Timeline for Why does Genesis not mention the creation of fire?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
15 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1 at 0:24 | history | removed from network questions | curiousdannii♦ | ||
| Aug 1 at 0:10 | history | became hot network question | |||
| Jul 31 at 23:06 | answer | added | Birdbrain | timeline score: 2 | |
| Jul 31 at 15:29 | comment | added | Matthew | BTW, the earliest explicit reference I can find to men using fire is Genesis 8:20, when Noah offers burnt offerings. Pedantically, the earliest reference to fire seems to be Genesis 3:24, i.e. the flaming sword guarding the Tree of Life. In any case, it seems likely that men had use of fire almost since the beginning, perhaps even since before the Fall. (As noted, it also seems likely that Abel used fire, even though not explicitly mentioned, and it is almost certain that Tubal-cain used fire.) | |
| Jul 31 at 13:56 | comment | added | Peter Turner♦ | I think it makes sense, since the Greeks, for one, thought the creation of fire was a pretty important thing. Also, Aaron's sons apparently had some "unholy fire" which was unpleasing to God - so even God has an opinion on the matter | |
| Jul 31 at 13:55 | comment | added | Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan | Ray Butterworth, fire is an exclusive property of the earth which, according to Genesis, God fashioned for human beings. Of course, Adam and Eve survived on uncooked fruits, but Cain most probably cultivated grains and pulses which required cooking. The ' discovery' of fire would have come at a later stage, but it did exist with Creation. | |
| Jul 31 at 13:51 | answer | added | Paul Chernoch | timeline score: 4 | |
| Jul 31 at 13:48 | comment | added | Wyrsa | The question is still a reasonable one. In the literary myths of early genesis you'd expect perhaps an explanation of fire. Certainly other religions of the age included the discovery of fire in their stories. The Bible associates fire often with divine actions in the OT as well. | |
| Jul 31 at 13:44 | answer | added | Wyrsa | timeline score: 3 | |
| Jul 31 at 12:15 | comment | added | Ray Butterworth | Neither does it mention the invention of the wheel, or of fermentation, or of weaving, or of writing, or of sandals, or of many many other fundamental things of civilization. What is so special about the case of fire? | |
| Jul 31 at 12:06 | comment | added | Leonard | I think that you mistake the Bible with a History and/or Science textbook. Bible focuses only on certain subjects, like the relation God and man, or God's plan for the salvation an mankind. There are many elements important for life, and it's ok that it does not mention them all. | |
| Jul 31 at 11:26 | comment | added | Mike | Fire seems to be something man can make from what God has made. It is not a primary element and I suppose the first fire may have been the result of lightning bolts? So men would have thought God may have provided it? Not really something I have ever pondered. Water, land and sky and animals etc., seems more natural to provide a fabric of creation. Before understanding chemistry ancient philosophers imagined the universe was made of the elements fire, water, wood etc., and that is probably because they thought the stars were on fire and were fire gods. But that is a misconception. | |
| Jul 31 at 11:21 | comment | added | user111403 | There are lots of relatively minor details that aren't explicitly mentioned. Why would you expect that this one specifically should be? | |
| Jul 31 at 10:05 | history | edited | Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 23 characters in body
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| Jul 31 at 9:59 | history | asked | Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |