Subject: Genesis,chapters1-4:True accounts or not |
Bible Note: Greetings Wak! Do you mind if I interject at this point? I can't speak for anyone but me. However, I don't doubt that God can use different literary styles to convey truth. After all, Jesus used parables. But, there isn't anything in the first four chapters of Genesis which identify them as being anything other than literal history. This is a common assumption, but there simply isn't any evidence for it. One strong piece of evidence for a literal history is the phrase, "these are the generations of". This phrase is used 11 times: ********************************************* 1) Gen. 2:4 2) Gen. 5:1 3) Gen. 6:9 4) Gen. 10:1 5) Gen. 11:10 6) Gen. 11:27 7) Gen. 25:12 8) Gen. 25:19 9) Gen. 36:1 and 9 10) Gen. 37:2. In five of these (#1, #3, #6, #8, and #10), this phrase is followed by historical narrative. In five of these (#2, #4, #5, #7, #9), this phrase is followed by historical genealogies. Source: Victor P. Hamilton's, "The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17" of the New International Commentary of the Old Testament, pp. 2-3. ************************************************* The reason this is significant is that most (not all) will not dispute that the rest of Genesis is historial narrative. Yet, when it comes to Gen. 1-4, many are willing to say that it is not history. However, the pattern is consistent throughout Genesis. The same phrase is used to introduce each section and each section is followed with history, not myth. When pressed for evidence as to why Gen. 1-4 must be considered a literary device rather than history, most will respond that it doesn't match what we "know" through science. However, I have yet to find anyone who can provide evidence from Gen. 1-4 that it is myth or parable, rather than history. Now, I can't speak for you my friend. So let me give you the opportunity to speak for yourself. Therefore I will ask you, "What evidence is there in Gen. 1-4 that it is not historical narrative?" Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |