Gensis 1-9

Genesis 1

Literary Context

Composition & Source Criticism

  • mst schoalrs attribute to priestly sources

    • priestly = (P)

    • identifed by structured for, repetive litrugical formuals and emphasis on order, seperation, boundaries and sacred time found in the shabbot

  • 6th-5th BCE

  • It is importatn because it reflects a community grappling with national collapse, loss of land and temple and theological crisis

Genre & Literary Strategy

  • Genesis 1 uses a mythic langauge

  • genesis 1 characteristics

    • elevated prose

    • forumlatic repeition

    • rhymthetic cadence

    • minimal narative conflict

  • Gensis 1 is in the category of theoligical cosmology where:

    • meaning is conveyed through structure

    • authroity established through order

    • theology is encoded in form

Accient Cosomology in academic study

  • the text assukes an accient near eastern cosomlological model with a three tier universe

    • the three tier universe where there is heavens above, earth below and waters beneath

  • the term “Raqia” or ferment is placed as a boundary structure

  • basically the authors were working within the scientific understanding of thier time

Critics/Polemical function

  • the main idea is that Genesis 1 is not neutral rather making a point

  • In the aceint world, people believed that everything was a god and the gods fought and and the world came to be on accident

    • gensis one says":

      • “erm.. no.”

      • there is one God

      • the sun and moon are just lights

      • the sea is not scary or divine

      • humans matter and have dignity

  • genesis 1 is saying everyone is wrong on how the universe works

Structure as Theology

  • Genesis 1 is like a perfectly organized planner

    • first half:

      • God sets up spaces such as light, sky, land

    • second half:

      • God fills those spaces

        • sun, birds, animals, humans

    • final day

      • God rests

  • it isnt about how fast creation happened, rather showingthat everything has a place and a purpose

Humanity in Gensis 1

  • huamans are

    • made “in the image of God”

    • Given responsbility over creation

  • this does not mean:

    • humans look like God

    • humans can do what they want

  • it does mean:

    • humans repersent God

    • humans are trusted with care amd not domination

The Sabbath

  • the story doesnt have climax with humans rather it climaxes with rest

  • God resting doesnt mean He’s tired it means

    • creation is complete

    • order is established

    • God is in Charge

  • Rest is part of how the world works

Why this is first in the bible

  • the chapter answers

    • who is in cheage

    • is the world chaoctic or meaningful

    • do humans matter

  • everything else in the bible assumes these answers

  • gensis 1 is the terms and conditions for the whole bible

What the prof wants you to say

  • repersent acient cosmology

    • acient cosmology: describes early peoples models of the universe typically featuring a flat earth covered with a solid sky (firmament) with celestial bodies, surrounded by cosmic waters with underworlds for heavens for Gods/Spirits

    • evolves from simple mythical views to more complex sphericcal ideas as obervation advanced which is fundamentally different from modern sciencde but. shares humanity to drive to understand orgins

  • it has theololgical purpose not scientific

  • structure carries meaning

  • the text responds and answers to historical chaos