The first book of the Bible
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Why did God need to plant the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden in the first place?
Why did God need to plant the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden in the first place?
I mean Mormons say that God was in fact having a hidden desire for Adam and Eve to disobey ...
12
votes
3answers
304 views
Why did God create such complexity in man?
During Creation, God created man:
Genesis 2:7 KJV
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Why ...
5
votes
2answers
110 views
What was the pre-Babel language and what can be said about the mechanism used to confuse the languages?
The Tower of Babel episode in human history is known to many. This can be found in Genesis 11. As we know, it resulted in the languages of mankind becoming confused.
Question: Are there opinions, ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
Jacob wrestled with God
We had our small group meeting recently and the topic was about the life of Jacob and here were the questions that were asked during the discussion, hope you could help shed some light.
If God ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
The Creation of the World [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can the sun be created after day and night?
I had this question for sometime on my mind, but couldn't find anyone to answer this.
On the first day God created the ...
5
votes
1answer
295 views
What did the serpent look like?
The account of creation mentions the serpent being wise among all beasts. After the temptation God curses the serpent.
"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this,...upon ...
4
votes
2answers
460 views
How does Jesus fulfill the Protoevangelium (First Gospel) in Genesis 3:15?
In the judgment of the serpent in Genesis 3:15, God says the following:
The Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, cursed
are you above all livestock and above all beasts of ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
Was Onan really struck dead by God for masturbating?
Historically, Onan in Genesis 38 has been accused of masturbation, and for this supposed transgression was struck dead. The term Onanism (or in German Onanie) is still used to describe this practice.
...
5
votes
3answers
190 views
What was the Birthright?
What, specifically, did Esau lose when he lost the birthright, and what did Jacob gain? What did the birthright represent, and why was it so highly prized by Jacob?
7
votes
1answer
140 views
Why was the mark of Cain necessary?
In Genesis 4:14-15 (NRSV) it says:
14 I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.’ 15 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Not so! Whoever kills Cain will ...
13
votes
3answers
642 views
Who wrote the book of Genesis?
I've heard reference in other questions on this site that seem to indicate a belief that Genesis was written by "the same man." What do we actually know about wrote Genesis (whether a single, or ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did God create the Heavens and the Earth?
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Why?
Does the Bible state a reason anywhere?
1
vote
3answers
339 views
What narrative purpose does the Flood story fulfill?
In the Epic of Atrahasis and Epic of Gilgamesh flood myth, the gods are rash, foolish, even weak.
Genesis copies most of the myth. And although it's sanitized quite a bit, some actions seem to be ...
6
votes
2answers
225 views
Why is the word “Ark” used for Noah's boat and the Ark of the Covenant?
What exactly is the meaning of an "ark" that applies to a boat and that thing that melts off the Nazi's faces in the first Indiana Jones movie?
7
votes
2answers
189 views
Where do Catholics believe the historical narrative of the Bible begins?
I heard on the Relevant Radio recently that the Genesis account of the deluge is prehistorical. Meaning, it wasn't really recorded in histories the way other more specific accounts of historical ...
8
votes
4answers
247 views
Genesis 3, original sin and mortality
I'm currently doing some research for a Church project and next week we are covering creation. While looking at creation, I came across an interesting tidbit that I've never actually thought about ...
0
votes
2answers
262 views
What did the carnivores/predators eat on the Ark?
It's something that has stumped me since I was a kid:
What did the carnivores/predators eat on the Ark?
Did Noah also round up sufficient vegetation to feed all of the animals? Or did they somehow ...
6
votes
2answers
601 views
Is there biblical evidence of “cavemen”?
Do old earth Christians believe that there were cavemen in early times? This is not to say people who lived in caves but more as what is pictured in early evolution.
I hope I'm wording this correctly ...
6
votes
1answer
291 views
Did Adam and Eve understand death? What did death mean to them?
This answer says that the serpent convinced Eve to eat the apple to avoid death by saying "surely not die".
Since they are described as the first people that existed, what could death mean to them?
10
votes
3answers
1k views
Jacob and Esau: what is this story all about?
This is how I see the story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25 and 26):
They are two very different twins who seem to fight a lot. Esau goes hunting and he is starving when he gets back. He asks Jacob for ...
6
votes
2answers
237 views
Universe made of water?
Genesis 1:1-2 accounts what was before God gave form to the Earth, and that is water:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was ...
-2
votes
1answer
105 views
How much of Genesis 2 *actually* occurred? [closed]
Building on this question...
How much of Genesis 2 actually occurred?
And how do historians/biblical scholars know that it occurred?
3
votes
2answers
328 views
Why was Tamar more righteous than Judah?
Genesis 38 tells the story of Judah and Tamar. At first Tamar was married to Er (Judah's firstborn son) but he was wicked and killed by the Lord v6-7. So Judah tells Tamar to wait until his youngest ...
13
votes
2answers
280 views
How old is old earth creationism?
The answers to What is the biblical evidence for an old Earth? say that biblical arguments for old Earth creationism are based on the ambiguous words used for describing lengths of time in Genesis.
...
10
votes
2answers
270 views
Are there two different creation accounts in the bible?
There are two seemingly contradictory accounts of creation in the Bible.
The first is in Genesis 1:1-2:3.
The second is in Genesis 2:4-25.
Why the differences in the accounts?
1
vote
4answers
455 views
How do Creationist Christians respond to the evidence for Evolution? [closed]
This is a question for people who believe in the creation.
One point considered a serious proof of evolution is the scientific method of carbon dating. As per this method, humans haven't existed from ...
1
vote
2answers
308 views
Which came first, Man or Animal?
Genesis 1:24-27 states that humans were created after the other animals, and the first man and woman were created simultaneously.
1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature ...
6
votes
2answers
191 views
Significance of Genesis 1 verb choices
I was surprised recently when I read Genesis 1 again, and noticed how inactive God is during the creation process. I mean that from a literary standpoint, not a literal one... bear with me. :)
Below ...
12
votes
2answers
258 views
What is the significance of the three distinct aspects of the temptation of Eve in the garden?
Genesis 3 indicates that there were three distinct aspects of the temptation of Eve:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
a delight to the eyes, and that the ...
6
votes
2answers
328 views
What does Revelation 6:12 mean?
I've always thought that in Revelation 6:12 where it says:
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair...
... that ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
When was Abraham alive?
It is generally accepted that Abraham lived 175 years. However, the dates when he lived are rather fuzzy and hotly debated.
When was he alive and what reasons would you give for your conclusion?
...
1
vote
1answer
262 views
Were Adam and Eve the first? [closed]
Question:
Reading Genesis, there seem to be quite a few references to some 'other' humans. How do scholars interpret those passages (and more importantly, why do they interpret them a certain way)? ...
15
votes
3answers
357 views
What is the specific meaning of “die” in Genesis 2?
Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV):
16And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you ...
6
votes
2answers
142 views
Does Genesis 3 tell of a theophany?
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT)
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 ...
4
votes
3answers
116 views
Adam and Eve versus ecology
Estimates vary widely of the minimum viable population for humans to stably reproduce without being subject to significant detrimental effects of inbreeding. Minimum estimates (e.g., for space ...
8
votes
2answers
439 views
Three men appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18, was one Christophany?
Genesis 18:1-2
1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing ...
2
votes
2answers
190 views
How could Cain have built Enoch?
God cursed Cain to be an eternal wanderer, so he went to a (probably figure-of-speech) land of wandering, the land of Nod, this much I understand. But then he builds the first city, Enoch. How is it ...
2
votes
1answer
180 views
What are the common arguments against theistic evolution? [closed]
What are the common arguments from Christians against the idea that God used evolution to create Earth over millions of years? This is not a place to argue. I'm interested in a rundown of the common ...
5
votes
4answers
401 views
Did Adam and Eve end up getting saved?
After answering a recent question, it occurred to me to ask: Is there any biblical evidence regarding whether Adam and Eve have been redeemed in some fashion (and are thus going to Heaven/the New ...
13
votes
3answers
190 views
What was the problem at Babel?
In the Genesis account of the tower of Babel a bunch of guys got together to build a really tall tower somewhere in the desert. God gets wind of the affair but it doesn't sit well:
Genesis 11:5-6 ...
6
votes
2answers
465 views
Is the commandment to multiply, and replenish the earth in effect today?
Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth.
Genesis 1:28-30
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and ...
