The Bible in Context
The birth of a son was a major source of hope in biblical times. Daily life was hard so the goal was often mere survival. Since males were the breadwinners, they provided a better hope for the future than females. Who else would take care of parents in old age? There were no social security … Read more
We often say things that we don’t mean to be taken literally. For example, it’s common to hear these kinds of statements after athletic competitions: “They crushed that team,” “We got destroyed,” “We killed them.” When we make those comments in that context we are using hyperbole or exaggerated language. Some scholars believe that hyperbole … Read more
20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird … Read more
Is Genesis 1 narrating a precise chronological account of how God’s act of creation occurred? Are we required to view the days of Genesis 1 as literal 24-hour days that occurred in exactly that order? Some note the apparent chronological differences between Genesis 1 and 2 and conclude, “Of course not.” What are the differences? … Read more
In this lesson we’ll consider different ways of interpreting the days of Genesis 1. How would you categorize the six days of creation? While not everything fits neatly into the categories below, many scholars believe the six days can be divided into two main sections: forming and filling. (For further study see Blocher, pgs. 39-59.) … Read more