1. Genesis “In the beginning…”
Scripture Workshop
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
January 14, 2009

2. Questions? What do you know about Genesis?
Who wrote it? When? Why? Where? For whom?
What role does it play in our culture today?
What is it: History, myth, theology, fact, parable?

3. Some Big Ideas with there roots (rightly or wrongly) in Genesis
Original sin
God created us in his/her image
Creationism
Flood stories
God created men first
Sodomy is bad
Sabbath

4. Complex Sources
Genesis is composed of three main sources, each of which aggregate numerous earlier sources
Stories were told and re-told and re-intepreted and re-contextualized before and after they were written down
Sources distinguished by style, vocabulary, perspective, name for God, and the stories they tell
Combination creates contradictions, inconsistencies, repetition, abrupt changes
Combined sources often difficult to separate

5. Earliest Sources
All of the stories that created these sources first existed as oral traditions and over time were written.
Some material from within Judaism, some from neighboring civilizations
Stories with ancient middle eastern parallels include creation and the flood.
Some characters (Nephilim) and notions of God borrow from neighboring civilizations
Same 3 primary sources make up Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.

6. Yahwist (J) Source Refers to God as Yahweh
Likely written during 10th C, during reign of David and Solomon, though came from North
Oldest and largest source (730 verses)
God is personal and transcendent, human and folksy. Helper and opponent
Themes: Alienation, judgment, mercy
Stories: Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Flood (parts), Babel
Establishes much of Genesis’ narrative

7. Elohist (E) Source Refers to God as Elohim (simply means “God”)
Likely written during 9th in North, during period of Elijah’s activity
336 verses
Emerged as Israel tried to merge variety of religious trends. Defines clear covenantal relationship
Begins at Genesis 15
Much of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph sagas from E
Glosses over moral imperfections of Israelites, emphasizes religious (vs. political) nature of Israel

8. Priestly (P) Source Refers to God as El Shaddai (the Lord)
Written during 6th century, durin gthe late exilic period.
Only has 153 verses, but forms the outline into which J and E were inserted.
Includes first creation story and much of Genesis Little narrative tension
Concerned with cleanliness and covenant, off spring, land issues, names. Focuses on theological reading of covenants
God is distant and more formal

9. Combined Sources
In 9th C J and E were rivals. When North fell a redactor supplemented J with parts of E, and thus E is much less completely preserved
Affirmed national political tone of J but permeated it with religious and ethical qualities of E
300 years later the writing of P and combination with J&E was probably a single process.
Affirmed J&E religious and political tendencies and subordinated them to ritual concerns of E
P was final editor or guide for the final editor

10. Narrative Blocks First Creation Story Second Creation Story The Flood
Tower of Babel
Abraham Cycle
Traveling, covenant, Sodom & Gomorrah, birth of Isaac, Sacrifice of Isaac
Jacob Cycle
Jacob & Esau, Jacob & Laban, wrestling with angel, rape of Dinah
Joseph Story
Sold into slavery, interpreting dreams, brothers journey to Egypt, death

11. Literary forms within Genesis
Legendary narratives
Hymns/songs
Laments
Laws
Priestly sayings
Prophetic sayings
Proverbs
Rules
Legal Maxims
Treaties
Requests/wishes
Salutations
Blessings/curses
Novellas
Oaths
Oracles
Judgments
Cultic regulations
Approvals
rejections
rebukes
Conversations
Formal speeches
Sermons
Prayers
Letters
Myths
Fairy Tales
Lists
Historical Narrative
Biography
Speeches
Vision reports
Riddles
Wisdom
Parables
Fables
Allegories
Legends
Sagas
Anecdotes

12. First Creation Story 1:1-2:4b
Before creation earth is formless, dark wasteland and wind swept over waters
Creation takes on clear pattern:
“Let there be…”
Creation
Completes the day (Jewish days: Sunset to Sunset)
Steps in creation
Light; separation of waters; dry land, vegetation; sun, moon, stars; fish, birds; land animals, humans; sabbath

13. First Creation Story 1:1-2:4b
Priestly account: Very orderly. God is distant, not anthropomorphic
Similarities between this story and a Babylonian version, but it’s been re-done to reflect Israel’s theology
Something exists before creation, but it is chaos –similar to Babylonian accounts
Darkness was considered to be evil, and its origin is mysterious
God creates through the spoken word – naming something signified power over it

14. First Creation Story 1:1-2:4b
Creation is orderly
Some repudiation of claims of other religions
Light created before sources of light
Humans are culmination of humanity
1:26 uses “us”. Difficult to interpret
“Image”: God’s representative on earth? Something else?
Humans created male and female in God’s image
adam means humanity in Hebrew
God is outside of the universe

15. Workshop Schedule January 14: Introduction
January 21: Creation Stories, 1:1-5:32
January 28: The Flood, 6:1-11:27
February 4: Abraham Cycle, 11:28-36:43
February 11: Stephen in Mexico
February 18: Jacob Cycle, 25:19-36:43
February 25: Joseph Story, 37:1-50:26