This document provides an overview and analysis of the creation stories in Genesis. It begins by defining what it means to read the Bible literally and contextually. It then gives an overview of the structure of the Old and New Testaments. The document analyzes key elements of the Genesis creation stories, including their poetic structure, themes of separation and population, and symbolic meanings. It clarifies concepts like the dual creation of humans, the forbidden fruit, and original sin. The document also examines linguistic origins and connections between the Genesis stories and Christianity.

1. Genesis
The Story of Creation Lesson 3

2. Conundrum….

3. Scripture Groundwork
 Reading the Bible
Literally: to read
the Bible word for
word as it is
written.
 Contextually: to
read the Bible in the
context of history,
authorship, style,
and language.
 The Bible from Ta biblios
(Greek: “The Book”)
 Old Testament
 Hebrew Scripture
 Pentateuch: Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus
Numbers, Deuteronomy
 New Testament
 Christian Scripture
 Gospels
 Acts
 Letters
 Apocalyptic Literature

4. “Inherit the Wind”

5. Genesis Groundwork
 Began as the Oral
Tradition of the Hebrew
People
 Written in Ancient
Hebrew approximately
1445 BC by “Moses”
 Multiple stories
circulated
 Common to ancient
peoples
 Genesis is Hebrew for “in
the beginning”
 Creation Story is not a
Scientific Account
 Society & Culture added
many images in the
modern age

6. Day to Day: The Poetry of Genesis
Introduce the
Day
• “God Commanded”
Expression of
the Command
• “Let the water”
Obeying the
Command
• “It was done”
Rejoicing in the
Result
• “God was pleased.”
Identifying the
Day
• “The Third Day”

7. The Pattern of the Week
3 Days of
Separation
• Day 1: Light/Dark
• Day 2: Rain/Sea
• Day 3: Sea/Land
3 Days of
Population
• Day 4: Sky: Moon, stars,
sun
• Day 5: Air & Sea: Birds
& Fish
• Day 6: Land: Animals &
People
1 Day of Celebration
• Bless and Rest
Biblical Meaning of
Numbers:
3= Perfection
7= Completion

8. The Four Truth of the First Story

9. The Second Creation Story
 The Oral Tradition had
multiple stories
circulating.
 First Story was very
poetic.
 Emphasized the
intelligence of the Creator
 Second story is a
dramatic narrative.
 Emphasized the primacy
of humans & their
relationship with the
creator and creation

10. Clarifying Points
 God creates humans out of
Earth but breathes life into
the body.
 The physical body is of the
Earth and life is from God.
 God takes part of the
human and creates a
companion.
 Man & Woman are two
halves of the one original
whole.
 Man and Woman are equal
in dignity b/c they’re
complementary.
 Signifies the plan of marriage
and monogamy.
 The sexes are more than
Biology
 God allows Man to name
animals.
 Signifies control and
responsibility
 Forbidden Fruit
 Original Sin is disobedience
 Eating is ancient symbolism
for knowledge. “to ingest
knowledge”
 Snake=Deceiver
 Ancient symbolism for a
snake=evil/malice

11. More Clarifying Points
 Sin was not created by
God.
 Sin alienates and divides
people from themselves
 The consequences of sin is
death
 Knowledge of Evil brings
guilt and shame
 Cain & Abel are born and
Sin spreads
 Language Points:
 Forbidden Fruit=Apple?
Latin: Malum= Evil
Greek: Malum=Apple
 Eden= Summerian “Plain”
 Paradise= Latin Paradisio
“Enclosed”
 Deceiver=
Hebrew:“Hasatanas”
Greek: “Diabolos”

12. Connections to Christianity
 “I will put enmity
between you and the
woman, and between
your offspring and
hers; he will strike your
head, and you will
strike his heel.” Gen 3:15