Bible Study - Understanding Genesis 1 & 2

Here's how I see it based on my Bible study....Genesis 1:1 is a preface - The Story of the Beginning of Creation.Genesis 1:2 documents us the CONDITION OF THE DEEP (empty, null & void) BEFORE anything was Made.Genesis 1:3 narrates us the bringing forth of the Light BEFORE any work of old.Genesis 1:4 God divided the Light from the darkness before the start of any creation of our physical world.Genesis 1:5 Light Day and Night - the 1st. Day.IOW, I believe the Scripture is documenting us that the first formation of heaven ONLY took place on the 2nd Day (Genesis 1:6-8) - NOT Genesis 1:1.And other heavens (universes) were made on the 3rd day - again, NOT Genesis 1:1Do you agree? Your thought please...

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

No, of course not.Genesis is a compilation of several traditional folk tales. The younger, beginning with Genesis 1 and running through Genesis 2:4 is a later, more sophisticated tale. The older, found beginning at Genesis 2:5 is a combination of at lest two much earlier folktales.The two tales are mutually exclusive, the order and method of creation varies, the depiction of God is entirely different and even the words used to describe God are different.Together they are a series of "Just So Stories" meant to teach why things are the way they are. They help explain:

• why we work 6 days and take a day off.
• why we fear snakes.
• why snakes have no legs.
• why child birth seems to be harder for women than for other animals.
• why men have to work for a living and they don't live like other animals.

So the question has to be, "Why did the redactors include both tales?"It is obvious they were not opposed to combining stories together, they did just that in the story that begins at Genesis 2:5, yet they included the newer, younger tale virtually intact even though it contradicts the older, later tale and they even placed the newer tale first.I believe they did that to show the different aspects of GOD. In the newer tale we see a transcendent, overarching, and competent God, but one that is aloof, separate.The older God found in the Genesis 2 tale is more like a super-human; He is powerful. at times fumbling, indecisive and fearful, but he is approachable, personal.Together in poetic imagery the tales show two totally different yet essential attributes of GOD as well as helping explain the world we live in.Edited by jar, : appalin spallin

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Who are these people making these editorial decisions regarding versions, ordering etc. and how on Earth are they in a position to know God well enough to decide what combination best represents his true nature?Excuse my ignorance but when were these two account of creation actually written? Were they ate seperate times?

As to identities, no one knows. But that has been the story all along, it is why there is no such thing as "The Bible", why there are different Canons. Sure, but not just two different times. There are at least five different sources and traditions evident in the Old Testament stretching over a period of 500 years or more. The "or more" is that the 500 year period is primarily what was probably in written form. It is very likely that many of the tales existed in an oral tradition for an unknown length of time.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

That is interesting and educational!!Does this mean that the stories do not actually tell us anything about the nature of God at all or would God have been overseeing the origin, upkeep and editing of the stories at all times to give a true representation of himself?I guess my question is - What significance does the dispirate origins of the pasages of Genesis have for it's accuracy regarding the nature of God? Does it tell us anything fundamental or is it just the word of people, interpreted by people with no input from God at all?Interested in your views as you seem to have a fair amount of factual biblical knowledge whilst retaining faith of sorts.

I think they tell us much about the nature of GOD. I really think that is why the redactors include the two mutually exclusive creation myths in Genesis. They tell us about the Nature of GOD by showing us two facets, through stories of two different Gods, the transcendent God of Genesis 1 and the personal God of Genesis 2. Sure they are words of "just people". Did GOD dictate the books? Unlikely. But, as an author myself I can tell you that at times inspiration simply comes. Is that from GOD? Who knows.IMHO the authors, storytellers, redactors and editors were undoubtedly inspired. I'm sure they were trying to do their best but they were still just human.AbE:Let me add a Link to the Catechism on Creation. This is a pretty good source for some analysis of the Creation stories found in Genesis from a Mainstream Christian perspective.Edited by jar, : Add link to Catechism

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I disagree genesis 1:31 the end of the sixth day contradicts the first day being genesis 1:6-8. No John 1:1-3 agrees that all things that were made includes the stars were made thru the Word (Christ) psalm 8:3 the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars.2 Peter 3:8 that one day is as a thousand years. Thus the first day could be interpreted to be 1000 years. That Genesis 1-5 was the first day.It does say he made the stars also genesis 1:16 in context appears its only a reference to the wandering stars (the planets) not that the other stars of our universe were created on the 4th day. The stars in our galaxies were implied earlier because genesis 1:14-16 says let these lights shine their light upon the earth and that they be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. An example of this is the Pleadias and Orion which is reference to the starting of the spring season and the starting of the winter season (when its time to plant or harvest).The Planets were called stars is all that genesis 1:16 appears to be refering to. The sun had already became a star on day 1, but its size in the earths atmosphere its positioning along with the planets for their light happened on day 4. The moon and the sun are the same size in the earths atmosphere because of God positioning them on the 4th day, and the Planets too. (these stars he also made).genesis 1:14 too me implies that the stars other than the wandering stars were created in the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth. However if genesis 1:1 is only in reference to the earths beginnings then the stars other than the wandering stars were created before Genesis 1:1.Job and psalms gives credit to God that he created all the stars in the universe and John 1:1-3 that all things were made thru his Son (true light of true light) the (The Word). John 1:10. All things were made thru the Word who became the Lord Jesus including all the stars in the universe.Merry Christmas,Charley

Thanks for the link. Interesting.This interpretation does require some fairly sophisticated thinking on the part of those undertaking the editing and compiling of the bible. The inclusion of contradictory accounts to better represent different facets of God is not an obvious tactic and would seem a step above the the very black and white thinking that has all too often been a feature of organised religion historically. The acceptance, even embracing, of contradiction and personal interpretation I had thought was a very modern phenomenon?What is known about those who compiled the final books of Genesis? Is there anything to suggest that they were as sophisticated and enlightened as seems necessary for this interpretation?I would disagree about the possibility of divine intervention but frankly I am taking part in this thread more as an interested observer hoping to learn about a bit about the bible and why people have faith in it, than to start debating this sort of thing.

The deep was there. Water was there. The Spirit of God moved upon the roaring face of the deep water.First, this informs me that the account cannot be exhaustive discription of how God created the world. It is general and poetic.The writer of Leviticus had no problem going into great detail about the measurements and construction of the tabernacle and its utensils. The dimensions are specified. The way things fit into one another is detailed. And it is claimed that the entire structure was put together according to God's instructions.It follows that if the writer wanted to explain how God made water, had God told him, he could have also detailed that. The ointment for the anointing oil is discribed as to its engredients and thier measured proportions. There is too much detail in further writings of Moses (assuming Moses as author of Genesis) to lead me to believe that he intends a detailed account of creation.He must be giving a general outline with selected facets to convey a general impression. The earth and the heavens are designed. They are purposeful. And they were created for man's benefit. And man was created for God's purpose.Contrary to what I consider a foolish notion, the writer of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus was very intelligent and capable of conveying minute technical details, obviously. I regard therefore the account as general, factual, but not detailed enough technically to answer all of our questions about the hows of God's creation.

Do you believe that Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus... was the work of one man?By one man I mean one person who wrote it down and not a group of men over a few centuries being dictated to by the Holy Ghost.Brian. Edited by AdminPD, : Warning

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IOW, I believe the Scripture is documenting us that the first formation of heaven ONLY took place on the 2nd Day (Genesis 1:6-8) - NOT Genesis 1:1

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I disagree genesis 1:31 the end of the sixth day contradicts the first day being genesis 1:6-8.

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Dear Charley,I believe, your interpretation has some problems.Gen 1:29 says that mankind will eat of every tree. Revelation 22 shows that we will Not eat of the tree of Life until we get to Heaven.Gen 1:30 shows that EVERY animal will become Vegetarian. This phophecy will Not be fulfilled until Jesus returns to this Planet. Isaiah 11:7The prophecy of the end of the 6th Day is Future. We will Not have dominion over every living thing, until then.IOW, Genesis 1 tells us that God will Create a Perfect Heaven in 6 Days and then rest. God continues to work because Today is still the 6th Day. Tomorrow is Eternity for the 7th Day has No ending for God.God Bless

There are what is traditionally refered to as the first five books of Moses. That would be Genesis through Deutoronomy.(Reference to the death of Moses in Deuteronomy is a minor problem)I don't think the word "dictate" would discribe all sections of the writing as to how he received it from God. I don't believe he wrote all parts of it down as a secratary would write from a dictaphone or tape recorder. That is not how inspiration always occured. Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.Edited by AdminPD, : Warning

Is there any good reason to suppose that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible because AFAIK the Bible doesn't claim that he did. I sort of agree as it is obviously a later insertion, but I think there are many problems of greater magnitude.Brian. Edited by AdminPD, : Warning

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He must be giving a general outline with selected facets to convey a general impression. The earth and the heavens are designed. They are purposeful. And they were created for man's benefit. And man was created for God's purpose.

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Dear jaywill,I agree. Genesis 1 is an Outline of ALL of the events leading to the Creation of the Perfect Heaven (3rd). Most of the rest of the Bible refers to the present 6th Day, but ALL of the Bible refers to the events of God's 6 Creative Days.That's why we are taken back to the 3rd Day at Gen 2:4. The narrative is adding details to the events listed in Gen 1. Both accounts agree totally and in detail. What is amazing is that God wrote our History more than 3,000 years ago, and the events at the end of the 6th Day are still Future.IOW, God told the complete story of the Creation in Genesis 1 and beginning at Gen 2:4, we begin to learn the details of the events of Genesis 1.I honestly believe that God created / made our universe in the manner as He told us how He did -- LITERALLY SPEAKING.God BlessEdited by 4Pillars, : No reason given.