The Origin of the World in the Book of Genesis

1191 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of Genesis 1-2

The Origin of the World in the Book of Genesis

The origin of the world has been a topic for discussion since the early days of theology. We can all see this matter around us; the sun, moon, trees, and wildlife, but where did it all come from? The first book of the Bible, Genesis, gives two separate explanations for this phenomena. In Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 the first account of creation is given, and in Genesis 2:4 through the end of chapter two the other explanation for creation is described. These two stories depict creation in different ways, but the underlying story in Genesis 1 and 2 are fundamentally the same.

In the first story of creation, Genesis 1:1 to 2:3, creation is depicted in a very orderly manner. Everything from how the universe was created to the making of humankind is laid out on a day-to-day agenda. The story consists of seven days, and thoroughly describes exactly what God created on each day. The second story does not have a certain laid out pattern as to the order of creation. It does state basically the same points of creation as in the first story, but it does not put everything in such a strict pattern of events. Both stories begin by describing what the universe was like before the time of creation. The first version depicts a “formless void” or basically a shapeless space. It is suggested that there is water in this space, because it is stated that “a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” The second version says “In the day that the Lord God made the Earth and the Heavens…” suggesting that there wasn’t anything in the universe until God created it. This version also says that the water came from beneath the earth to “water the whole face of the ground.” Whereas, in the f...

... middle of paper ...

...l beliefs of Christianity and Judaism. God is the creator of all things, and for this we owe him our deepest respect and gratitude.

In conclusion, the first two chapters of Genesis give an explanation for the existence of the universe. Even though the way in which the world is created differs from chapter one to chapter two, the fundamental principles behind the two stories are the same. I believe that this is the main point that the writers of the Bible are getting across to show that we should dedicate our lives to God, because he has given us life. Life is precious, so we should do our best to give back to God all that we are capable of in order to show our gratitude for this precious gift we have received. Even though we may fall short of perfection at times we should still strive to please God, and show him that he has truly created something beautiful.

Show More
Related

  • Christian Beliefs in the Origins of the World

    527 Words  | 2 Pages

    Christian Beliefs in the Origins of the World “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ” A Description of Christian Beliefs About the Origins of The World Christians believe that God created the universe. In Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we are told that God creates both the universe and everything that is in it.

    Read More

  • Essay on The Holy Bible - The Nature of God in Genesis

    1153 Words  | 3 Pages

    God’s initial idea was a good one. He was alone in the void. Either out of boredom or perhaps out of a need to have someone else to confirm his greatness, he creates the Earth, plants, animals and most important (both for the sake of this argument and in God’s own mind) mankind. By design, man is supposed to be ignorant. So, for a time, God is happy and he has a source of praise. This is a rather mundane existence, however. As any kid will tell you, the game is no fun if you know you are going to win. Sure, it’s amusing for a while, but in the long run what the hell good is it? The game, in this case, is life, namely God’s life. (If that concept strikes you as odd, feel free to call it God’s existence) In any case, God makes sure there is temptation for man. It’s no accident that Adam and Eve have been made to live in close proximity to the one thing that is forbidden to them, the tree of knowledge. God wants his children to not o...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Genesis

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Original Context Summary: Genesis 1: 1- 32 is the story of Creation. It is defined as either a Historic and/or poetic narrative. The narrative was written to tell the story of how God had created the world we live in today. “Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath” is the chapter title and it goes on to give details of what was created on each of the six days. Each day the world had gotten better and more useful. The first day god created the earth and made day and night. The second day he made the sky. The third day he separated the land and sea. The fourth day God created the Sun, Stars and Moon. The fifth day God created animals for the sea and air. The last day was the sixth day and god created animals for the dry land as well as the first

    Read More

  • Enuma Elish And Genesis Similarities

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    The origin of the earth is something that people have and always will be curious about. It is full of all these amazing creatures and things that we have no idea how they came to be. The Enuma Elish and Genesis are stories of creation. These stories are almost complete opposites of each other. They have very few similarities but many differences. This essay focuses on the natural world, view of humans, and the cosmos of each story. You will be able to see how a polytheistic and monotheistic world differ. Not to mention the views each story has in general. The Enuma Elish is the gorier and violent story while Genesis is a calmer and more orderly take on the creation of the world. The Enuma Elish “…tells us the story of the birth of the gods,

    Read More

  • Genesis Chapter 1 Comparison

    496 Words  | 1 Pages

    As the introduction of the Bible, Genesis explains the creation of the world and the following stories of the generation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. Using priestly narrative voice is common in the text; however, there is non-priestly narrative version text that comes after and obtains different descriptions from the priestly narrative version. Both chapter 1 and 2 are the whole processes of the creation of the world, but chapter 1 uses priestly narrative voice and chapter 2 uses non-priestly narrative voice. In chapter 1, the creation is so abstract because many things including sky are created after the God says something that follows his will. For example, there is an abstract description of plants: “God said, ‘Let the earth grow grass, plants yielding

    Read More

  • Genesis, the Gospel, and Theistic Evolution

    3099 Words  | 7 Pages

    Humans have asked questions about their origin and their purpose on earth for eons. The Bible tells humans that God created them and explains their purpose. However, since the Renaissance, humanism answers questions about origins by naturalistic means and science has been redefined in the process. Most institutions of higher education and many individuals have adopted the naturalistic theory of evolution to explain human origin without considering its effects on faith. In contrast to prevailing thought at Goshen College, a literal six-day creation is foundational to the Gospel message. Combining evolution and Christianity makes one’s faith less logical and opens one’s science to new quandaries.

    Read More

  • The Cosmogonies of Genesis and the Laws of Manu

    2178 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Genesis, god created merely by speaking. It was god who created the heavens and earth also known as cosmos. Water was already pre-existent matter; everything else was created by god. It all began when god spoke in the darkness and said let there be light and there was light. God saw that the light was good. During the day there would be light, and the darkness would be at night. By the second and third day, god created a firmament (dome) which separated the waters from the waters. God called the firmament heaven and said that all the waters under heaven should be gathered as one allowing for dry land to appear. This created one place for the water and another place for dry land. It was the dry land that beca...

    Read More

  • Biblical Worldview Of Genesis 1-11

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genesis 1-11 sets the foundation for several concepts pertaining to the biblical worldview. These chapters illustrate the ideal relationship with God, creation, and others before the fall of man. It shows how sin affected human relationships and identities that still exist today. The chapters begin with a perfect creation and end with the division of men from God due to their wicked nature. “This section explains the terrible progress of sin and the reason God’s redemptive program was necessary. Thus, it is the foundation of the biblical worldview, and without this part the rest would be somewhat incomprehensible” (Hindson & Yates). Four concepts, found in Genesis 1-11, that set the foundation for the biblical worldview are the natural world,

    Read More

  • A Miracle! in Shakespeare´s Much Ado About Nothing

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Genesis Chapter 2.” The Official King James Bible Online. n.p. n.d. Web. 11 Dec 2013. .

    Read More

  • Genesis 2 Essay

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    What does it mean to be a creation of God? What, if any, is the unique justification for human existence? The Book of Genesis provides multiple explanations to these questions in its narratives of divine providence and human origins. Within the scriptures, the authors convey man’s primeval history, focusing on how God created the world and man within it and suggesting why. Genesis 2 offers one narrative, in detailing the unique formation of man from earthly dust and the divine breath of life. Through diction and sentence structure, the authors of Genesis 2 show man’s subservience to God and that man is God’s greatest creation.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Theogony and Creation in Genesis

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the world there are various cultures with varying religions and creation stories to explain the creation of the Earth and it’s inhabitants. Of these creation stories two with similar and also different characteristics is the Creation story in the book of Genesis which is a part of the 1st Testament in the Hebrew Bible and explains the creation of Earth and humans, and the Theogony which is the greek creation story that describes the origins of the Earth and the Greek Gods. Both the Theogony and the Creation in Genesis show nature as a blessing for humans but it can also affect them negatively, However the myths differ in the ways that the Earth and humans were created and how humans interact with the deities of the creation stories.

    Read More

  • Genesis Summary Of Genesis

    1981 Words  | 4 Pages

    The book of Genesis reveals the mystery of how the universe, humans and all the creatures originated. From the beginning, God has His plan for the whole world. This book tells us a story about how God chose Abraham and his descendants as his people, and why he made a covenant with them. Through the story of creation and Abraham’s family, it clarifies that God is the Creator, Governor and Preserver of all things. The main units of Genesis will be traced in the outline below.

    Read More

  • Genesis Research Paper

    555 Words  | 2 Pages

    Genesis 2 talks more instruction to man rather than him creating man. They are both included since they are different in the reason that man is instructed rather than created.

    Read More

  • The Beginning of Life in the Book of Genesis

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genesis tells us who God is, who we are, and what we must do. It begins with the creation of every daytime and night time. The oceans and land are then formed, and then every living creature in the ocean and on land. When God created both animal and Man he told us to be “fruitful and multiply” (93), populate the earth in which he has made for man to rule. Most importantly he created the Garden of Eden and the tree of knowledge which separated good from evil. A serpent tempted and persuaded Eve through lust to eat from the tree, which she shared with Adam. Once they had eaten, the bond was broken from God and sin tainted their blood. They were banished from the Garden, and sent out into the world. Eve eventually gave birth to Cain, and then Abel after. Cain brought fruit from his soil, and Cain brought animals from his flock as an offering to God. God accepted Abels, but not Cains. Cain became upset and killed his brother. In chapters 6-9 of Genesis...

    Read More

  • Differences In Christianity

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity is a religion that is often generalized, when, in actuality, there are very different beliefs within each sect. Perhaps the most controversial topic among the different sects in Christianity is how one would translate the book of Genesis, chapters one and two. That unspoken question is the gateway into understanding a person’s worldview, because it sets the tone for how the rest of the conversation will ensue. Whether the earth and everything in it was formed by the Creator within long periods of time, using the evolutionary standpoint, or within only 144 hours, there are many ways that one can translate these two chapters, but it all boils down to either a literal translation or a non-literal translation. Each perspective

    Read More

More about The Origin of the World in the Book of Genesis

Open Document