Beginning

In May as we adjourned our Sunday school class for the Summer, one or more people asked that in the Fall we study Genesis. Agreeing, I spent part of my summer starting to prepare for Genesis; and we'll begin with the two creation stories, one tomorrow morning, September 8th.

The book is in Hebrew, the first word is bereshith, the Hebrew title of the book, which means “beginning.” Translating the Hebrew, the word Genesis also means “beginning,” Latin, from Greek γιγνεσθαι (gignesthai), to be born.

In the Bible, the two stories are reversed age-wise. The first story in our book, the sophisticated, theological seven-day story at Genesis chapter 1, which has a subtle "combatting heresy" agenda not unlike the agenda of the Nicene Creed, came later. It may date from the time of the Babylonian Exile or perhaps just after. We’ll talk about it another Sunday morning. 

Tomorrow in our first session, we'll talk about the older story, which perhaps had its origins as a campfire tale told by ancient Hebrews as they sat outside under the moon and stars evenings around the tribal campfire. It's set in the familiar surroundings of the harsh desert where they lived and worked hard to scratch out a living -- told as part of their folklore as the Lord God claimed His relationship with them and told them how they got started together. In this story, the Lord God comes down, and the first thing He does is dig in the dirt and make a mud doll, an earthling. He bends over and breathes His own life into us, creating living beings to tend His fine garden. Having made His garden attendants first, He then creates the garden and puts us in charge to take care of everything for Him.

For anyone who wants to read the story before class, below is a translation from the Hebrew Bible in English. Or open your Bible and read Genesis 2:4-25.

Nobody needs to bring anything to class. Bring your Bible if you want to, but Bibles will be provided, and a handout. We meet at 9:15, between Sunday morning services, in the Mary Stuart Poole Library, at the other end of the sidewalk. 9:15 a.m. tomorrow morning, Sunday, September 8. One hour. Go in Battin Hall first and get your coffee and a cookie if you want to, and come on over! 9:15.

Fr. Tom+ 

Genesis Chapter 2. Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden

--- 4 These are the generations of the heaven and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. 5 No shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground; 6 but there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon; the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is Tigris; that is it which goeth toward the east of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.] 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.' 18 And the LORD God said: 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.' 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof. 20 And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man said: 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.