Bible 110 Old Testament
Pre-Abrahamic Materials
I.
Genesis 1-11; not pre-history, but pre-Abrahaimic, mythopoeic with a base
in history.
A. Trace Israel’s history back to creation
B. Use of imagery which is parallel in other religions of near east. Try to
discover original meaning of form.
C. Discover what Israel thought about the stories
D. Discover existential meaning which transcends Israel’s interpretation
II.
Creation Narratives
A. Gen. 1:1-2:4a is P account of creation. May have been used in a
worship liturgy (8 times “And God said…” 6 times “and God saw…”)
B. Gen. 2:4b-3:24 is J account of creation
C. Interpretation of Creation
1. Israelite polemics against other near eastern beliefs and accounts
(e.g. Babylonian-Marduk is solar deity). God conquers chaos.
2. Bara is a unique creation
3. Creationist – literal 7 twenty-four hour days. God created all
species essentially as they are.
4. Scientific – strict evolution. God not involved at all. Natural
Selection.
Deistic evolution – God started the process, then stepped back and
allowed it to run its course
Theistic evolution – God created the process (begin with Big Bang)
and stays involved in the process. Order of creation fits both
Genesis account and some theistic evolutionist accounts.
Appearance of new species (including mankind) is the process of
evolution superintended by God (William Teraple, Teilhard de
Chardin).
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Bible 110 Old Testament
5. Images of God – physical resemblance? Upright posture? Brain
power? Ability to relate to others? Moral sensitivity? Spiritual
sensitivity? Control of the world?
6. Adam – man
Adamah – ground
ish –man
ishah – woman
Woman plus man equals completed humanity Gen. 2
III.
Fall Stories
Three of them – Gen 3, 6, 11; they say the same thing.
A. Gen 3 – serpent appears; crafty; alternative by which decision must be
made. Temptation to be as gods; cast doubt on God’s words; man
attempting to become creator
Three curses: curse of serpent 3:14; something wrong between man and
nature
Curse of woman – 3:16; bear children and serve man (husband)
Curse of the soil – 3:17; soil is cursed because of the man. It will bear
only grudgingly. Man alienated from dust. Mans’ sin has brought about all
kinds of things. Death comes because of man’s disobedience.
First murder – 4:1-16; man at odds with man; farmers vs. sheepherders.
B. Gen 6:1-4 – attempt to explain who the Nephilim (giants) are. Sons of
God took the (cohabitated with) daughters of men. Overstepping
boundary between divine and human; because of this death entered the
world. Prelude to flood story, explaining why the flood came
(degenerative and demonic nature of the world); Ark – 450’x75’x45’
C. Gen 11:1-9 – based on Enuma Elish? Babel means “gate of God,”
Hebrews demythologized Babylonian story and reused it to describe how
man is overstepping his boundaries again (building the tower to heaven,
all speaking the same language); confirms of languages is similar to
casting out of the garden.
Even after the flood, men continued to sin. Man’s pride is responsible for
sin, overstepping bounds. Flood story is similar to Gilgamesh Epic.
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Bible 110 Old Testament
Archeological evidence for many floods; end of flood story: strict judgment
will not change the rebellious people; only an outreaching God can do that
(9:8)
Conclusion of flood story 9:1-7;
1. Emphasis on blood in life principle – may not be eaten (hygienic
and cultic)
2. Human blood may not be shed with impunity
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