HEBREW CREATION NARRATIVES IN JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS

Created” (Gen. 1:2631)

in the Image of God  Equality between

Male and

Female narrative is God’s creation of humanity. It is at this point that the Bible introduces the only creature to bear the image of God. The Hebrew word cited in this passage for “man” is humanity in general, rather than as a male human being. Genesis depicts humanity, male and female, as created in the likeness of God (1:2627). creation of humans the apex of God’s

Creation? 2. Define the use of the expression “man” in the second Creation narrative. 3. Explain the concept of humans created in the “image” of God.

Genesis, Chapter 2

Title of the Narrative Literary Themes Plot Summary Study Questions

“The Second Account of Creation” (Genesis 2)  God’s

Sovereignty  God’s Love for

Humanity  Man-Created in the Image of God  Goodness of

Creation  Orderliness in the

World  Boundaries  The Sabbath The second account of creation (Genesis 2:4b–25) describes how God creates man, and the Garden of Eden. Then, He makes Adam a female companion. In Genesis 2:4b–25, “the LORD God formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) This anthropocentric account differs from the cosmos centric account in the first narrative. 1. How does the second

Creation narrative differ from the first? 2. What is God’s plan for humans after the

Creation? 3. How does Adam respond to his companion? 4. What is God’s plan for all creation? 5. What does this narrative reveal about

God’s character?

Study Questions

1. What are the two main parts of Genesis, Chapters 1-11? 2. What is the meaning of primeval history? 3. Which of the following is not a part of the Bible’s primeval history? a. the two creation accounts in Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2 b. the fall of humanity into sin and punishment in Genesis, Chapter 3 c. the universal flood as punishment for sin d. the scattering of the people in the “Tower of Babel” e. all the above are examples of biblical primeval history.

Are the following statements (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT?

4. Noah is the tenth and last of the pre-Flood patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. 5. The antediluvian period is the period chronicled in the Bible between the fall of man and the Genesis flood narrative in biblical cosmology. 6. A deluge is an overflowing of land by water. 7. Genealogy is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. 8. Longevity is a long duration of individual life. 9. A biblical allusion is a very quick or indirect reference to something in the Bible, such as a particular scripture, character, or story. 10. An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. 11. Various people listed in the Bible’s genealogies lived long lives. 12. The name Methuselah is in the fifth chapter of Genesis. 13. Methuselah holds the title of being the oldest-known human (969 years old). 14. “Old as Methuselah” is an idiom used to refer to someone’s old age. 15. Methuselah’s death was antediluvian? 16. “The Mark of Cain” is an idiom that associates one to disgrace or public disapproval over a crime, wrongdoing, personal failure, or controversial behavior. 17. “The Mark of Cain” alludes to the biblical Cain, the oldest son of Adam and Eve who murdered his brother because of jealousy and is cursed by God. 18. To “raise Cain” means to cause trouble, to create a great commotion, or to behave in an uncontrolled, disruptive way. 19. Adam and Eve are the only people who disobey God in the Book of Genesis. 20. The disobedience of humanity toward God is a dominant theme in the Book of Genesis.

For Reflection:

Compare the two accounts of Creation in Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2. Find at least three similarities and three differences in the details. Proofread your writing before posting your reflection on the discussion board. Label the reflection: Three Similarities and Differences in the Creation Narrative in the Hebrew Bible.

A Closing Thought:

“In the beginning God created man in His own image, and man has been trying to repay the favor ever since.”

― Voltaire

LESSON TEN

THE LITERARY DESIGN OF GENESIS, CHAPTER ONE

Lesson Overview

This lesson focuses on the intentional literary design of the first chapter of Genesis and how this chapter sets the stage for the entire Hebrew Bible. The prologue (1:1-2) and the epilogue (1:31-2:3) of Genesis, Chapter One serve as a macro frame around the internal sequence of six days. Students will examine the precise structure of the chapter and the linguistic artistry that brings to life the rest of the Hebrew text. Key Concepts: literary design, epilogue, prologue, exposition, macro frame, forward symmetry, eschatology, triads, structure, themes, literary framework, triad literary framework view, framework theory, framework hypothesis

Lesson Objectives

Students will:

 understand the literary structure of Genesis, Chapter One.  explain terminology associated with the literary structure of biblical text.  distinguish between the literary expressions prologue and the epilogue.  write an effective reflection paragraph on literary design.  edit writing to correct errors.  participate in class discussions.

Learning Outcomes

At the end on this lesson, students will be able to:  explain the meaning of the literary design of the first chapter of Genesis.  distinguish between different terms related to the literary design of the biblical text.  respond to reading comprehension questions logically and accurately.  write a reflection on the literary design of Genesis, Chapter One.  edit writing to correct errors.  participate in class discussions.

Duration: 2-3 hours

Materials:

 Video: Genesis 1 (A look at how the literary design of Genesis 1 reveals God’s ideal vision for the whole cosmos) (https://cs360studio.com/2020/11/genesis-1/)

 Study Guide by the Bible Project: https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Study %20Notes/VC_Genesis-1_Study%20Notes_final.pdf  A computer with editing capability  Internet access  A notebook/pen/pencil

Procedure:

 View the video: Genesis 1 (A look at how the literary design of Genesis 1 reveals God’s ideal vision for the whole cosmos) (https://cs360studio.com/2020/11/genesis-1/).  Respond to the video study questions (Set A).  Use the Bible Project study guide to answer the questions (Set B) (https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/Study%20Notes/VC_Genesis-1_Study %20Notes_final.pdf ).

Study Questions (Set A) (Resource: Video- Genesis 1 (A look at how the literary design of Genesis 1 reveals God’s ideal vision for the whole cosmos) (https://cs360studio.com/2020/11/genesis-1/)

Based on the video, are the statements below (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT? 1. The first book in the Bible focuses on beginnings. 2. The Book of Genesis is a carefully crafted narrative about the origin and order of the whole cosmos. 3. The opening words of the entire Hebrew Bible are "In the beginning God..." 4. On day two, God creates a vault, or arch, to separate water from water. 5. In biblical Hebrew, the word for heaven refers to the sky above, and the word for earth means the ground below. 6. According to the video, in the beginning, the earth was in a state of nothingness. 7. In Hebrew, the land was Tohu, which means unordered and uninhabited. 8. Anything that is non-existent has no purpose nor order. 9. The biblical expression darkness upon the face of the deep means that darkness covers a deep chaotic ocean. 10. Based on the presentation, the Spirit of God hovered or floated over the face of the waters. 11. The expression face of the deep is an example of personification. 12. The Hebrew word for God's Spirit is Ruach, referring to the wind or breath of God. 13. The Spirit of God, or God's invisible presence, is the source of the biblical version of Creation. 14. The speakers in this video propose that God brings order to the dark chaos. 15. Symbolically, light and darkness can stand for good and evil, respectively. 16. The order of the cosmos occurs within six days. 17. An implied literary theme in the Creation narrative (Gen. 1) is a concern for boundaries. 18. Each day of Creation begins and ends with the repetitive phrase, “… and God said…”