Reflection On Biblical Reflection

From Genesis 1.1-2.4a it can be discerned that God is the creator of all. He created the world and its inhabitants from a vast nothingness. The text reflects upon who God is and what His capabilities are through the act of creation. The verses allow that God is communicating with us. It is communicated what Gods will is for man and gives us a history of our beginnings. From the data provided in the verses, scientists can conclude as to the how and why the order of creation came about. For example, light was first, land second, and then plants. Light and land are needed for plats to survive. The passages allude to the fact that He and He

The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” I love the imagery in this verse, and the promise of shelter. I love that it reinforces that God forgives all, and will protect me from those who wish to harm me. Throughout the psalm it reflects David’s confidence in God to deliver him from his enemies, and welcome him into Heaven at the end. This promise that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, to be forgiven and reunited with God, in His house, has been such a boon to my life. King David was a warrior who saw, and partook in, some of the worst things that humanity does to one another. How he must have loved God, and how joyful he must have felt when this psalm came upon him. This psalm brings me peace and joy every time I think of it. It is the promise of a happy ending, and so, it the gift of hope. I have been in places of imminent harm, and had Him come to my, and my

The purpose of the creation story is not central to the Bible but serves as a prologue to the historical drama, which are the central concerns of the Bible. The narrative focus in the Bible is on the story that begins with Noah and is centered on the exodus from Egypt. The central event in the Bible is the creation of the covenant and the giving of laws and commandments. Although the creation of the world in Genesis I and the pronouncement of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are two completely different accounts in the Bible, there lies a similar theme between them: God creates an orderly and hierarchical universe, both natural and moral.

The 23rd Psalm is arguably the most infamous and popular psalms among people in the western world. With 1/3 of the worlds population identifying with an Abrahamic faith (Christian, Jews or Muslin), the psalms play a vital role in the emotions towards God and about God to the believer. This psalm is neither intermingled with prayers, nor does it complain of miseries for the purpose of obtaining relief; but it contains simply a thanksgiving, from which it appears that it was composed when David had obtained peaceable possession of the kingdom, and lived in prosperity, and in the enjoyment of all he could desire. That he might not, therefore, in the time of his great prosperity, be like worldly men, who, when they seem to themselves to be fortunate, God in forgetfulness, and luxuriously plunge themselves into their pleasures, he delights himself in God, the author of all the blessings which he enjoyed. And he not only acknowledges that the state of tranquility in which he now lives, and his exemption from all inconveniences and troubles, is owing to the goodness of God; but he also trusts that through his providence he will continue happy even to the close of his life, and for this end that he may employ himself in his pure worship. It’s a Psalm of journey and of nourishment both along the way and at the end.

The first five chapters of Genesis provide not only historical information about Creation, the Fall, and the first generations of mankind, but they also describe God’s attitude toward His creation and towards sin. These chapters also provide insights into the nature of man. For example, we learn from Genesis 1 and 2 that we have been made in the image of God. This means that humans have authority, value, and purpose because God possesses these traits. The first four chapters of Genesis give us insight into how each of these traits specifically apply to human life and society.

The Drama of Scripture written by Bartholomew and Goheen takes the reader on a journey through the entire Bible in six short “acts.” The first Act discusses creation and the establishment of God’s Kingdom. In the beginning was complete darkness. Then, God created light and divided the heavens and the earth. He then split the waters and the seas, creating dry ground on which the rest of creation could walk. He proceeded to make plants and flowers and the sun, moon, and stars. He created days and seasons and animals of all shapes and sizes. And then, to add the finishing touch, God created men and women, male and female, He created them. The book states that “the Genesis story is given so that we might have a true understanding of the world in which we live, its divine author, and our own place in it” (Bartholomew, 29). Genesis 1-3, the story of Creation, is prevalent because it introduces the author of creation, humanity, and the creation upon which humanity’s drama unfolds.

Genesis is the first book of the Bible.  It begins with the story of God’s creation of the universe.    The Lord is the Almighty Creator of the world, skies, heavens, seas, animals, man, and woman.  He governs the universe and develops relationships with man.  Throughout Genesis, God acknowledges the fact that human beings make mistakes, and accepts their imperfection.  Throughout Genesis, God changes from one who does not tolerate disobedience, to one who shows clemency.  Early on in Genesis, God punishes Adam and Eve for disobedience.  After making the mistake of flooding the world, the Lord realizes that even He is not perfect, and does not allow Jacob’s deceit of his father to taint his future.

God’s role in the Bible is characterized in several different ways, with dramatically competing attributes. He takes on many functions and, as literary characters are, he is dynamic and changes over time. The portrayal of God is unique in separate books throughout the Bible. This flexibility of role and character is exemplified by the discrepancy in the depiction of God in the book of Genesis in comparison to the depiction of God in the book of Job. On the larger scale, God creates with intention in Genesis in contrast to destroying without reason in Job. However, as the scale gets smaller, God’s creative authority can be seen in both books, yet this creative authority is manifested in entirely distinctive manners. In Genesis, God as

Throughout the bible, and reading it once more by Marcus Borg, a common idea as it relates to a religious experience, is that the Bible is a human product. Throughout chapter two, Borg continuously describes the Bible as being a product of humans. He explains on page 22 that he sees scripture through the lens of the Bible being a human product, meaning that it is the “product of two ancient communities” (22). He believed that what the Bible explains things to be are words from the communities of ancient Israel and the early Christian movement. “We cannot talk about God (or anything else) except with the words, symbols, stories, concepts, and categories known to us, for they are the only language we have”, made me think about the idea that

In Genesis 1:1-2:3 the influence of God 's work is unquestionable. God speaks worlds into existence, and step by step we see the earliest example of the right use of power. It is in the first chapter genesis that we learn that GOD (the divine one) is the only one that created this universe. As Vern S. Poythress said “Genesis 1 proclaims that God is the only sovereign Lord and Creator of all” (Poythress 2015). God speaks and things come

Furthermore, to understood creation one has to view it as both the prologue to history and its eschatological climax in the new heaven and new earth. Creation stands as both the beginning and the end of the divine-human drama, but it have very limited importance for what occurs in between (Gen.3-Rev.20).

Explanation: Jesus continued his discourse, explaining to the disciples that he had spoken those things to them so that they would not be offended or surprised when these persecutions would come. And when that time would come, they would remember what he had said and be prepared. Jesus had not spoken to them about it earlier because he had been with them, but now he was preparing them for his departure and ascension. He warned them that the time would come when they would be excommunicated from the synagogues and killed. And the people that did that to them would think they were doing God’s will, because they did not truly know the Father. But Jesus was going to his Father, and the disciples were sad at his going. Nonetheless, it was good for them that he was going away, because when he left, the Comforter would come. And when the Spirit would come, he would teach the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment: of sin, because they did not believe in Jesus; of righteousness, because he was going the Father; of judgment, because the prince of this world would be judged. And though Jesus could not tell his disciples everything they needed to know, the Spirit of truth would come and guide them. And he would tell them what he had heard of the things that would come. And he would glorify Jesus because he would speak what Jesus would tell him. And the Father gives all things to the Son; so that what is of the Father is of the Son, and the things of the Son are of the Father.

Jesus continues to preach. He forbids divorce and advocates chastity, while expounding the virtues of asceticism. He warns against the pitfalls of wealth, teaches forgiveness, and welcomes children. In Jerusalem, cheering crowds await him. People “spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (Matthew 21:8). Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus expels money changers from the Jewish temple and defies the chief priests and elders, saying, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). Jesus’s action earns him the support of the crowds. He chastises Jewish leaders, telling them they have been poor caretakers of the temple and that the people have been hypocritical, focusing on technical legal issues rather than “justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Seeing the wickedness of Jerusalem, and foreseeing God’s punishment of the wicked, Jesus warns his disciples to be prepared for the end of the world. He says that tribulations will precede the final judgment, but that the Son of man—Jesus himself—will come, and that the righteous will be saved.

In our society today, it can be hard to fully understand and relate to biblical texts written in a seemingly different world. With stories of great joys and sorrows, I found that although the world we live in today is different, the messages are still highly relevant. As long as humans are still imperfect and desired filled beings, we will need the wisdom of these biblical texts to guide us. As the stories of overcoming hardships and suffering made an impression on me, the stories of love and acceptance filled me with great emotion. There are many differences that seem to separate Christians today, whether in arguments such as interpretations or certain beliefs. This has only divided an undivided religion. I found comfort and strength from texts about love and a calling for Christians to come together despite differences. In this, I found a deeper connection to myself and others.

delivers a message to Zacharias. He appears in the temple to announce the birth of John to his father. He makes a grand announcement of who he is as is recorded in Luke 1:19 “The angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.’” The next couple of announcements were to Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus. Gabriel told Mary that she would be having a son. He also appeared in a dream to Joseph letting him know that it was safe to take Mary as his wife. The next instance of the angelic messenger is less than a year later to the shepherds outside of Jerusalem “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” We see at least two more instances where the angels deliver some form of message that had to do with Christ. One at the tomb once He rose again and one at His ascension. When the women went to the tomb to finish the burial traditions with Jesus’ body, the found it empty and two men appeared to them in this fashion: “While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen…’”