Assignment Background: Genesis 1-11, as a primeval narrative, functions as an introduction to the rest of the biblical story. It not only establishes that God created and is in relationship with “all things,” but these chapters also lay out many of the theological themes which take root in the Old and New Testaments. One way of approaching these formative chapters is to view them as a seed of sorts which contains the DNA of all that follows. Such importance given to these chapters fits within the broader ancient Near Eastern worldview where origins mattered. The essence and identify of reality, self, and even the universe was most clearly understood through The Seven Days of Creation
the identification of one’s point of origin here succinctly summarized by
the scholars Clifford and Collins.
In the ancient Near Eastern intellectual universe the origin of a phenomenon was a defining moment. That universe was not influenced by the modern idea of evolution that supposes that things begin in a simple state and gradually become more complex, more “perfect,” in response to new situations. On the contrary, the essence of purpose of a particular entity, indeed the universe, was given in the beginning. At that moment the imprint of the gods was clearest. There and then was fixed the way things worked.
Thus, cosmological accounts, which take shape in a variety of genres (including epic creation narratives such as Genesis 1-2) function in part as conduits for illuminating one’s place within the created realm, as well as, one’s relationship to the divine. Thus, unlike modern scientific theories, the role of ancient cosmologies was not primarily to explain how reality came into being per se (e.g. a scientific explanation); but rather function to give purpose, direction, and substance to how one lived in the world and related to their god(s). In short, the originating moment was the defining moment toward understand present reality.
Just as ancient Israel was concerned with origins, they were likewise concerned with the presence of sin/evil in their human experience. In fact, throughout the Old Testament, there are over fifty Hebrew words to depict sin; indeed this was a dominant concern for the biblical writers. How were they to reconcile their belief in a faithful and just Creator within their lived experience characterized by injustice and evil? Their response to such a question was multifold. Genesis 3-11 functions in part as an etiology which outlines the “cause” or “origin” of evil/sin. This motif is first introduced in Genesis 3 and progressively builds to a climax in the Tower of Babel story (Gen 11:1-9). This universal human condition unfolds on the pages of Scripture and continues to plague human existence in every time and every place: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Why does God allow evil?” “Where was God in Auschwitz?” “Where was God on Sept 11?” “Where was God in Newtown?” These questions of Theodicy (trying to reconcile belief in an all-powerful God with the presence of evil/sin) are perennial and universal and especially poignant when senseless tragedies occur. This assignment takes up many of these themes and questions.
1. Read Hendel, Introduction to Genesis, p. 3-4, or if you have the CEB Bible, pp 1-3. From these introductions record new information related to authorship, date of writing, what is the meaning of Genesis, etc.
Also carefully read through Genesis 1-11. Then respond to any five of the ten questions listed below in ().
(1) After reading through the two complementary creation narratives, Genesis 1:1-2.3 and Genesis 2:4-25, what type of literary genre would you suggest they are? List some of the differences between these two narratives (e.g., literary structure, the portrayal of God, ordering of events, etc.)? List the verbs which describe God’s creative acts.
(2) In both creation narratives (Genesis 1:1-2:3 and Genesis 2:4-3:24), the Creator is the key figure. Focusing more narrowly on the relationship between God and humanity, how is that relationship depicted in Genesis 1:1-2:3? How is the relationship depicted in Genesis 2:4-3:24?
(3) How is the relationship between Adam and the woman portrayed in these narratives? What characterized their relationship before and after eating of the tree in Gen 2:4-24?
(4) Unique to the human species is the identification of being created in the “Image and Likeness of God” (1:26-27). Although the text does not directly spell out specifically what that means, the text does imply several possibilities. List some of these possibilities.
(5) What is the climactic moment of creation in the first narrative (Gen 1:1-2:3)? What might this imply?
(6) What/whom is blessed in the creation narrative? What might this imply?
(7) The narrative most often called the “fall” narrative (Gen 3:1-24) is often associated with the origin of “sin” and/or “mortality”, yet the narrative does not use these terms. Nevertheless, it does seem clear that humanity “falls” from something to something else. How does the text describe this?
(8) What/whom is cursed in the “fall” narrative (Gen 3)?
(9) The events of Cain murdering his Abel (fratricide) unfold in Gen 4. Read through the study notes and list several new insights they provide about this story.
(10) These chapters conclude with the tower of Babel story in Genesis 11. Read through the study notes and list several new insights they provide about this story. What is at the heart of the people’s desire in building the tower?
2. What questions remain for you as a result of a careful reading of this text?
3. Theodicy in the News: This next step in the assignment is to engage with modern responses to questions of theodicy, particularly as they relate to recent mass killings such as Newtown and Aurora, Colorado in June, 2012 and even more recently here at SPU.
Step 1. After refreshing your memory of the events of Aurora and reflecting on your own feelings, experience this past June here at SPU and before reading the article assigned below, write a one paragraph response to the question, “Where was God in Aurora?” or more personally, “Where was God at SPU on June 5th?”
Step 2. Now read the article, “My Take: CNN readers’ 7 answers to ‘Where was God in Aurora?’” (posted on Blackboard). Of the 7 responses given, which one does your initial response align with? After having read the article what new insights, thoughts or comments have been prompted for you? Write one or two paragraphs related to this insight.
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