There is a lot of debate going on
in our culture about Genesis 1. The Genesis writer
was not mainly addressing 21 century scientific questions, but responding to the polytheistic culture of its time. Sometimes in the midst of the heated debate between young-earth and old-earth proponents we lose the beauty of what God is telling us through this beautiful text. Here are some of the things that we can learn if we choose to listen rightly.
1. Genesis 1 tells us that one God created everything out of nothing. It challenged stories afloat at that time about how everything was created. The Babylonian story ofEnuma Elish
2. Genesis 1 also tells us that natural elements are not to be treated as gods. Watery deep in Genesis is not personified as in Enuma Elish (Tiamat). Also the writer of Genesis uses the phrase “greater and lesser lights” to describe the sun and the moon created on the fourth day. In a culture that worshipped the sun and the moon, the Genesis writer wanted to make the sun and the moon seem nothing more than greater and lesser lights. Creation is also described as “good,” but not “divine” as it is in many cultures of the world. Genesis writer wanted to stress the fact that only God, the creator of all things is God.
3. Also, Genesis 1 tells us that humanity is special. It tells us that on the sixth day God created humanity in his own image. It is well known that in both Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies the king or some high official was regarded as the image of God. Such designation was, however, not applied to ordinary working class people. Genesis however by claiming that humanity is created in the image of God made what was ordinary extraordinary, and made every one equal as the created image of God. Also it is only after humanity is created that God calls it all not just good, but “very good.” In genesis 1 humanity is given dignity and entrusted with responsibilities and with authority. This is seen as a part of the divine plan. This stand in opposition Mesopotamian mythology that humanity was an afterthought of the gods or that people were created to take over the labor that gods were tired of doing.
4. According to Genesis 1, created order was "very good (31)." The number seven of seven days represents perfection. It opposes other religious ideas such as that of the later Gnostics that matter is bad.
1. Genesis 1 tells us that one God created everything out of nothing. It challenged stories afloat at that time about how everything was created. The Babylonian story of
2. Genesis 1 also tells us that natural elements are not to be treated as gods. Watery deep in Genesis is not personified as in Enuma Elish (Tiamat). Also the writer of Genesis uses the phrase “greater and lesser lights” to describe the sun and the moon created on the fourth day. In a culture that worshipped the sun and the moon, the Genesis writer wanted to make the sun and the moon seem nothing more than greater and lesser lights. Creation is also described as “good,” but not “divine” as it is in many cultures of the world. Genesis writer wanted to stress the fact that only God, the creator of all things is God.
3. Also, Genesis 1 tells us that humanity is special. It tells us that on the sixth day God created humanity in his own image. It is well known that in both Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies the king or some high official was regarded as the image of God. Such designation was, however, not applied to ordinary working class people. Genesis however by claiming that humanity is created in the image of God made what was ordinary extraordinary, and made every one equal as the created image of God. Also it is only after humanity is created that God calls it all not just good, but “very good.” In genesis 1 humanity is given dignity and entrusted with responsibilities and with authority. This is seen as a part of the divine plan. This stand in opposition Mesopotamian mythology that humanity was an afterthought of the gods or that people were created to take over the labor that gods were tired of doing.
4. According to Genesis 1, created order was "very good (31)." The number seven of seven days represents perfection. It opposes other religious ideas such as that of the later Gnostics that matter is bad.
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