Genesis: is it to be taken literally?

As far as I can tell, the deity is always referred to as: "The God of Israel," Or, "The God of the Hebrews," Or, "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." I do not recall anywhere it is referred to as: "The God of Everyone."This seems rather significant to me.Any thoughts?

Thank you dear. Love your new avatar. She's one of my favorite images. Did you by any chance find her on my website?

Thank you for your kind words.Now that you mention it: My 'wonderful site' has experienced a technical difficulty and is no longer accessible. I shall have to re-open it under a different name. Hope to accomplish that soon, and will let you all know when it is ready.db

Hi Brian,It is really great seeing you guys are still here on the front lines, so to speak but I don't know which is the more challenging opponent: Buz or Billy (wmscott).I watched Life of Brian recently, with someone who had never seen it (can you imagine that?) and she was duly impressed, and entertained. It is perhaps the most precious video tape in my collection.

It is good to see fresh recruits in the war on ignorance; especially one so prolific (176 posts since April)!One key to understanding why 'polytheism' is evidenced throughout the Bible may be found in looking at how the word 'elohim' is used. To wit: elohim is applied to men, especially kings, princes, and great military commanders such as Moses! You are probably already aware of biblical texts in support of this assertion. Yes?Even today we sometimes speak of the 'greats' among us in this way.I suppose you have already commented upon the fact that the appellation of the deity changes from chapter one to chapter two of Genesis; from the simple 'elohim' (gods) to the 'yahweh elohim' (Mr. Gods) who also speak in the first person plural ("See, the man has become like one of us"). In this case 'man' is given for the Hebrew 'adam' which may suggest a person of the lower class. Adam is at least once translated: Low; Psalm 49:2 KJV; ie. a poor man or lower class man. It is also translated 'man of low degree' and 'mean man' [Young's Analytical Concordance] where mean is understood to be "low in social position or rank" [Thorndike Barnhart].Lower class persons are not likely to be called 'gods' but the upper class: Kings, Princes, and Commanders were called gods.Something to think about, eh?db

You may need a more persuasive argument than the two simple passages you reference.

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"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31,32 KJV

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This quote says nothing about the Bible.

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"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17 KJV

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This quote too, says nothing about the Bible.So, what does the Bible "say" about "the Word"?

• In holy scripture: God is called "The Word." John 1:1
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• Verbal messages from Yahweh are called "the word of God." Or, "The word of the LORD."
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• AND, - Christian sermons are called "the word of God."

The word is something one hears.

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"When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." John 2:22

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Note the distinction made between the two: "the scripture AND the word."Now, the really important question is: Where, in all of holy scripture, can we find a direct statement which unmistakably identifies "The Word of God" as those little black ink marks on that piece of moldering papyr?I'm askin'dbThis message has been edited by doctrbill, 02-01-2005 18:36 AM

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I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: Isa 45:5