This study may be found here http://scripturalstudies.ning.com (A study and social network an outreach of Scripture Institute) Christianity 101 Look for "Doc Notes"
Gentle readers,
We recognize that many wish to suppress the Book of Genesis for many reasons. The very first being if it can be discredited than the whole of the Bible will crumble. I remember a time when the theologian-in-residence from Notre Dame University wished to teach a class that I was in by debunking the veracity of the Bible telling the class that the Bible was full of myths and legends. I remember there was a Baptist pastor and several Roman Catholic Nuns who were in virtual tears over his presentation. When we were ask to make an appointment to come see Him in his office I was the last to go. Upon entering his office I was confronted by a W.C. ( toilet) converted into a planter for flowers. I thought to myself this was appropriate. “Well, Rev. What are you getting out of my class?” To which I replied “me!” “Why would you want to do that?” “Because in this so-called higher Biblical study class, within a short time you will destroy the faith of those who live by faith, you have a Baptist pastor whose whole life is the Bible, and you have 2 Roman Catholic Nuns who have given up their lives in dedication of Christ. And your going to destroy that” “ I am just going to set the record straight” “Yes, I know, your going to take disproved 18th century theories and say that the Old Testament was written and along came JPD and redacted the whole thing. Or you will say that Moses didn’t cross the Red Sea, it was the Reed sea. And I am going to praise God that the Egyptians drowned in six inches of water!” “Wait, stay in class and I give you an A and we’ll have a dialogue, and the rest of the class can listen in.” “I’ll stay if you allow me to stand up the last day of class in the last 30 seconds and hold my Bible over my head and say “I believe this book.” “I can’t do that.” “Why not?” “I’ll lose my tenure"! [status granted to an employee, usually after a probationary period, indicating that the position or employment is permanent.]So much for academic honesty. Although now in retrospection I wish I would have stayed. He had a great deal of knowledge and perhaps I could have put as they say the proper spin on his understanding.
For you see Gentle reader, the book of Genesis contains much more than this theologian understood. It’s values may be technically tabulated. The book contains the foundational truths of theology [natural and revealed], cosmogony, anthropology, sociology, hamartiolgy,[Hamartiology ( Greek: hamartia, "missing the mark," "sin," +, logia, "sayings" or "discourse") is the branch of Christian theology, more specifically, systematic theology, which is the study of sin with a view to articulating a doctrine of it.]
ethnology, ethnology (from the Greek ethnos meaning "people, nation, race") is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity]
soteriology [Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. Soteriology discusses how Christ's death secures the salvation of those who believe. It helps us to understand the doctrines of redemption, justification, sanctification, propitiation.]
I use these words with the express purpose of indicating the profound conviction that not only is the first book of our Bible a spiritual book but it is preeminently a scientific book. None of these subjects are dealt with finality, but all are presented fundamentally. Genesis supplies men with the rudiments of the science of God. It offers a theory of the origin of the universe. It says the first things about the science of man. It lays the foundations of the science of society. It reveals the simplest matters of the science of sin. It introduces the study of the science of races, Finally, it presents the initial truths concerning the science of salvation. The living message we discover is that God and man are intimately related. God created man in His own image.
So lets review on the human side we find:
In Genesis Ruin-through the sin of man.
In Exodus Redemption- by “blood” and “power.”
In Leviticus Communion-on the ground of atonement.
In Numbers Direction by the will of God.
In Deuteronomy Destination-through the faithfulness of God.
And on the Divine or Spiritual side
In Genesis we see Divine sovereignty- in creation and election.
In Exodus we see Divine power- in redemption and emancipation.
In Leviticus we see Divine holiness-in separation and sanctification.
In Numbers we see Divine goodness and severity-judging and caring.
In Deuteronomy we see Divine faithfulness-in discipline and destination.
We have in miniature The absolute Creator of the universe who love His creation so much that as we will find unfolding His willingness to sacrifice Himself for the love of His creation.
The Key to Genesis is found in (Gen 3:15) “ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Next time Gentle reader we will look at the structure of Genesis.
Question for discussion: What did Adam and Eve understand by God saying the “seed of the woman”?
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