Genesis 1 Vs. Genesis

To study Genesis in terms of its literary and historical content is not to say that we are in any way being irreverent in our reading of this part of the Old Testament. In other words, it is possible to read Genesis in both a spirit of appreciation for its position as the opening exegetical narrative of the Bible and as a document that reflects literary and historical realities and influences during the time when it was being written down. This paper examines some of the contemporary sources that influenced the two sets of writers who recorded the events of Genesis.

Often a topic of debate, there are several different takes on the creation story existent in literature. Dependent on one’s religion, different beliefs about how the world we live in was created may arise. Looking deeper into the literature, one will realize there are also many similarities between creation stories. Based on the strong possibility that Genesis was influenced by the Enuma Elish, there are similarities that stem from the fact that they both describe the creation of a new world as well as differences in their interpretations and approaches to creationism.

Genesis, a text in the Hebrew Bible, and The Bhagavad Gita, a dated Hindu poem, are both influential classic texts that tell the accounts of two powerful Gods, who share a similar agenda. Although they are similar deities, each has a different way to influence the world. It is apparent in the text that Krishna seems not to care about what acts one commits in the material world, but rather if one person fulfills his or her spiritual duty to him; his concept of spiritual duty is to have complete reverence and idolization of him and him only. Unlike Krishna, in Genesis, God’s main goal is to have humankind refrain from evil and do what is righteous by following commandments. In addition, even though both gods display themselves in a self-glorifying

It is important to believe in something. There are many fascinating, mysterious aspects of life which cannot be revealed scientifically. Creation stories help us explain the unexplainable. There’s a big variety of them , different societies and different beliefs. Every culture provides its own narration of the creation of the world, each unique but containing themes that are universal to many civilizations. Genesis is the Hebrew people’s idea of how it all began, how humans came to be. Popol Vuh sums up the Mayan people’s theory of the Earth’s birth. Even though all that the gods in both of the stories want is obedience, their attitude toward the people contrasts one another, which leads to the idea that the Hebrew society values honesty

Another difference between the “two” versions of Creation, more noticeable than the afore mentioned, is in their answer of why man was created. In Genesis I, man was created to rule over all the animals. In fact, a section of Genesis I:26 reads “and let [man] have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” In contrast, Genesis II:5 claims that man was created because there was no one to “till the ground.” The variation in each chapter’s answer to why man was created provides differing implications for the status of mankind. In Genesis I, man is supposed to be the supreme ruler, while in Genesis II, man was created merely as a servant of the land. Western religions, when viewing the status of humans, tend to take the first interpretation as indication of man’s role on earth, believing him to be superior to all other species.

While Genesis in the bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh have striking similarities in the sense of creation and the great flood, the interactions between the divine beings and humans differ greatly. One matter that impacts the entire relationship between gods and humans in both accounts is that the gods in the epic are not almighty beings like God in Genesis since they cannot control each other’s domain. Because of this, they must travel from place to place and work with other gods to carry out a certain task. The gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh act very much like humans and interfere more with their daily lives. In contrast, the all-powerful god in Genesis seems distant and far from having human-like characteristics and does not need to interact with other gods. At the same time, both stories display the reverence and fear humans have for the supreme beings because of their authoritative qualities.

In Genesis, the first book of The Bible the Christian and Jewish creation story is told. God spoke and his Word was done. He made the heavens and the earth. He made light and drove away the dark. On the earth he created the waters and lands and man and beast.

Genesis chapters 1 and 2 tell the story of creation. Revelation chapters 21 and 22 talk about the new heaven and earth that God is creating. The creation account of Genesis and the renewed creation in Revelation have some common ground, but they also have some differences.

Robert states in chapter one that “Genesis 1-2, the first two chapters of the bible show us God’s original, perfect creation” (27). In this chapter he goes into depth about the creation of the world. Roberts gives us four truths about creation.

Another possibility is that there were two stories being told and the writer could not decide which one to put in the bible, so he put both. Though there are two clashing stories, the basic idea for this story of creation can still be seen. This might explain why Genesis 1 has a broader spectrum of creation and why Genesis 2 focuses mainly on the creation of man. In Genesis 1 the names of man are not even mentioned. In Genesis 2 however we come to learn that their names are Adam (male) and Eve (female). Also in Genesis 2 we learn exactly how Eve is created; Goad takes a rib from Adam and makes Eve from that rib. Then she is called woman, because she is made from man (Gen 2:23). This appears nowhere in Genesis 1.

All religions have some way of recording and retelling stories which are significant for the believers within their tradition. Usually these stories are recorded in special books which are given great authority and considered holy or sacred. In some religious conditions, sacred texts are also believed to be divinely inspired. (Goldburg, P., & Blundell, P. (2009). Investigating religion (p. 50.) The two sacred texts that have been selected from the Jewish Torah for to be methodically analysed and investigated are two creation stories, Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. These two texts are sacred because these laws and texts are believed to have come from G-d, who had put in place ethical standards directing the Jews how to live their lives. Despite their

I composed this paper exclusively for this class, and it is my original work. When I have used information from other sources, I have provided appropriate in-text citations and a corresponding list of references. I also understand that evidence of plagiarism may result in a failing grade for this course.

We all know that our mothers and fathers gave us birth, and grandmothers and grandfathers gave our parents birth. However, what about the beginning? What does the beginning look like? Who created the sky, the earth, the mountains and rivers, the plants, the animals, and the human beings? How was the world created? What happened to the creator? These questions have puzzled and are asked by every people. However, no one has yet found the answers, and I have heard people saying that the creation of life is as impossible as the natural creation of an airplane from a stack of waste. With the willingness of knowing the self, ancient people tried to create mythological stories

John’s Gospel famously begins “In the beginning was the Word….” The echo of Genesis 1:1 is intentional and unmistakable. Jesus’ entire redemptive ministry means there is now a new beginning, a starting over—a new creation. This Jesus, who is the Word, who was with God at the very beginning, through whom all things were made, is now walking among us as redeemer (John 1:1-5). Those who believe in him are no longer born of earthly parents but “born of God” (vv. 12-13). They start over. The language of “born again” later in John (3:3) points in the same direction.

The theme at issue is the debate on Genesis. The book of Genesis is usually the chapter that most Christians know as the creation story of all humans and living creatures. As it says in Genesis chapter one, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” (New International Version). This is the start to how God created everything on that very first day. These chapters seem to give humans an idea of both the origins of the universe, and the God who originated it. The idea of creation, how the Earth was created, and how humans came into existence is not a subject only Christians think about. It has been debated upon; also argued within and throughout multiple religions as well such as Judaism. When it comes to evangelicals, however, there have been many interpretations. This leads into the debate on Genesis and creation. As an Evangelical, you believe that there is one God who created life and the world we live in. However, there is not universal agreement when it comes to how and when God