Genesis 1– 11: Beginnings

Pre-History before 2000 BC

A Historical Literary study

Of the First

Book of the Bible

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Literary Reading : Proverbs 25:11

Golden apples in silver settings!A word well spoken!

Pro 25:11 一 句话说得合宜，就如金苹果在银网子里。

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Look for Macro Structures

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First Foundational History

The Pentateuch

The Books of the LAW

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Structure of the Pentateuch

A Genesis

B Exodus

X Leviticus

B’ Numbers

A’ Deuteronomium

Act I : Beginnings of Humanity (Primeval)

Act II: Beginnings of Israël (Patriarchal)

Scene 1: Earth andInhabitants

Scene II: Sin and Consequences 3-11

Scene 1:Abraham and

Sarah12-25

Scene 2:Isaak and Rebekka24-27

Scene 3: Jacob en Rachael 28-50

Jacob Esau

Jacob Laban

Jacob Jozef

Macro Structure : Genesis

Covenant with Abram/Sara12:1-3

Act I :

Act II:

Scene 1: Scene II:

Scene 1: Scene 2: Scene 3:

Macro Structure : Genesis

12:1-3

PART I :

The Structures and Genresof Genesis 1-11

Learning to see the

larger picture

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Creation Structure

Original Creation out of waters 1-2» The UN - Creation in the Flood 3-6

The Re - Creation out of waters 7-11

No matter how drastic man's sin becomes, destroying what God has made good and bringing the world to the brink of un-creation, God's grace never fails to deliver man from the consequences of his sin. Even when man responds to a fresh start with the old pattern of sin, God's commitment to his world stands firm, and sinful man experiences the favor of God as well as his righteous judgment. (Cline)

Notes

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Genre Reading in Genesis

Specific Narrative Genre» Creation Narrative Genesis 1» Historic Apocalyptic in Genesis 2-11 (GNB pg. 2)

» History of the Patriarchs 12-50 Poetic Sections

» Brief sayings (1:27-28; 12:1-3)» Larger segments (Gen. 49)

Genealogies» Enumerative genre (GNB pg. 5)

Genesis 1-11

• 1 Creation • 2 Adam and Eve• 2:4

• 4-6 Sin effects• All Creation

• 10-11 Sin effects• All Creation

• 3 The Fall • of Mankind

• 6-9 The• Flood

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First Structure Gen 1-11 Four Main Events

Fall 3-51st Disorder

Flood 6-92e Disorder

Babel 10-113de Disorder

CreationOriginal ORDER

AbramCovenant

Notes

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The Three Disorders

The ORDER» In the Image of God» Righteousness» Harmony» Relational

– With self– With God– With Others– With the created world

» Divine Blessing

» Ultimate Purpose stated

The 3 DISORDERS» Corrupt Divinity» Sin - disobedience» Violence» Schism (Broken)

– Within the heart– With God– With Others– With the created world

» Divine Judgment» Ultimate Purpose

(adjusted) - Grace

Gen. 1: Form is CLIMACTIC

» DAY 1-3

» GOD CREATES

» ENVIRONMENT

» (what sustains life)

» DAY 4-6

» GOD CREATES

» CONTENT

» (what moves and lives)» 1. LIGHT ! » 4. LIGHT BEARERS

» 2. FIRMAMENT/ WATERS » 5. BIRDS and FISHES

» 3a. LAND » 3b. HERBS » 6a. ANIMALS» 6b MANKIND

» 7. HOLY SABBATH REST

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Example Genesis 1:6-8

» And there was evening, » and there was morning-- the first day.

6 And God said, » A "Let there be an expanse between the waters to

separate water from water.“ » B 7 So God made the expanse and separated the

water under the expanse from the water above it.» C And it was so.

8 God called the expanse "sky." » And there was evening, » and there was morning-- the second day.

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Intra-Textuality in Genesis 1:6-8

» And there was evening, » and there was morning-- the first day.

6 And God said, » A "Let there be an expanse between the waters

to separate water from water.“ » B 7 So God made the expanse and separated

the water under the expanse from the water above it.

» C And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky."

» And there was evening, » and there was morning-- the second day.

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The chiasm: Day 4 (Gen. 1:

And God said: Let there be lights . . . To divide day-night

» Let them be for signs/seasons - days/years– Lights in firmament to give light on earth

God made two lightsThe greater to rule the day - lesser to rule the night - stars

– In the firmament to give light on the earth» To rule over day/night

To divide the light from darkness And God saw it was good

Genesis 2: The creation of mankind

The pre-condition - 5-6 The creation of Adam 7 The Garden of Eden 8-14 The task of Adam 15-17 The creation of Eve 18-25

The First DIS-ORDERSin Enters The Human Heart

Genesis 3:1-24

The First Attempt to be gods

Outline Chapter 4 Chaos – 3:23-24 Adam and Eve expelled Opening 4:1-2 Call upon the Name of the Lord

1-2 ADAM – births 3-5 Offerings

6-7 God and Cain converse8 Cain kills Abel – MURDER

9-15 God and Cain converse 16 Expulsion

17 Cain Births

The Second Story of DISORDER

The Flood

Genesis 6-9

The Structure and Outline

5:32 And Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham and Japhet

9:28-28 And Noah lived after the Flood 350 years, and he died

The Events of the Flood

The Central Statement

6:1- 7:24 The Events Leading to the Flood The UN-Creation

8:2-9:27 The Events Leading to Dry Earth The RENEWAL of Creation

The Central Statement

AND GOD REMEMBEREDNOAH

A Detailed Structure The Condition before the Flood 6:1-9

– Generation of Noah 6:10 Violence on earth 6:11-13

– God’s Resolve: Building of the Ark 14-22• God’s Command to Enter 7:1-10

• God’s Command to Exit 8:15-19– God’s Resolve: Not to Destroy earth 20-22

Covenant Blessing and Peace 9:1-17– Generation of Noah 9:18

The Condition after the Flood 9:19-27

THE FLOOD

The Third Story of DISORDER

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

The Tower of Babel; Gen. 11:1-9

A One Language A’ Many Languages

B They Settle

C They said: “Let us . . “

D A Tower in the Heavens

B’ The Lord Disperses

C’ The Lord: “Let us”

D’ Nothing is impossible

The TURNING PointThe Lord came down

Thematic Reading

What is the development

of the great theological

themes?

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Thematic Reading

Biblical Flow of Events

Theme CREATION

DarknessLight

People andland

Sabbath

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Progressive RevelationINTER – Textual Reading

Light andDarknessGenesis 1

Light andDarknessHistorical

Light andDarknessProphets

Light andDarknessGospels/Rev.

Biblical movement of events

»TRADITION

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Historical Cultural Identity

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Historical Cultural Identity