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ORIGINS Genesis 1:1-19 Session 4: Earth ORIGINS Genesis 1:1-19 Session 4: Earth James River Community Church David Curfman February – May 2013 Genesis Chapter 1 Earth really is “good”, “beautiful” and “perfect”! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN- O4fQTau0 “By doing science, we find God” – Lee Strobel Outline 1. Genesis 1-11 (Introduction) 2. Genesis 1:1-31 (Universe Part 1) – Big Bang Model 3. Genesis 1:1-31 (Universe Part 2) – Old and Young Earth Models 4. Genesis 1: 1-19 (Earth) – Days 1 to 4 5. Genesis 1: 1-19 (Earth) 6. Genesis 1:13-25 (Plants and Animals) – Evolution 7. Genesis 1:26-2:4a (Man – male and female, Rest) 8. Genesis 2:4b-2:24 (Man and Woman, Garden of Eden & Marriage) 9. Genesis 3-5:1a (Sin & Curse) 10. Genesis 5:1b-6:9a (Decay) 11. Genesis 6:9b – 10:1a (Flood & Justice) 12. Genesis 10:1b -12:4 (Nations and Languages) Earth: Objectives Understand the Hebrew words used in Genesis Understand Genesis 1:1-19 (Days 1-4) Quick Review Don’t let changing science drive your understanding of the unchanging Word of God You must be consistent in your interpretation of the Word of God God created the universe and earth The universe had a beginning Big Bang requires 95% of matter and energy in the universe to be dark matter and dark energy Big Bang is an explanation for the perceived expansion of the universe Maximum reliable distance measurements are about 500 light years Moses wrote Genesis as 11 separate “accounts” Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Young Earth Interpretation Progressive Creation Gap Theory References Old earth ◦ Reasons to Believe – http://www.reasons.org ◦ Old Earth Ministries – http://www.oldearth.org ◦ GodandScience.org – http://www.godandscience.org ◦ American Scientific Affiliation – http://network.asa3.org ◦ Sententias.org – http://www.sententias.org Young earth ◦ Institute for Creation Research – http://www.icr.org ◦ Answers in Genesis – http://www.answersingenesis.org ◦ Creation Research Society – http://www.creationresearch.org ◦ Center for Scientific Creation – http://www.creationscience.com Intelligent Design ◦ Discovery Institute – http://www.discovery.org Earth: Hebrew words for “day” Hebrew Word Meaning References Yamim (from yom) Period of time, e.g. 40 years Gen 4:3; 1 Kings 11:42; 2 Chr 21:19 Yowm(from yom) Period of time, daylight, day, 2303 times – Gen 2:4, 17, 5:1-2, year, first, “when” 30:14: Josh 24:7; Ps 90:4; Is 11:10-11 Yowm(from yom) Period of time Most of the prophets – e.g. Ez 30: 3; Zeph 1:14-16 Zec 14:1; Mal 3:2 & 4:5 (period of time) Yowm(from yom) Day (24-hr). Forms of “yom” 239 times – Gen 1:5, 1:8, 1:13, occur 2303 times meaning age, 1:19, 1:23, 1:31, 2:3 (7 x “day”); day, each, time year etc. No Gen 7:4,11, 12, 17, 24, Gen 8:3-14 hours existed in time of Moses, (24-hr days), Gen 50:3; Ex 12:18; only night watches. God Ex 16:1-5; Ex 20:8-11 called the light “DAY” * “Yowm” always means 24 hr. day when accompanied by a number. Earth: Hebrew words for “create” The Creation Verbs of Genesis – Some say words are interchangeable (young earth) while others see specific meanings (old earth) Hebrew Word Meaning Location Bârâʾ to create (always with God as subject); to 55 times - Gen. 1:1 (heavens and earth) shape, to fashion; possibly to create out of 1:21 (first life: sea creatures and animals nothing(ex nihilo) which fly) 1:27 (human life: man) 2:3-4 (heavens and earth) 5:1-2 (man) 6:7 (man); Deut 4:32; Ps 51:10, Ps 148:5; Is 45:18 Wayyaas - ʿâsâh to make [produce], possibly to make out Gen. 1:7 (atmosphere) 1:16 (sun and of existing material; to do, to work; to act, to moon) 1:25 (land animals) 1:26 (man) 1:31 effect; to prepare; to make (an offering) (all) 2:2-4 (all, heavens and earth) 2:18 (woman specifically); Is 45:18 ,to build, rebuild; to build a house (i.e., Gen. 2:22 (the woman being built בָּנָּה( ]) Bânâh establish a family); to make, fashioned made of Adam’s rib); Gen 4:17 (city); Gen 8:20 (ark) 10:11 (Nineveh); 12:7 (altars numerous times) Yâtsar to form, fashion [by God or man]; to form Gen. 2:7-8 (man being formed of the [by God in creation, in original creation]; of dust of the ground); Is 29:16 ( potter and individuals at conception; of Israel as a clay); Is 45:18 people Earth: Other key Hebrew words Hebrew Word Meaning References Beresit “In beginning” (one word), 5 times - Gen 1:1; Jer 26:1, 27:1, 28:1, Beginning of time 49:34 (indicates the beginning of the Kingdom) Hassamayim 1) Sky, atmosphere Gen 1:26, 1:28, 1:30, 2:19, 2:20; Gen 7:3-23; 8:2 (Noah’s ark) Hassamayim 2) Heavens, abode of the 236 times – Gen 1:1, 1:8, 1:9, 1:14, 1:15, stars, visible universe 1:17,1:20, 2:1, 2:4; Gen 22:17; Gen 24:7, Ex 3) Originally meant home of 20:11 & 31:17; Ex 32:13; Deut 1:10; Deut God 4:26 Erets Earth, land. Idea of “planet” 934 times – Gen 1:1; 1:11, 1:12, 1:15, 1:17, did not enter language until 1:20, 1:24, 1:25, 1:26, 1:28, 1:29, 1:30; 2:5, 2:6, 1400 AD 2:12; Gen 7 & 8 (Flood); Ex 20:11 & 31:17; Is 45:18 To -hu Formlessness, confusion, 10 times – Gen 1:2; Job 26:7; Is 40:17 unreality, emptiness, chaos, Is 45:18,19; Jer 4:23 (may support gap waste or “no land” theory) Wabohu Emptiness, void or “unfilled” 3 times – Gen 1:2; Is 34:11; Jer 4:23 i.e. “no inhabitants” *Always used with to-hu Earth: Other key Hebrew words Hebrew Word Meaning References Mayim Waters 96 times – Gen 1:2, 1:6, 1:7, 1:9, 1:10, 1:20, 1:21,1:22; 7:17-24 & 8:1-13: Ex 14:21-28 Yammim Seas 21 times – Gen 1:10; Job 6:3; Ps 65:7; Ps 78:27; Jer 15:8: Ez 27:25-27 Tehowm The Deep, the sea, the 21 times – Gen 1:2; 7:11; 8:2; Jonah abyss, “water in 2:5; Ps 135:6 commotion” Yehi (from Hayah) Let there be, cause to 3561 times - hayah. become, arise, come into 50 times – Gen 1:3(light), 1:6 being (expanse), 1:14 (lights) *most other times “become” Central Lending Library, Edinburgh, Scotland Earth: Other key Hebrew words Hebrew Word Meaning References Chosek Darkness, obscurity 80 times – Gen 1:2; 1:4; 1:5; (absence of light) 1:18; Ex 10:21-22; Ex 14:20 (23 times in Job; PS 18:28)Is 45:7 Layelah (from layil) Night (named by God) 233 times – Gen 1:5; Gen 1:14, 1:16, 1:18; 7:4, 7;12; Ex 13:21-22; Ex 24:18, Num 14:14 Owr (from Or) Light 52 times – Gen 1:3; Job 31:26(sun); Ez 32:8 (stars); 2 Sam 23:4 (Yahweh) Maor (also from Or) The Light 19 times – Gen 1:14; 1:15; 1:16; Ps 74:16; Ex 32:8 ereb Evening, sunset 18 times – Gen 1:5, 1:8, 1:13, 1:19, 1:23, 1:31 (6 x “day”) Ps 55:17; Ps 65:8; Dan 8:14 boqer Morning, sunrise, dawn 9 times - Gen 1:5, 1:8, 1:13, 1:19, 1:23, 1:31 (6 x “day”) Ps 65:8 Earth: Other key Hebrew words Phrase Meaning References Wayyabdel Divide or separate, set apart 42 times – Gen 1:4, 18 (light/dark); 1:6- (from badal) 7 (waters under/waters above); Gen 1:14 (day/night); Ex 14:21; Lev 20:24-26 (Israelites/others); 1Chr 25:1 Raqia Expanse, firmament (the result of 17 times – Gen 1:6; 1:7; 1:8, 1:14, 1:15, expanding a metal by hammering 1:17, 1:20, Ez 1:22-26; Dan 12:3. See it into thin sheets) God named also Job 37:18 and Ps 136:6; Is 42:5, Is it “Sky or heaven” 44:24 Towb Good, pleasant 563 times – Gen 1:4, 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25, 1:31 (very!) (7 x good) * Note “good” not mentioned on Day 2 Towb Good as opposed to evil Gen 2:9 & 2:17 & 3:5; 3:22 Towb Beautiful (root meaning) Gen 6:2 (daughters of men), Gen 24:16 & 26:7 (Rebekah), 2 Sam 11:2 (Bathsheeba) Est 1:11 (Queen Vashti) Earth: Key Hebrew phrases Phrase Translation Meaning Hassamayim “the heavens, the Merism: 2 opposites create an all-encompassing haares earth” the entire whole (see Gen 14:19, 22; II Kings 19:15, Ps creation. No word 121:2 = heaven and earth (singl.) into an for “universe” orderly world. In other places heaven means “sky” Wahi Ereb Wahi “the evening, the 1) Always 24 hour day. (Ps 55:17; Ps 65:8; Dan boqer yowm morning, day #” 8:14) 2) Merism: 2 opposites creating an all- encompassing whole, but number following is inconsistent (e.g.
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