of theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity. 19. Eschatology is one of the most self-evident features of Genesis 1 in its seven-day sequence.

20. The number seven is an organizing principle for the entire chapter from beginning to end.

For Reflection (1):

Summarize the literary design of Genesis, Chapter 1 (five-eight sentences). Mention the organizational structure of the prologue, the use of triads, and the design of the epilogue. If necessary, use other reliable internet Bible study tools to respond effectively. Document sources. Post your findings on the discussion board. Label the post: A Reflection on the Literary Design of Genesis, Chapter One.”

For Reflection (2):

How is literary design important to the depth of meaning in biblical text? Write-5-8 sentences. Edit your writing to correct errors. Post your response on the discussion board. Label the post: The Significance of the Literary Design in Biblical Text.

A Closing Thought:

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the BIBLE for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty G-D ... What a Utopia, what a Paradise would this region be"

- John Adam

Lesson Overview:

LESSON ELEVEN

“THE FALL OF HUMANITY”

(GENESIS, CHAPTER THREE)

According to Jewish and Christian tradition, Genesis, Chapter 3 concerns the moral history of humankind. In this Creation narrative, Eve, a serpent tempts “the mother of humankind to partake of the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. After she convinces her husband, Adam, to disobey God’s command, they must face divine judgment, along with the serpent. Students will analyze the literary aspects of the narrative and engage in vocabulary development activities. Key Concepts: decisions and consequences, good and evil, Paradise Lost, human fallibility, man’s inadequacies, disobedience and punishment, God’s mercy, innocence, and experience

Lesson Objectives:

Students will:

 Read and summarize the main ideas of the first three 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 1-3.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end on this lesson, students will be able to:  demonstrate a general knowledge of chapters 1-3 of the Book of Genesis.  use 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 1-3.  edit writing to correct errors standard English usage.  participate in class discussions.

Duration: 3-4 hours