What does Genesis 1-11 teach regarding the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization? How does this teaching on these topics affect your worldview?
Genesis 1-11 sets the basis for all biblical truth as it recognizes that God is the creator of all things. Genesis is the first book of the Bible meaning “the book of beginnings” which serves as an introduction the entire Bible. “God is introduced as an absolute personal being who cares about His creation and the human struggle of the fallen world” (Hindson & Yates, 2012, p.51). Understanding the book of Genesis is essential in comprehending the remainder of the Bible. Genesis is a very precise description, which explains and clarifies the key principles in the Bible. This essay will explore how the teaching of Genesis 1-11 affects my worldview regarding natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization.
According to the text, “Genesis describes God’s original work of creation” (Hindson & Yates, 2012, p.54). The natural world was created by God speaking it into existence. The natural world was established by the sound of His voice in six days. The first four days is when God declared order to His creation. God placed the sun, moon and stars in the sky so that we may recognize Him as creator and to also be an indicator for our days, seasons and years. God gave life unto all of His creation which included fish and birds on day five and on day six He breathed life into animals and humans therefore completing His work. On day seven He looked at all that He created and found that it was good therefore He rested. God was very pleased on the work that He completed and placed a very high value upon it. Humans should have respect nature and its ...
... middle of paper ...
...ural world we can see the influence it has on our world today. Our worldview is shaped by believing the Bible for what it says as truth. As we take topics such as evolution, marriage, the way we treat others and who we are as the human race and apply the principles taught to us in scripture produces a major influence on us as people. The Bible is extremely clear on God’s message of love for all humanity from Genesis to Revelation. God is our Redeemer and will always make a way of escape for those who love Him. My prayer is that we will come to know Jesus as our Savior and live our lives according to His word.
REFERENCES
Hindson, E., & Yates, G. (2012). The essence of the Old Testament: A survey. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.
Stamps, D. C., & Adams, J. W. (2003). Life in the spirit study Bible: King James Version ([New ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.
The Bible: The Old Testament. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed. Sarah Lawall et al. Vol 1. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 1999. 47-97.
New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 3 Mar 2011. Accessed 22 April 2014.
Mark Driscoll brings out different viewpoints relating to creation. As Christians, Genesis 1:1 can be our foundation in our belief, “in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This helps us realize the miraculous act of God by which He brought the universe into existence. We should not have to rely on individuals using Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory to help explain the origin of life apart from God. God creation set us apart. After all, God stated His creation was made “very good”.
Where Genesis I describes a more ordered creation - the manifestation of a more primitive cultural influence than was responsible for the multi-layered creation in Genesis II - the second creation story focuses less on an etiological justification for the physical world and examines the ramifications of humankind's existence and relationship with God. Instead of Genesis I's simple and repetitive refrains of "and God saw that it was good" (Gen 1:12, 18, 21, 25), Genesis II features a more stylistically advanced look at "the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens" (Gen 2:4). While both stories represent different versions of the same Biblical event, Genesis II is significantly more complex than its predecessor and serves both to quantify the relationship between God and his creations and lay the foundation for the evolving story of humankind as well.
Most importantly, Genesis offers teachings on the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization. Natural World In regards to the natural world, Genesis 1-3 tells of how God created the world, the creation of man, and the fall of man. The Earth was dark and without form, then God spoke everything into existence. Relationships play a major role in humans’ lives on a day-to-day basis.
Creation stories have profound effects on humans. Those associated with ancient cultures/civilizations aim to ensure the successful survival or well-being of themselves and that particular culture/civilization of their association, but not all are beneficial, prosperous, or fortunate. Mesopotamia’s “The Gilgamesh Epic”, Egypt’s “Hymn to the Nile-Documents”, and Mesoamerica’s Mayan and Aztec creation stories/religion are influential to establishing significant relationships within society, whether that is between humans and nature or humans and their “god(s).”
New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997. Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.
As the first book of the Old Testament convey, Genesis, and its Greek meaning “in the beginning,” life originated with God in the Garden of Eden. Accor...
A biblical worldview of the natural world is found with God’s creation. In the book of Romans, God’s divine nature and creation of the universe is revealed. Romans 1:19 states, “Since what may be known about God s plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” The faithful understand and worship God as the creator of the universe and all life. It
The ancient reading, “The Epic of Creation/Enuma Elish” and the beginning of the Holy Bible Old Testament, Genesis are two distinct passages that share many different qualities. Ranging from how the universe was ever created, to the origin of power and rule over others, both stories reveal persistence, strength, and honor. Genesis 1:1-2:4, Genesis 2:4-3:34 from the Holy Bible, and “The Epic of Creation”, have similar beginnings that determine the endings of both stories.
LaSor, W., Hubbard, D., Bush, F., & Allen, L. (1996). Old Testament survey: The message, form, and background of the Old Testament (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans
Both the Theogony and the Creation in Genesis show nature as a blessing for humans but with negative affects, 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. These differences include how Gods treat humans and why the Gods/God created Earth. These stories are still being passed on in today’s world and are two of the most influential creation stories to have ever been written. The similarities and differences in the creation stories show that different cultures and religions throughout the world really aren’t that far off from each other.
New Testament. Vol. 2. Edited by Gerhard Kittel. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1964.
In the Holy Bible, the book of Genesis starts by saying “In the beginning…God created the heavens and the earth…” (The New American Bible, Gen. 1.1). These powerful words layout the base to the entire Bible which tells readers to accept God as the powerful creator, our heavenly father, and remind us the fact that we exist because of God. In fact, the book of Genesis is the most important book in the Bible because it simply tells the story of God’s creation of the universe and how God created man and woman. Moreover, God teaches life lessons throughout in the book of Genesis by explaining different concepts of obeying, punishing, and forgiving others as well as the consequences that can come about if one goes against God’s will. As I read the
Genesis is the first creation story. God creates, establishes, and puts everything into motion. After putting all of this in motion he then rests. He creates everything on earth in just seven days. Before creation Gods breath was hovering over a formless void. God made earth and all of the living creatures on earth out of nothing. There was not any pre-existent matter out of which the world was produced. Reading Genesis 1 discusses where living creatures came from and how the earth was formed. It’s fascinating to know how the world began and who created it all. In Genesis 1 God is the mighty Lord and has such strong power that he can create and banish whatever he would like. His powers are unlike any others. The beginning was created from one man only, God.