This week’s class will focus on Genesis chapters 1 and 2, and the topic of Creation. As we begin our study in the book of Genesis, it is important to understand what Biblical Creation actually teaches, and the theories that are out there in reference to the origin of life. The first few chapters of Genesis answer some critical questions humans have had such as: Where did I come from, creation or evolution? What is my purpose and identity in life? What is the purpose of marriage? The Bible has answers if we’re willing to look. The pace will pick up each week, but starting out slow, and getting a grasp on the big picture is critical to Bible study.

Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors. As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches.

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation overview and Bible study questions below. Basic answers to the Bible study will be also be posted for your review there and, or as a leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Foundations Bible Study, Session Four: Genesis Chapter One and Two – The Creation

Review and Reflection

1. Prayer Cards: Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have, and exchange with your table group at the end of the evening.

2. Review from last week’s class: Why is it important to consider our view of God and the concept of the Trinity?

Focus Verse:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 ESV

Presentation

Foundations Bible Study

The Trinity: Review and Scripture Summary

GOD IS ONE IN BEING; THREE IN PERSONS

The Father is God

He is the authority and ultimate cause of the creation; all revelation is through Him; we pray to the Father through Jesus.

The Son is God

He is the Redeemer; fulfillment of the Promise; the Agent through which the creation happened and is maintained; the Agent of salvation; and we pray to the Father through Jesus.

The Spirit is God

He is the counselor; the comforter; the power behind the creation; and the source of Divine revelation leading believers into all truth.

Additional supporting verses:

The Father:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 14:6-7

The Son:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:16-17

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 5:18

The Holy Spirit:

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

John 14:16-17

All of the Gospel of John, especially the rest of chapter 14 through 16

IF WE HAVE A HIGH VIEW OF …

Who God is, including His Triune nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), as distinct from other deities in pagan religions, and His Holy, Perfect and Righteous Character as defined in the pages of Scripture.

THEN THESE THINGS SHOULD FOLLOW…

Miracles are possible
God inspired His Word in the Bible
Jesus is who He claimed to be, as found within the pages of Scripture

Bible Study

Each week, we are encouraging you to take some dedicated time and spend it in God’s Word. Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Practicing the Hermeneutics Step 4. Interpretation: What does it mean?
Questions for Going Deeper

What are some characteristics we can list about God from our reading in these chapters? What are some things you can add to that list that you know to be true of God?
Make a chart of, or list, the things God did for each day of creation in chapter 1.
How many times does God say “it was good” and why do you think He said that?
How many times is the word “kind” used; how and why?
What did God do on the seventh day, and why?
Chapter 2, verse 4, begins the re-telling of what God did on day six with more detail. What are some things you notice about this day that makes it different from all the others?
What does God say to Adam in verses 2:16-17? Discuss why you think He gave him that command.
What does God say specifically about man and woman in 1:27 and 2:24? How can we reflect on that for our culture today?

Jot down any questions you have for the shelf…

Characteristics of God (see review above and last week’s notes)

Events of the Creation Days:

Day of Creation	Events
First Day	Heavens, Earth and light The Universe was formed Light and darkness were formed
Second Day	Sky and water The waters separated creating the atmosphere that is divided from water on the earth
Third Day	Land, seas and vegetation dry land formed oceans/seas formed plants and trees were created
Fourth Day	Sun, moon, and stars The great lights were created to fill the Universe, govern day and night, and to mark the seasons, days and years
Fifth Day	Fish and birds Fish were created to fill the seas Birds were created to fill the sky
Sixth Day	Animals The second wave of animals were created to fill the dry land Humans: Man and woman The best for last—the image of God was given to humans (for rulership) to care for the earth and all it had been filled with, and to be in relationship with God
Seventh Day	God rested He modeled the importance of rest He declared all He had made “very good” He set a model for our work week

Good is used 7 times in chapter one, and in chapter 2:18 God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone”

God is perfect; therefore, His Creation was made perfect.
This is important because prior to chapter three, and the fall, everything was good; therefore, there could be no death, no suffering, no disease, no pain in the Creation, because there was no evil that had yet infected it, nor was there a curse upon it.

How many times is the word “kind” used; how and why?

The Word “Kind” is used ten times in Genesis chapter 1 (ESV) to denote specific living things that were created and how they were to procreate.
It is used again in Genesis 6-7, seven times related to Noah’s Ark and the types of animals that were to enter it, both male and female.

From the New Testament:

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:35-41 (ESV)

Origin Theories: An Overview

Evolutionary Theory (Neo-Darwinian Evolution—opposed to any kind of creation; “old earth” dating – the atheists’ view)
Theistic Evolution (Belief that God used evolution with creation; “old earth” dating)
Old Earth Creation/Day-Age/Progressive Creation (Belief that God created over long periods of time, not days, resulting in an “old earth” dating)
Gap Theory (Belief in a long gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 that accounts for an “old earth” dating)
Young Earth Creation (Biblical Creation – Belief in a literal six-day creation as presented in Genesis 1 and Exodus 20:11)

Note: There are variations within each of these

Practice Step 3 – Context for the Hermeneutical Method: What does it say?

Read Chapter Two and discuss the context

Practice Step 4 – Interpretation for the Hermeneutical Method: What does it mean?

What did God do on the seventh day, and why?

DAY 7: God rested. It means He was finished with the work of creation; it does not mean He was tired. God gives us this example of rest throughout Scripture. It is the template of our seven-day work week still today.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

What about the Sabbath for Christians today?

The Sabbath command was initially part of the Jewish Law and the Ten Commandments. It is the only commandment not repeated by Jesus in the New Testament, but instead Jesus said:

“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8

“Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:7

Paul taught:

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17

In the Old Testament the Nation of Israel was given the Law specifically to govern their Nation and to worship God. The Law was written for to them and for them. When Jesus came and fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). Christians have traditionally worshipped on the LORD’s Resurrection Day (Sunday), but every day is a day to worship the LORD!

Chapter 2, verse 4, begins the re-telling of what God did on day six with more detail. What are some things you notice about this day that makes it different from all the others?

Here we see the importance of identity, purpose and relationship

Created by God – given freewill for the ability to choose and love
Made to bear His Image (made to know Him, reflect His likeness, His holiness and righteousness)
Human life is the most important kind of life and has eternal significance
We are creatures, not gods, made from the dust
Dominion (rulership) We are God’s trustees and have a duty to bring God’s will to God’s world
We were made to be male or female – gender matters
We are Fallen in Adam’s image as dead sinners
We are Restored through Jesus – we shall also bear His image (1 Cor. 15:49)

3 Images affect our identity: God’s, Adam’s and Christ’s

What does God say to Adam in verses 2:16-17? Discuss why you think He gave him that command.

The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

God’s command in verses 2:16-17, shows us…

God’s relationship to mankind (there is a hierarchy).
Mankind’s responsibility to his Father’s authority.
Mankind’s freewill, because a command always comes with the opportunity to break it.

What does God say specifically about man and woman in 1:27 and 2:24? How can we reflect on that for our culture today?

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR…

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
“And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”” Matthew 19:4-6

Recommended Resources:

breakpoint.org – Colson Center for Christian Worldview – Daily email subscription/podcasts
isgenesishistory.com – Is Genesis History? – Documentary, video clips, lectures and more
searchcreation.org – Search 1000’s of questions for answers on Genesis and creation topics
genesisapologetics.com – Easy-to-understand web, video, and written products for pastors, parents, and students. The materials are “core” to the Creationist position
creation.com – (CMI) Creation Ministries International’s website: Speakers, videos, articles, tours and more (even topics on aliens and dinosaurs!)
creationtoday.org – A Community oriented group hosted by Eric Hovind with weekly interviews, podcasts and an online community
creationministries.org – Book: “The Cost” by Russ Miller – See his website for more materials
answersingenesis.org – Geared for all ages, with exceptional resources for children
icr.org – Academic experts from all fields of science related to creation and Genesis
discovery.org – Discovery Institute, Center for Science and Culture: Research that focuses on “Intelligent Design” and anti-Darwinian Evolutionary teachings in education through science and research. (Note: Many of the Scholars and Fellows from this Institute are from various faiths and backgrounds and lean old-earth philosophy)

HOMEWORK

Hermeneutics Step 3: Context – What does it say?

Read Genesis Chapter Three and take a few notes to summarize

Hermeneutics Step 4: Interpretation – What does it mean?

Answer these questions to go deeper in your study for Genesis Chapter Three…

Chapter Three:

Go back to Genesis chapter two: What are the two trees identified by God in the Garden? Which one did He warn Adam not to eat from and what is the importance of the other one?
Who is the “serpent” in Genesis 3? (Read Revelation 20:1-2) To go deeper into his identity read the veiled descriptions in Ezekiel 28:13-19; Isaiah 14:12-19, Luke 10:17-20; and Revelation 12:7-12.
What was the first thing the “serpent” said to Eve, how did she respond, and did she correctly represent what God had said (Cross-reference with Genesis 2:17)?
What did the “serpent” say to Eve after her first response, and was it true? How did Eve respond to this, and where was Adam when all this was going on?
What happened to Adam and Eve after they ate of the fruit; what did God say to them and how did they respond after this happened?
What did God say and do in response to Adam and Eve’s disobedience? Discuss the implications of this promise and curse from God.
Re-read Genesis 3:15 in a few different versions for a better understanding. This is the first Covenant Promise by God for a rescue plan through a Savior. Write out your favorite version and commit it to memory.

Jot down any questions you have for the shelf…

Please continue to join us each week for Foundations Bible Study – the book of Genesis!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15