Origins & WorldviewOrigins & Worldview

Extending the Historical Extending the Historical ProloguePrologue

Genesis 1-11Genesis 1-11

Genesis:Genesis:Literary StructureLiterary Structure First Obvious Literary First Obvious Literary

Development: Two Major Genre Development: Two Major Genre SectionsSections– 1-11 Cosmological Origins Myths1-11 Cosmological Origins Myths

Myth=story which explains realityMyth=story which explains reality

– 12-50 Ancestor Hero Stories12-50 Ancestor Hero Stories Stories which help identify our characterStories which help identify our character

Genesis:Genesis:Literary StructureLiterary Structure Second Obvious Literary Second Obvious Literary

Development: Four Story CyclesDevelopment: Four Story Cycles– 1-11 Origins Story Cycle1-11 Origins Story Cycle

What is the nature of reality?What is the nature of reality?

– 12-25 Abraham Story Cycle12-25 Abraham Story Cycle Who are we as a unique people?Who are we as a unique people?

– 26-36 Jacob Story Cycle26-36 Jacob Story Cycle What is our character as a people?What is our character as a people?

– 37-50 Joseph Story Cycle37-50 Joseph Story Cycle How did we get to Egypt?How did we get to Egypt?

Genesis:Genesis:Literary StructureLiterary Structure Third Obvious Literary Development: Third Obvious Literary Development:

Creation plus Ten “Generations”Creation plus Ten “Generations”– 1:1-2:3 Creation (the norm)1:1-2:3 Creation (the norm)– 2:4-4:26 “Heaven & Earth” (-)2:4-4:26 “Heaven & Earth” (-)– 5:1-6:8 “Adam” (-)5:1-6:8 “Adam” (-)– 6:9-9:29 “Noah” (+)6:9-9:29 “Noah” (+)– 10:1-11:9 “Sons of Noah” (-)10:1-11:9 “Sons of Noah” (-)– 11:10-26 “Shem” (+)11:10-26 “Shem” (+)– 11:27-25:11 “Terah” (Abraham) (+)11:27-25:11 “Terah” (Abraham) (+)– 25:12-18 “Ishmael” (-)25:12-18 “Ishmael” (-)– 25:19-35:29 “Isaac” (Jacob) (+)25:19-35:29 “Isaac” (Jacob) (+)– 36:1-37:1 “Esau” (-)36:1-37:1 “Esau” (-)– 37:2-50:26 “Jacob” (Joseph) (+)37:2-50:26 “Jacob” (Joseph) (+)

Creation Myths in the Creation Myths in the Ancient Near EastAncient Near East Cosmogony: how did the world as we Cosmogony: how did the world as we

know it come into being? This will help know it come into being? This will help us understand who we are and how life us understand who we are and how life ought to function.ought to function.

Four basic creation methods:Four basic creation methods:– Making: divine acts on undifferentiated Making: divine acts on undifferentiated

primordial matterprimordial matter– Conflict Resolution: divine overcoming of Conflict Resolution: divine overcoming of

powers of chaospowers of chaos– Sexual Generation: gods & goddesses Sexual Generation: gods & goddesses

create offspring through sexual create offspring through sexual intercourseintercourse

– Declaration: creation through spoken wordDeclaration: creation through spoken word

Egyptian Origins MythsEgyptian Origins Myths

““Nun” is chaos power in primeval watersNun” is chaos power in primeval waters ““Atum” is creative force which lives on Atum” is creative force which lives on

Benben, a pyramidical hill rising out of the Benben, a pyramidical hill rising out of the primeval watersprimeval waters

““Atum” splits to form elemental gods Atum” splits to form elemental gods “Shu” (air) & “Tefnut” (moisture)“Shu” (air) & “Tefnut” (moisture)

““Tefnut” bears two children: “Geb” (god of Tefnut” bears two children: “Geb” (god of earth) & “Nut” (goddess of skies)earth) & “Nut” (goddess of skies)

These give birth to lesser gods who These give birth to lesser gods who differentiate and rule various dimensionsdifferentiate and rule various dimensions

Mesopotamian Mesopotamian (“between (“between

the waters”)the waters”) Origins Myths Origins Myths ““Apsu” is chaos power in primeval watersApsu” is chaos power in primeval waters ““Tiamat” is bitter sea supporting earthTiamat” is bitter sea supporting earth ““Lhamu” & “Lahamu” are gods of silt created from Lhamu” & “Lahamu” are gods of silt created from

interaction of primeval waters & bitter seasinteraction of primeval waters & bitter seas The horizons, “Anshar” & “Kishar,” are separated by The horizons, “Anshar” & “Kishar,” are separated by

the birth of “Anu” (sky)the birth of “Anu” (sky) ““Anu” engenders “Ea-Nudimmud,” god of earth Anu” engenders “Ea-Nudimmud,” god of earth

waters and wisdomwaters and wisdom Gods’ energies cause fights & uproar in Tiamat’s Gods’ energies cause fights & uproar in Tiamat’s

belly, so “Apsu” plans to kill his children (gods)belly, so “Apsu” plans to kill his children (gods) ““Ea” casts spell, puts “Apsu” to sleep then kills him, Ea” casts spell, puts “Apsu” to sleep then kills him,

bears other gods which fightbears other gods which fight ““Marduk” becomes champion among gods, creates Marduk” becomes champion among gods, creates

BabylonBabylon Humans made as slaves from spilled blood of godsHumans made as slaves from spilled blood of gods

Genesis Creation MythGenesis Creation Myth

God existed before creationGod existed before creation Creation was by divine speechCreation was by divine speech Creation was an orderly progression:Creation was an orderly progression:

– Day 1: Arenas for Light & DarknessDay 1: Arenas for Light & Darkness– Day 2: Arenas for Sky & SeaDay 2: Arenas for Sky & Sea– Day 3: Arenas for EarthDay 3: Arenas for Earth– Day 4: Inhabitants of Light & DarknessDay 4: Inhabitants of Light & Darkness– Day 5: Inhabitants of Sky & SeaDay 5: Inhabitants of Sky & Sea– Day 6: Inhabitants of EarthDay 6: Inhabitants of Earth

Creation was intended to provide a Creation was intended to provide a home for humanity, the creatures home for humanity, the creatures made in God’s imagemade in God’s image

Comparison of Comparison of Creation MythsCreation Myths Egypt & Egypt &

Mesopotamia:Mesopotamia:– Divinity exudes Divinity exudes

throughout creationthroughout creation– Eternal dualism of Eternal dualism of

good & evilgood & evil– All things originate All things originate

by devolutionby devolution– Humanity is Humanity is

afterthought, bother, afterthought, bother, & slave race& slave race

– Purpose of humanity Purpose of humanity is toilis toil

Bible:Bible:– Divinity separate Divinity separate

from creationfrom creation– All is good, evil All is good, evil

enters as usurperenters as usurper– All things originate All things originate

by plan & speciesby plan & species– Humanity is the Humanity is the

reason for reason for everything, sharing everything, sharing divine character & divine character & purposespurposes

– Purpose of humanity Purpose of humanity is relationship & restis relationship & rest

Notes on Genesis 1-11Notes on Genesis 1-11

Perspective is from Israel at Sinai, Perspective is from Israel at Sinai, not from point of view of an not from point of view of an original observer; thus it is original observer; thus it is interpreted mythinterpreted myth, not scientific , not scientific historical analysishistorical analysis

Creation stories set Israel in an Creation stories set Israel in an entirely different entirely different WORLDVIEW context than neighboring nationscontext than neighboring nations

Notes on Genesis 1-11Notes on Genesis 1-11

Humanity’s place is intimacy with Humanity’s place is intimacy with God, harmony with nature, and God, harmony with nature, and shared creative responsibility shared creative responsibility over animals & plantsover animals & plants

Entrance of evil is linked to Entrance of evil is linked to disobedience (i.e., holding to a disobedience (i.e., holding to a differing worldview & authority differing worldview & authority system)system)

Notes on Genesis 1-11Notes on Genesis 1-11

God’s first “remedy” for sin is God’s first “remedy” for sin is individualized homelessness individualized homelessness (prompting the pull of nostalgia)(prompting the pull of nostalgia)

God’s second “remedy” for sin is God’s second “remedy” for sin is communal recreation through the communal recreation through the flood and survival of Noahflood and survival of Noah

Genesis 9 CovenantGenesis 9 Covenant

Divine Promise of protection & Divine Promise of protection & continuation (no catastrophic continuation (no catastrophic destructions)destructions)

The Sign:The Sign:– A “bow” in the heavensA “bow” in the heavens– For whom?For whom?

Not humanity!Not humanity! God’s own self!God’s own self!

No word for “rainbow” in HebrewNo word for “rainbow” in Hebrew Rather, a hunter’s bow:Rather, a hunter’s bow:

– Drawn and aimed toward heaven!Drawn and aimed toward heaven!– ““Maledictory Oath”: may I lose my life if I fail Maledictory Oath”: may I lose my life if I fail

to accomplish thisto accomplish this

Notes on Genesis 1-11Notes on Genesis 1-11

Neither “remedy” of God for sin & evil Neither “remedy” of God for sin & evil is successfulis successful

Ham’s sin (9:20-27) is intended to Ham’s sin (9:20-27) is intended to inform Israel about inform Israel about CanaaniteCanaanite subservience, not subservience, not racialracial subservience subservience

In chapter 11, humanity launches a In chapter 11, humanity launches a communal negation of divine authoritycommunal negation of divine authority

At the outset of chapter 12, a new At the outset of chapter 12, a new “remedy” is put forward: create a “remedy” is put forward: create a manageable community of witness to manageable community of witness to nurture a return to God and blessingnurture a return to God and blessing

Footnotes to Genesis Footnotes to Genesis 1-111-11

The text never tells us:The text never tells us:– Where evil originatedWhere evil originated– Why the serpent was “more crafty” and could tempt Why the serpent was “more crafty” and could tempt

EveEve– Why there were trees for temptation and for eternal Why there were trees for temptation and for eternal

lifelife– How the serpent changed following the curseHow the serpent changed following the curse– What happened to the Garden of EdenWhat happened to the Garden of Eden– Where the other people came fromWhere the other people came from– Why people then lived so longWhy people then lived so long– Who were the “Sons of God” (6:2) or “Nephilim” Who were the “Sons of God” (6:2) or “Nephilim”

(6:4)(6:4)– How all the animals could get on one boatHow all the animals could get on one boat– What happened to the fish & sea creaturesWhat happened to the fish & sea creatures– How extensive the flood wasHow extensive the flood was

Genesis diagrammedGenesis diagrammedCreation

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nGenesis 1-11 Genesis 12-50

(Ishmael)

(Esau)