The first book of the Bible
6
votes
1answer
32 views
Why did God accept Abel's offering and not Cain's?
In Genesis 4, we read the following account of Cain and Abel:
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also ...
16
votes
4answers
5k views
Why did God wrestle with Jacob?
Sorry for asking a question kid in my Catechism class asked, but I didn't know the answer and she is an expert level 7th grader.
Why did God wrestle with Jacob if they're both good?
Was God ...
5
votes
4answers
743 views
Whom did Lamech kill?
Genesis 4:23-24 NIV
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for injuring me. 24 If ...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Is it possible the Biblical and scientific timelines for the age of the earth could link up? [duplicate]
In many versions of the Bible I have e read, in fiitnotes/endotes they say the Hebrew term for "day" could also mean "period of time." So if you took period of time to mean oh say, a billion years, ...
3
votes
7answers
1k views
Why didn't God send Jesus during Noah's time instead of The Flood?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. - John 3:16
John 3:16 tells us that God loved us, ...
5
votes
1answer
89 views
What happened to the two trees in the Garden of Eden?
In Genesis 2, we are told that there were two named trees in the Garden of Eden--the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life.
When Adam and Eve ate fruit from the Tree of the ...
3
votes
2answers
131 views
Did God create Adam and Eve with free will and knowledge of right and wrong (good and evil)?
I just want to confirm based on scripture if God made Adam and Eve with both free will and knowledge of good and evil (right and wrong) or if one came after the other when they ate the forbidden ...
10
votes
4answers
168 views
Why did God make garments of skin for Adam and Eve when they had already made clothing for themselves?
Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, we are told that they made clothing for themselves.
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together ...
2
votes
2answers
40 views
Is there a biblical reason to limit information about creation to Genesis?
Here's a debate between Hugh Ross of "Reasons to Believe" and Ken Ham. These men are popular spokesmen for each of Old Earth and Young Earth Creationism, respectively. In the hour-long discussion, ...
12
votes
6answers
890 views
Where did Noah find polar bears and penguins in Palestine?
The biblical account of Noah's Ark and the flood seems implausible to me due to this detail... How could animals accustom to thriving in extreme temperatures be found in a common place for ...
3
votes
3answers
67 views
What does the curse on the serpent mean?
When God cursed the Earth He also cursed the serpent.
Genesis 3:14 NASB
The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every ...
6
votes
2answers
196 views
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, why the elaborate ruse?
Genesis chapter 42 - 45 recount story of Joseph tricking his brothers who are in Egypt to buy grain, into going back and forth several times from Canaan to Egypt in an attempt exonerate themselves in ...
6
votes
1answer
55 views
Where does the idea of a water canopy come from in the Bible, and is there scientific evidence to support it?
Some Creationists have asserted that in pre-flood world that there may have been some sort of water vapor canopy that perhaps doubled the air pressure and caused things to be much healthier than they ...
15
votes
4answers
425 views
Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
This is to rephrase the question Are scientific findings a test to Christians' Faith?
It seems to me that, without any outside interference, the Bible itself gives no suggestion that the Book of ...
40
votes
13answers
4k views
If Adam and Eve were perfect, why did they choose to sin?
Adam and Eve, when they were created in the Garden of Eden, were without sin. Because of that, they were perfect and flawless.
However, with that theology in mind, I'm running up against a wall: ...
11
votes
2answers
317 views
Who is Lillith?
The character Lilith, while not mentioned in the Bible, turns up in Christian mythology as Adam’s first wife. (She’s mentioned, for example, in CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.) Where ...
4
votes
3answers
132 views
What does “two becoming one flesh” refer to?
In the bible when it refers to the two becoming one flesh, does it mean:
The physical act of sex creates a position where both body's are connected
or
The flesh from man and flesh from woman ...
10
votes
2answers
163 views
In Theistic Evolution when do the genealogies in Genesis become real?
In Genesis there is the genealogy of Adam to Noah, then the account of the flood. After that is the genealogy of Noah to Abraham. The accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's sons then follow. ...
4
votes
5answers
101 views
What was the light of the first day of creation?
In the Genesis account, the sun and stars are created on the fourth day:
Gen 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them ...
7
votes
1answer
100 views
Why did Joseph only present five brothers?
After Joseph and his brothers were reunited, Joseph presents only five of his brothers to Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:1-2
New International Version (NIV)
47:1: Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My ...
10
votes
4answers
773 views
Why 'Seventy times seven'?
Twice in the bible, God makes reference to "seventy times seven" (or "seventy-seven times"). Once in Genesis 4:24 (dealing with Cain's punishment for his murder of Abel), and the other in Matthew ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
If Genesis is not to be taken literally by the Roman Catholics, what is the basis of the original sin?
According to this answer, Genesis is not to be taken literally by the Roman Catholic church due to the scientific evidence contradicting it. In this view, what is the basis of the original sin?
21
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did people live so long before the Flood?
In Genesis 5, some of the descendants of Adam are listed with their ages. The people listed lived very much longer than anybody does today. For example, Adam lived to be 930. The oldest age, 969 ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
Does God tempt Abraham in Genesis 22:1?
In James 1:13 it says:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But in Genesis 22:1 it is written:
And it ...
11
votes
2answers
252 views
Should Genesis 1:2 be translated “And the earth became without form…”?
The Gap theory seems to be based largely on translating Genesis 1:2 differently from the usual translations, eg. KJV:
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
1:2 And the ...
4
votes
1answer
54 views
In Genesis 18, does Jesus meet with Abraham?
In Genesis 18, the Lord is mentioned several times. Along with 2 angels, he meets with Abraham. Is the Bible speaking of Jesus?
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Scriptures and the 'Simulated Universe'
If you were to Google "simulated universe" you'll find that major science institutions are starting to hypothesize that the universe is 'very possibly' a 'simulated environment' at the lowest level - ...
4
votes
2answers
149 views
Did God create man to be gods themselves?
Genesis 1:26-28 says:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the ...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
What denominations/people don't take Genesis 1 as a historical event and why?
I read somewhere here on Christianity.SE that the Genesis 1 is not taken literally by some people and considered more like a parable than a real historical event ?
So what Christian denominations ...
-5
votes
3answers
193 views
While on Noah's Ark, did the animals remain celibate?
While on Noah's Ark, did the animals remain celibate?
If the elephants, rhinos, or giraffes, for instance, did not remain celibate, I'd imagine that things could get pretty hectic and pretty crowded ...
74
votes
21answers
4k views
Can I believe in evolution and still be a Christian?
It would seem that the first part of the book of Genesis contradicts what science teaches about the origin of life on earth. If I am to reconcile evolution and Genesis, it seems that I have a number ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How did the world get populated according to Bible?
Adam and Eve had only three sons (Cain, Abel, and Seth), but no daughters: how did the world get populated?
8
votes
3answers
240 views
Why we do we “know” that Joseph wasn't Hyksos?
According to the ancient historian, Mantheo, the fifteenth dynasty of Egypt were a people known as the Hyksos, literally the "rulers of foreign countries" or, as sometimes been translated "the ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Did the Jews waiting for their Messiah associate him with the creation of the world?
Often when discussing the Trinity, Christians refer to Genesis Chapter 1, where 'the Father' says 'let there be', while 'the Son' is that word, and 'the Spirit' brings creation into perfection. Sure ...
-2
votes
1answer
78 views
1
vote
1answer
67 views
When was “time” created in Genesis?
When was "time" created in Genesis? Was it on "day three", when day and night were created?
8
votes
4answers
3k views
In which country is the Garden of Eden located?
Genesis 2:15(NIV)
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it
and take care of it.
I'm curious to know, now, in which which country is the Garden of Eden located? ...
7
votes
1answer
100 views
Is gender a property of essence or existence?
In his address, the Holy Father said:
According to the biblical creation account, being created by God as
male and female pertains to the essence of the human creature.
The use of the word ...
8
votes
2answers
698 views
Multiple wives and concubines | male and female “original” intent
Matthew 19:1-6 New International Version (NIV)
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and
went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large
...
7
votes
4answers
245 views
What Did God Make The Universe From?
What did God make the universe from? It seems Himself, since before Creation, only God is.
This seems to me to be the most important question for Christianity. NOT why, how, where or who, but what. ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Was the marriage between Abraham and Sarah incestuous?
In the comments to this answer to the question of why Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship with Sarah, the following question which I am about to pose, appeared:
Was the marriage between ...
26
votes
7answers
938 views
How can the sun be created after day and night?
"Light" was created on day 1 - Genesis 1:3-5. However the sun was created on day 4 - Genesis 1:14-19.
How is this possible?
8
votes
3answers
258 views
Sons of God begat famous people?
Genesis 6:1--4 tells about the "sons of God" marrying whomsoever they pleased, and the Nephilim---"the heroes of old, men of renown"---were begotten then. How is this to be interpreted?
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Who are the sons God that married humans? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sons of God begat famous people?
Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose
Who are the ...
11
votes
6answers
565 views
What are the theological implications/problems with theistic evolution?
Theistic evolution holds that God used evolution to create mankind. It seems to follow then that this view must also hold the creation account in Genesis to be unhistorical. So, Adam and Eve may ...
9
votes
3answers
866 views
Did Adam and Eve's Progeny Commit Incest?
I have a multi-part question.
Did Adam and Eve's Progeny Commit Incest?
Genesis, Chapter 4 tells us about Cain and Abel.
Genesis, Chapter 5 tells us about Seth and "other sons and daughters".
I ...
13
votes
3answers
810 views
How did Noah preserve fresh water fish?
How did Noah prevent fresh water fish from dying when salt water inundated inland waterways during the claimed floods? I'm not sure which Christian doctrines take the literalist position but what is ...
4
votes
1answer
152 views
Did Abraham pass or fail in God's test?
The story about Abraham sacrificing Isaac: Gen 21:12
But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your
slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through
...
10
votes
5answers
2k views
Does Genesis 9:5 say that God holds animals accountable for killing humans?
I was looking back over Genesis 9, just after the flood, when God allowed man to eat animals for food. The text is fairly interesting here:
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood ...
15
votes
1answer
200 views
In Theistic Evolution, when did the alleged evolutionary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins?
One answer to this previous question asks,
One of the problems I have with theistic evolution is: when did this alleged evolutinary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins? [sic]
It would ...
