Genesis 1 Part 2:

Review:

In the beginning is not referring to the beginning of the material universe but rather the beginning of the 7 day period.

Created - Bara is most often used in Biblical and extra biblical text in relation to Functional ontology. Functional ontology states that a thing is not existing in a system of order until it has been given a function and purpose.

When Genesis claim God created, it is not referring to the material creation but the creation of function and purpose.

Function and purpose are called into being through separation, designation, and naming.

Material already exists before day 1 but therefore days 1 through 7 cannot be about material creation. The earth exists but without shape and empty with water over the surface.

What we see here is a ancient description of material that has not yet been given an order or function in a ordered structured system.

Days 1-7

Day 1 - God said let there be light -

God is establishing the function - he is naming what he desires, and separating.

Purchase a old house - You walk in and say, I want this room to be the den, this room to be the dinning area, this room to be the master bedroom, etc. You are establishing the function of the rooms but you have not yet installed the necessary furniture to put the order in perfect function.

God establishes the purpose of light and darkness, separating them and thus giving them their function. But the furniture is still needed.

Day 4 - Installing the furniture according to the specified function of day 1. God places the sun and moon in the room to give light and to separate day and night.

He then gives purpose to the installed lights.

Sun, Moon, Stars exist to be signs to indicate seasons, days, and years. And to give light on earth.

Greater light to rule over the day

Lesser light and stars to rule over the night.

All of this is to give proper systemic order to the cosmic temple.

Day 2 - Again God is establishing functional order. Creating an order of peace- shalom. Separating and naming. Naming the atmosphere sky.

Day 5 - Installation of function.

The water is now filled with swarming creatures and sea creatures.

The sky is filled with birds.

Now the sky and waters have their installed function. Creatures in each distinct living space are to fulfill their function by reproducing after it’s own kind and filling the water and the earth.

Day 3 - Declaring function and purpose of the land.

Land is to produce vegetation, plants yielding seeds according to their own kind.

Trees are to bear fruit from the land.

The land’s purpose therefore is to be the birthing place and home of vegetation and trees.

Day 6- The installation of the furniture so the land can meet it’s function and purpose.

Land is to produce living creatures according to their kind.

The land is to be filled with Humanity so God installs and gives purpose to humanity.

Purpose of humanity / Image God (reflect His nature and character) / rule over the installed furniture of day 5, day 3, and the animals of day 6. / They are to be fruitful and reproduce and fill the earth / Subdue all creation and rule over it.

Both male and female here are called “The Adams” or the humans and both a made to bare the image of God as their main focal purpose.

All vegitation and animals were given to Humans as food.

Side Note on Day 6

Genesis 1:24–27 NASB95

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Notice: The earth brings forth living creatures after their kind.

cattle

creeping things

beasts of the earth

The we are told God made the beasts of the earth.

Made - Hebrew Bara must be speaking of purpose and not material creation here.

So beasts came from the land and then were given purpose from God.

COULD IT BE?

All animals come from the land?

God gives them purpose and function - puts them into proper functioning order for His temple system.

God then gives man Purpose - created bara - that purpose was noted above - bare and reflect his character and nature - rule over the other animals and reproduce and fill the earth.

Now look at

Genesis 2:7 NASB95

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Did God put in a system into the earth to produce all the animals of which God then gave them purpose and are humans one of those who came from the land?

—————————————————————————

Chapter 2:1-3

Genesis 2:1–3 NASB95

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

NO CHAPTERS EXISTED IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT.

The first account of creation runs from chapter 1 verse 1 all the way to chapter 2 verse 3.

THE HEAVENS AND EARTH WERE COMPLETED WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THEM.

There is now a full functional and ordered system.

The cosmic temple is complete. Not materially speaking but functionally / purposefully speaking.

7th day!

God has completed His temple and all is in functioning order. The temple system is at peace- shalom.

God Sits / rests / ceased work - He takes His throne in the cosmic temple of which the earth is apart of the temple structure.

Isaiah 66:1–2 NASB95

Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

———————————————————-

HOMEWORK

Read Chapters 2-3

Take notes and think through these questions.

Is chapter two giving us a material ontology or functional ontology?

Where was the garden according to Scripture?

Was Adam formed in the garden or outside the garden?

What was the purpose of the Tree of Life in the Garden?

What was the purpose or function of the tree of knowledge of Good and evil?

Why do you think they were forbidden to eat from it?

With all the geographical land marks mentioned about the garden, do you believe it was a real place or does it represent a deeper truth? Why?