OTEN 5300 8/26/08

I. Genesis
A. Authorship
1. General agreement that Moses wrote a large part
2. dominant theory that there are four sources that apply to the Pentateuch
J(Man and Earth), E(use of term Elohim), D(Deuteronomi), P(
3. the real issue is more how we receive the material
B. 1-11
1. Linking Phrase = "Beginnings of a People"
2. Purpose
Theological History
"to show how God worked with people in history, particularly with the Hebrew people"
3. Topics and Texts
Creation
"Parallels" - ancient texts with distinct similarities and differences
How are these materials related? Is the bible based on other texts are they based on the bible-majority belief if that others are older but not necessarily the basis
One way to think about it is that the Biblical text provides the correct perspective and corrects misguidings
Biblical differences - God is one, People are important, polemic - "written with a point "to counter other mistaken views
example - creation account of moon and stars are believed to intentionally avoid the naming and make it sound like no big deal. this helps to avoid giving credence to "the gods" of that time
Similarities
Starting Point in History
Originates with God's creation and we should view the biblical text from this perspective
Main Point - The focus is on the person of God and not necessarily the history. Our more typical texts are more chronological and major turning points. The work is historical, but that is not necessarily the point.
There is theme of goodness
Repetition of the word good
Even the structure of the writing emotes orderly
Theme of blessing and fruitfulness
Chap 1vs22,27,28,29
The place of people is special
Chap 1 vs 26 Pronouncement and change in language(king of majesty) signals that people are special and highlighted above creation
Vs 27 Three fold repetition adds focus
Image and likeness which are synonymous terms
People are spiritual beings with a capacity for personal(unique among human beings) fellowship with God
Self conscious
Encountering questions like "who am I?" "what should I do?"
Suggests that we are moral beings with responsibility "let them rule over"
One analogy is one of a ruler that has statue made that could "represent" him wherever it is brought
Chapter 2
Why are ch 1 diff than 2 - Some feel like this points to different sources. Brown feels like the difference is for effect from a literary perspective.
Chap 1, Creation of people is the culmination
Chap 2, First and foremost is creation of man and then everything else is created for man
If we focus on the literarature instead of the literal reading as history will lead you in a different direction
2:27 Some read that the breath and life is the image of God. However, Brown believes that b/c he was created in the image and likeness he was give life in a special way.
There is a sense of great drama unfolding with the creation of all the unsuitable and then there is a great exclamation in vs 23 - at last
There is some part in 2 that is a set-up or foreshadowing with the "it is not good" for man to be alone. There is a bit of a set-up in the last verse with the "happily ever after" ending
Chapter 3
Note that the serpent is never called satin
God does not curse the woman or the man, but the ground and the serpent. Important b/c curse is the opposite of blessing
There is judgement, but there is never a removal of hope.
Positives often overlooked
3:8 there is companionship and fellowship in the closeness of God
3:9 The seeking nature of God in the beginning
God will judge, but tempered by mercy
Stories of Decline - Growth of Sin
Chap 4 (Cain and Abel)
Chap 5 Like a walk in graveyard
Chap 6
vs 5 what a deep passage focusing on the depth of depravity and statement of our wickedness
Though ultimately we see the judgement that comes, the real noteworthy is the character spotlight shown in the grief and sorrow of God
C. Context
1. Dr. Brown's opinion is more that we should focus that it is more theological and focused on the creator and what he has created. He does not feel that it is "perfect history" or scientific. It is not necessarily inteded to tell the how it happened.
2. Not necessarily intended to be perfectly chronological
D. Fertility and reproduction are signal of blessing and the working out of his plan
II. Main Topic
III. Glossary / Definitions
A. Pentateuch
1. First Five Books of the bible.
B. Documentary Hypothesis
C. Historiography
1. Describes the process of writing history
D. Polemic
IV. Key Thoughts
A. Are we setting people up by not being educational with oposing views to the bible so that people are not shocked when they go to the "real world"?
B. Never forget that the Bible's main focus is to share the nature, character and power of God. It is a theological text inspired by God and recorded by man.
C. Read text from the inside out and evaluate what it is before evaluating if the what is right or wrong by our inapplicable modern standard
D. Everything we read in the TO has its roots in creation and the intention of God. It is important to view the scripture through this lens.
E. The key story is that God works to continue or restore his original intent
V. Why do we have these terms
A. History
1. Persons
2. Places
3. Events
4. Chronological
5. Understand that there is selectivity, emphasis and order that is imputed by the author
B. Historiography
1. Describes the process of writing history
C. Historical