| Biblical Commentary |
321BibleStudy.net
| OLD TESTAMENT |
| Genesis: Summary of Creation |
| Whenever studying the Bible, take into account three things when seeking to understand a passage: 1) Where and How does the book the passage is found in fit into the overall scheme of the Bible? Is it in the Old or New Testament? Was it written in the Age of the Patriarchs or the Age of the Prophets, or the Age of the Promise? If it is in the Old Testament, is it Law, History, Wisdom Literature, or a book of the Prophets? If it is in the New Testament, is it a Gospel, History, an Epistle to a church, an Epistle to a person, or Apocalyptic? What is the purpose of the book? 2) Where and How does the passage fit into the overall scheme of the book? At what point in history is the passage in relation to the book? How does the passage fit into the overall purpose of the book? 3) Where and How does the passage fit into its chapter and/or paragraph? How does the passage fit with what goes before it and after it? Is it interpreted, or explained, in the verses preceding it, or following it? Remember: A TEXT TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT IS A PRETEXT. Chapter 1: THE FIRST SIX DAYS OF CREATION “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is the foundational fact of the Bible. In six days, God brought into existence all that we know of the physical universe. Those six days are spoken of here. The book of Genesis begins with three different accounts of one creation. Chapter 1, verses 1&2, sum up the whole of creation. Chapter 1, verse 3 through Chapter 2, verse 3, speaks of the seven days of creation. Chapter 2, verse 4 through 25, speaks of the creation of man. It is an expanding summation of the same occasion. • Day 1 – God brought into existence the universe. The earth was a chaotic, primordial ball of water existing in darkness. Then, by his spoken word, God created light and the alternation of light and dark that defines Day and Night. Experiments conducted by the University of Maryland proved that light exists separate and apart from any luminary body, such as the sun. It is on this first day that a twenty-four hour cycle is begun, defining the days of Genesis Chapter One as the days we know. • Day 2 – God divided the primordial waters into two places, divided by the firmament. The firmament is the atmosphere, or here called “heavens” (i.e., the birds fly in the heavens). The waters above are a canopy of clouds, and the waters below continue to be the primordial waters of the earth. Again, this is accomplished by the spoken word. • Day 3 – God divided the primordial waters into the Seas, and produces dry land called Earth. The land produces grass, bushes and trees – every type of vegetation. The vegetation reproduces after its own kind; there is no gradual change from one kind to another. It is created, not as a seed, but full grown, mature, able to reproduce. • Day 4 – God places the sun and the moon, as well as the stars in the heavens. By these, one would be able to tell the years, the seasons and the days; or, in other words: keep time. • Day 5 – God makes every creature of the water, and in the air. Each creature, whether “fish” or “fowl” is created mature, full-grown. This is the answer to the old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The chicken. Each animal, whether in the water or in the air, reproduces afters its own kind; there is no gradual change from one kind to another. The water creatures and the creatures of the air are to reproduce. That is the instruction of God. • Day 6 – God makes every creature of the land, including and culminating in man. Each creature is created mature, full-grown. Each creature reproduces after its own kind; there is no gradual change from one kind to another kind. Every insect, every animal that grazes, every predator, and every scavenger is created by God. Man is created in the likeness and after the image of God. God is a spirit. Man is created a spiritual being. Man is body, soul and spirit. Because of his personality and his intellect, his soul, man is given superiority over and supervision of the earth and its creatures. Man is the dominate creature. This is true of both man and woman. Man and animals are given the vegetation for food. It would seem that at this time both man and animals are all vegetatarians. Chapter 2: THE SEVENTH DAY & THE CREATION OF MAN AND WOMAN The Creation was finished in six days. • Day 7 – God rests. The seventh day was sanctified because God rested. This is the Sabbath. Interestingly, the only reason for a seven day week is Creation. Three is no astronomical phenomena which corresponds with a seven day week; yet, the seven day week is a consistent measurement of time across every culture. That is a testimony to the verity of the creation account. THE CREATION OF MAN Now, the record turns its attention to the culmination of creation, the creation of man, in greater detail. When God created the vegetation, there was no rain. A mist rose from the ground to water the vegetation. And, there was no man to till the ground. God formed man out of the dust of the ground. Only of man is it said that he has God breathe “the breath of life” into him, and he becomes “a living soul.” This is the same as being made in the image and likeness of God. THE GARDEN IN EDEN In the east part of Eden, God planted a garden, which contained the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This garden was watered by four rivers. Man is placed in the garden to take care of it, and given instructions: you can eat of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – eat that fruit and that day you will die. ORIGIN OF MARRIAGE The Lord God said that is not good for man to be alone, I will make a companion and helpmate for him. Every land animal and every animal of the air was brought to Adam, and he named them. But, none of the animals were a fit companion for man. So, God caused Adam to fall asleep, and took out one of his ribs. From this rib God created woman as the companion and helpmate for man. When Adam sees the woman, he says that she is “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh,” recognizing that she has been made from his flesh. For that reason, she is called woman, which means “from man.” This is why a man leaves his father and mother for his wife. Although they may not be “one flesh” in the same sense as the first man and woman, in marriage they are “one flesh.” One woman for one man for life. CONDITION OF MAN Both the man and the woman at this time were naked, and not ashamed. [Read Genesis Chapters One and Two] |