OF Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, John Milton Paradise Lost

Genesis is defined as: (n) a coming into being the first book of the Old Testament: tells of Creation; Adam and Eve; the Fall of Man; Cain and Abel; Noah and the flood; God's covenant with Abraham; Abraham and Isaac; Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothers

How does one begin to make sense of Genesis as a first-time reader? Genesis is a book of beginnings; it covers primeval history (1-12) then moves into narratives of the "fathers" of the nation Israel. Chapters 1-12 contain four outstanding events: creation, fall, flood, Babel.

From the beginning, …human beings were created for relationship, both vertical and horizontal, with God and with other human beings. This human being is given preeminence and is made in God’s own image.

The Image of God (?)

The FALL of Man Although Satan is not mentioned in the narrative, tradition holds that the serpent who figures so largely in this episode was none other than the Temptor himself, the Devil, taking the form of a serpent to tempt Eve. In the book of Revelation, Satan is designated “that ancient serpent” (Rev. 20:2)

Let’s consider the serpent’s strategy… He’s crafty! He doesn’t oppose anything God has said or done – at least, not overtly. He asks an innocent-sounding question that causes Eve to doubt what she has been told. “For God knows that when you eat of [the forbidden fruit], your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:5)

John Milton & Paradise Lost According to Milton, Satan's motive was to be above his peers. Satan will never submit freely to God's authority. Satan suggests that God's rule was endangered by his revolt, that he will never sink to the indignity of asking forgiveness, and outlines his intention of conducting further warfare against God.

The Protestant Reformation Milton puts his Protestant religion right at the centre of his poetic imagination. What does Protestant mean?

In summary… The Protestant Reformation was an attempt launched by Martin Luther in the early sixteenth century to rid the Roman Catholic Church of some of the flagrant abuses which he and others perceived in the hierarchy and in the practice of the Roman Catholic religion. Luther, who was an Augustinian monk, demanded a return to what he perceived as a much truer vision of Christian life based on the Bible and an immediate end to the economic abuses of the clergy.