Covenant Beginnings: A Study in Genesis
CREATION: GOD’S GOOD AND GLORIOUS HANDIWORK Genesis 1:1-5
Living Faith Bible Fellowship
September 22, 2010
Review from last week… The key to understanding Genesis • Cultural context • The author’s purpose • Will reinforce these tonight
Author
Original meaning Text
Theology of Creation • God alone is sovereign • Creation was orderly and purposeful • Will reinforce these tonight
Covenant relationship with God • What is a covenant? • Any examples?
What does Genesis not address? • Will reinforce this tonight
Audience
Modern audience
Creation accounts in scripture have purpose Psalm 33:6-9 [Fear and reverence of the Lord]
Psalm 90:2 [God’s blessing over Israel’s exodus] Nehemiah 6 [The basis of praise and worship before
consecration…note the connection to covenant in v.7]
John 1:3 [Equating the Word with God] Acts 4:24 [The basis for bold action] Colossians 1:16 [The supremacy of Christ in all things] Revelation 4:11 [The worthiness of God to be praised]
Outline of Our Study of Creation • Creation [Function over Form] (Genesis 1 – 2:3) • God bringing order out of chaos • Creation is good and has dignity • Humanity is in partnership with God • Focus = The Cosmos • Relationship with God and his gifts (Genesis 2:4 – 25) • Eden • Mission • Marriage • This will give us a picture of the world as God intended it
and what lost in Genesis 3
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning…” • “Period of time” vs. point in time • Serves as an introduction and summary • Common structure in Genesis…”this is the account of”…see 5:1 • Note the summary for creation in 2:4 • Some say there is a gap between v1 and v2
“God created…” • The Hebrew bara’ does not indicate “manufacture” • Function or organization or assignment of role… implies design • Planning + implementation • Making matter was not the focus of the narrative…emphasis not on what
but why • God is the source of the purpose and placement of everything in creation “heavens and earth” Simply means everything…
Genesis 1:2 “Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep
• Some think • Pre-day1 matter • Describes a cloudy and chaotic, pre-new life state • Ancient near-eastern concerns • Overcoming chaos (raging sea and darkness) • Bottom-line: God has not done his organizing, specifying work yet
“Spirit of God was hovering over the waters
• Often interpreted as the Holy Spirit by theologians, but the text
does not make that clear…could be • Seems to mainly speak to presence and power of God in the midst of this scene • Hebrew = “wind”…implies an extension of God
Genesis 1:3-5 “Light” • Not the creation of light, but the establishment of the “period of light”
• This was God’s first ordering step, breaking into the darkness,
controlling it and limiting it • “It was good”…achieved the purpose for which God called it into existence Regulation and function • “Separate the light from darkness”…they each have their place in the cycle God
created • Regulation – God created time in the process of overcoming chaos, i.e. the first
day • Function – By naming the light period “day” and the period “night,” God is assigning their place and role…this demonstrates his sovereignty over them • “Evening and morning…” • What is “day”, yom? Hebrews would’ve read it literally • The goal is to provide markers for God’s organizing work, not process, not science, but purpose and cause
Take-Aways From the Text • There is one God • He created everything [heavens and earth] • With purpose and design • Defeating chaos in a redemptive way • With good and pleasing results • This makes a statement about God’s character • He is purposeful • This sin-filled, flawed world was not his intent in creation…there has to be some reason for the kind of world we have (sin, etc.) since it’s not like he created it
Bridging the Gap from the 21st Century • We see function as a consequence of structure…this
leads us into questions about science • The ancients saw function as a consequence of
purpose…for Israel this would has special importance Relevance for us today?
Living Faith Bible Fellowship
September 22, 2010
Review from last week… The key to understanding Genesis • Cultural context • The author’s purpose • Will reinforce these tonight
Author
Original meaning Text
Theology of Creation • God alone is sovereign • Creation was orderly and purposeful • Will reinforce these tonight
Covenant relationship with God • What is a covenant? • Any examples?
What does Genesis not address? • Will reinforce this tonight
Audience
Modern audience
Creation accounts in scripture have purpose Psalm 33:6-9 [Fear and reverence of the Lord]
Psalm 90:2 [God’s blessing over Israel’s exodus] Nehemiah 6 [The basis of praise and worship before
consecration…note the connection to covenant in v.7]
John 1:3 [Equating the Word with God] Acts 4:24 [The basis for bold action] Colossians 1:16 [The supremacy of Christ in all things] Revelation 4:11 [The worthiness of God to be praised]
Outline of Our Study of Creation • Creation [Function over Form] (Genesis 1 – 2:3) • God bringing order out of chaos • Creation is good and has dignity • Humanity is in partnership with God • Focus = The Cosmos • Relationship with God and his gifts (Genesis 2:4 – 25) • Eden • Mission • Marriage • This will give us a picture of the world as God intended it
and what lost in Genesis 3
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning…” • “Period of time” vs. point in time • Serves as an introduction and summary • Common structure in Genesis…”this is the account of”…see 5:1 • Note the summary for creation in 2:4 • Some say there is a gap between v1 and v2
“God created…” • The Hebrew bara’ does not indicate “manufacture” • Function or organization or assignment of role… implies design • Planning + implementation • Making matter was not the focus of the narrative…emphasis not on what
but why • God is the source of the purpose and placement of everything in creation “heavens and earth” Simply means everything…
Genesis 1:2 “Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep
• Some think • Pre-day1 matter • Describes a cloudy and chaotic, pre-new life state • Ancient near-eastern concerns • Overcoming chaos (raging sea and darkness) • Bottom-line: God has not done his organizing, specifying work yet
“Spirit of God was hovering over the waters
• Often interpreted as the Holy Spirit by theologians, but the text
does not make that clear…could be • Seems to mainly speak to presence and power of God in the midst of this scene • Hebrew = “wind”…implies an extension of God
Genesis 1:3-5 “Light” • Not the creation of light, but the establishment of the “period of light”
• This was God’s first ordering step, breaking into the darkness,
controlling it and limiting it • “It was good”…achieved the purpose for which God called it into existence Regulation and function • “Separate the light from darkness”…they each have their place in the cycle God
created • Regulation – God created time in the process of overcoming chaos, i.e. the first
day • Function – By naming the light period “day” and the period “night,” God is assigning their place and role…this demonstrates his sovereignty over them • “Evening and morning…” • What is “day”, yom? Hebrews would’ve read it literally • The goal is to provide markers for God’s organizing work, not process, not science, but purpose and cause
Take-Aways From the Text • There is one God • He created everything [heavens and earth] • With purpose and design • Defeating chaos in a redemptive way • With good and pleasing results • This makes a statement about God’s character • He is purposeful • This sin-filled, flawed world was not his intent in creation…there has to be some reason for the kind of world we have (sin, etc.) since it’s not like he created it
Bridging the Gap from the 21st Century • We see function as a consequence of structure…this
leads us into questions about science • The ancients saw function as a consequence of
purpose…for Israel this would has special importance Relevance for us today?
