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About the Author: Mario Seiglie is a father and pastor of United Church of God
congregations in Garden Grove, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Answers From Genesis, Part 1
Understanding how God made things in the beginning can help us understand things now.
Many people have asked basic us … the only begotten of the Father, under the scrutiny of modern geology
questions about the origins of things full of grace and truth” (verses 1, 14, and archaeology. Twentieth-century
such as: emphasis added throughout). physics, moreover, describes the
• “Who or what is God?” Thus the term God applies to God beginning of the universe in virtually
• “What is the origin of the the Father or God the Word (who the same cosmological terms as
universe?” later became Jesus Christ)—or both. Genesis. Space, time and matter came
• “How did life come to be?” They can therefore act separately or out of nothing in a single burst of light
All these questions, and many more, together. Notice how in Genesis 1 entirely hospitable to carbon-based
are answered in the first book of the God can be referred to by a singular life. A growing number of chemists
Bible, Genesis, which means origin. personal pronoun, “He made the stars and biologists agree that life had its
Here we receive God’s answers about also” (Genesis 1:16). Or God can origin from clay templates … I would
be referred to by a plural say all this is a curious development
personal pronoun: “Let Us for Darwinists” (Reader’s Digest, May
make man in Our image, 1991, p. 31).
according to Our likeness” Even without the Big Bang model,
(Genesis 1:26). the laws of thermodynamics—
Both the Father and the fundamental laws of the physical
One who became Christ were sciences—also indicate that the
involved in creation—the universe had a beginning. The first law
second acting on behalf of states that the amount of mass-energy
the first. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, in the universe is constant. The second
“God … has in these last law states that the amount of energy
days spoken to us by His available for work is running out.
Son … through whom also Taken together, they require that
He made the worlds.” We the universe had a beginning with
many important questions—and from thus see that God the Father created much usable energy from which
Someone who was there! So let’s go the universe through the preincarnate it is now running down. Both the
to this, the first book in the Bible, to Jesus Christ (see also Ephesians 3:9). Big Bang theory and the laws of
find its answers to commonly asked thermodynamics are in harmony with
questions. Does the description in Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1.
fit with scientific explanations
When Genesis 1:1 says, “In the of the universe?
beginning, God created the heavens Yes, it does. Many scientists,
and the earth,” who is God? through numerous lines of
In this first verse, we are introduced evidence, have come to accept
to the majestic Creator God who made the “Big Bang” theory of the
the entire universe—including us. The universe in which the universe
term for God in the original language has a starting point. This
is the Hebrew word Elohim, which indicates that nothing physical
is a plural term that can also have a existed previous to that instant.
singular meaning. According to this model, the
In John 1 we see why the term God universe is now expanding from
can mean one or more persons. Here that initial moment and even the
we read: “In the beginning was the background radiation from the original While the New International Version
Word, and the Word was with God, “explosion” can still be detected. of the Bible translates Genesis 1:2 to
and the Word was God … And the George S. Johnston sums it up well: say that “the earth was formless and
Word became flesh and dwelt among “The book of Genesis has held up well empty,” why does it have a footnote
We continue with general questions prior to the worldwide flood described (or manlike ape)—if there was such a
about the book of Genesis. Here are in Genesis 6 to 9—making them only thing.
the answers as we best understand 4,500 to 6,000 years old. Scripture The United Church of God (which
them in light of the Bible. reveals that people then lived for sponsors Vertical Thought) deals
hundreds of years, which could further with these subjects in its
A young account for the fossils’ thick skulls and booklet Creation or Evolution: Does It
man bone structure. Really Matter What You Believe?
recently Even if these bones are of manlike
asked, creatures that existed prior On the fourth
“The to 6,000 years ago, we day of creation
bones or must remember that the week, the
fragments Bible records the history Bible says God
of bones of physical life only as “made two
like the far back as the renewal of great lights: the
skull cap of what is called a caveman the earth in preparation greater light to
have, from what I have found, been for the creation of Adam rule the day,
[dated as being from] a long time and Eve. It does not speak and the lesser
ago—some bones being from 80,000 of creatures that lived on light to rule
years ago. The question is, if men the earth before that time. the night. He
were created 6,000 years ago, how Without divine revelation, made the stars
could these bones exist?” and with so many past geologic also” (Genesis 1:16). How can that
We need to understand that upheavals of the earth, there’s no be when He created light on the first
paleontological findings are typically way of knowing for sure what these day, and also separated day from
overlaid with hypotheses creatures were, what night (Genesis 1:3-5)?
(educated guesses) based they actually looked First, it is helpful to know that
on the theory of evolution, like, when they existed there is a difference between the
which casts considerable or what purpose they original Hebrew terms translated
doubt on their value. Man’s served. create and made in Genesis 1. Where
origin as recorded in the But the Bible is clear. verse 1 says, “In the beginning God
Bible does indeed date to Twice in Scripture, created the heavens and the earth,”
about 6,000 years ago. So Adam is called the term for “create” is bara, which
how do we reconcile this with “the first man” (1 “is only applied to a divine creation,
the fossil evidence? Corinthians 15:45, 47). the production of that which had no
One of the first things to Clearly, Adam and Eve existence before” (Keil & Delitzsch
consider regarding these were the first human Commentary on the Old Testament,
finds is the way they are beings God made emphasis added throughout ).
dated. Radiometric dating “in His own image” Thus, when God created the heavens
methods can give results that (Genesis 1:27). and the earth, the “heavens” included
vary widely for the same fossil (see, Their descendants have a spiritual the sun, moon, planets and stars. This
for example, Marvin Lubenow’s book component, called “the spirit” in is why there was light, day and night
Bones of Contention), and a number Ecclesiastes 12:7 or “the spirit of on the earth on the first day.
of factors—including the worldwide the man” in 1 Corinthians 2:11. However, the Hebrew word
flood that occurred during the life of The joining of this spirit with the translated “made” in verse 16,
Noah—may skew the results. Holy Spirit of God is what makes asah, generally means to make or
Thus, it is possible that some of conversion possible (Romans 8:16). reconstitute something that already
these humanlike bones may actually This would set human beings apart exists. So, instead of God creating the
be those of human beings who lived from any supposed prehistoric man sun, moon, planets and stars on the
We continue with general questions mean a full rotation of the earth, or a and Adam’s son Seth (Luke 3:38).
about the book of Genesis. Here are 24-hour period. Besides, Genesis 2:2 Also, written language dates back
the answers as we best understand mentions the fact that God rested on to around 4000 B.C., about the time
them in light of the Bible. the seventh day and sanctified that biblical chronology indicates Adam
portion of time. and Eve lived. From 4000 B.C.
Were the six days of creation literal This is enshrined to 2000 B.C., history records an
days? in the Fourth amazing advance of technology,
Some contend that each of the days Commandment, art and culture.
of creation in Genesis 1 represented which requires For instance, pictographic and
a long span of time. Yet consider that resting on the then cuneiform writing appears.
fruit-bearing plants were created on seventh day of Elaborate architecture using
the third day while insects to pollinate each week (the mathematics arises, metallurgy
them were not created until a few Sabbath) as a using copper and then bronze
days later. If these were millions of memorial of God’s is mastered and music and art
years apart, the plants would not have creative activities reach sophisticated levels. This is
survived. on the previous six faithfully recorded in the Genesis
Note that the Bible is quite clear days of creation record, where cities are built
about how long each day was: “So the week—and it (Genesis 4:17), musical skills are
obviously refers to a 24-hour period noted (Genesis 4:21) and metalwork
(see Exodus 20:8-11). appears (Genesis 4:22).
(For further information, download Halley’s Bible Handbook explains
or request our free booklet Creation about the region where Adam and
or Evolution: Does It Really Matter Eve first lived, near the Euphrates
What You Believe? Especially see the River (Genesis 2:14): “Ethnologists
inset article “Genesis 1 and the Days quite generally consider this region to
of Creation.”) have been the original home of all the
present races of men. It was the region
Did Adam and Eve actually exist? from whence came the ox, goat, sheep,
Some think horse, pig, dog,
evening and the morning were the first Adam and Eve apple, peach,
day” (Genesis 1:5). How long is the were fictional pear, plum,
daylight portion of a day? Jesus Christ characters, yet cherry, quince,
Himself, contrasting day and night, Jesus Christ knew mulberry,
said, “Are there not twelve hours in they were real. gooseberry,
the day?” (John 11:9, emphasis added He said of them, vine, olive, fig,
throughout). There are also 12 hours in “Have you not date, almond,
the night, for a total of 24. read that He who wheat, barley,
There are, however, places in the made them at the oats, pea, bean,
Bible where “day” can symbolically beginning ‘made flax, spinach,
mean an extended period of time, them male and radish, onion,
such as the “day of the Lord” (1 female,’ and said, and most of our
Thessalonians 5:2), or the “day” when ‘For this reason a man shall leave his fruits and vegetables. [It is] the cradle
God created all things (Genesis 2:4). father and mother and be joined to his of the human race” (1965, p. 64).
But anytime in Scripture when the wife, and the two shall become one
term day is preceded by a numeral, it flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5). When God rested on the seventh
always means a literal day of the week. In fact, Jesus Christ’s own genealogy day, later called the Sabbath, did
So evening and morning clearly is recorded all the way back to Adam it become a command for all of
Where is the Garden of Eden today? historical evidence. Yet for now the In any case, it’s probably impossible
No one knows for sure, because it matter remains one of conjecture. to know just where the Garden of
was located in a pre-Flood landscape, It’s interesting to read the legends Eden was, despite the clues we have.
but the Bible leaves some geographical that grew up in various cultures about It couldn’t be found by archaeology
clues about where it existed. the Garden of Eden. The Sumerians, even if one knew the vicinity in which
The Bible states the Garden of who lived in the southern region of to look, as there would be no ruins
Eden was situated where four rivers Mesopotamia (which means land to excavate—civilization having
branched out (Genesis 2:10-14). Two between the rivers), believed their developed after man’s expulsion from
of the rivers mentioned in the Garden origin was in the land of Dilmun, a Eden.
of Eden are still known today—the paradise where all the animals were Furthermore, the garden was part
Hiddekel (the Tigris) and the tame and neither sickness nor death of the pre-Flood world that was
Euphrates (Genesis 2:14). The other existed. They wrote, “It is a pure, clean completely covered with water and
two rivers, the Pishon and the Gihon, and bright place ... where the lion does destroyed during the great Flood. No
are not readily not kill, nor recognizable remains of the Garden
identified. does the of Eden would have survived by the
It is possible, wolf devour time Noah, his family and the animals
though, that two the sheep” disembarked and began to populate the
great dry river (Samuel newly transformed terrain.
beds revealed Kramer, Still, in giving us indications of its
in that area by History whereabouts, God assures us that this
satellite imagery Begins in paradise was a real place—where real
could turn out Sumer, 1974, history happened.
to be these two p. 228).
ancient rivers— The The Bible says, “Enoch walked with
the Pishon and Babylonians God; and he was not, for God took
the Gihon (see called this him” (Genesis 5:24). What happened
Smithsonian, “Has the Garden of Eden paradise Eridu, where “Adapa” (the to Enoch?
Been Located at Last?” Vol. 18, 1987). Babylonian Adam) lived. They said Some erroneously jump to the
It may be that the Garden of Eden was he was the seed of mankind, but later cnclusion that Enoch was taken up into
located close to where the Tigris and offended the gods by obtaining secret heaven, but notice the Bible nowhere
the Euphrates converge and empty knowledge and was made mortal, thus says this. It simply says that God “took
their waters, in the northern tip of the bringing sickness upon the people. him.” It does not specify where he was
Persian Gulf. They wrote, “Near Eridu was a garden, taken.
An alternative view has more in which was a mysterious Sacred Jesus Christ later stated in the ospel
recently been presented by Tree, a Tree of Life, planted by the of John that “Scripture cannot be
archaeologist David Rohl in his gods … protected by guardian spirits, broken” (10:35). One of the points He
book Legend: The Genesis of and no man enters” (Halley’s Bible was making was that one passage of
Civilisation (1998), as well as in a Handbook, 1965, p. 66). the Bible cannot contradict another
TV documentary on The Learning Archaeological evidence shows passage.
Channel, In Search of Eden (2002). the entire area between the Tigris This same Gospel of John reveals
He proposes that the Garden of and Euphrates rivers to have been a startling fact very pertinent to this
Eden could have been situated near significantly populated from the matter: “ No one has ascended to
the headwaters of the Tigris and the beginning of civilization, and it is the heaven but He who came down from
Euphrates—more specifically in region where the most ancient forms heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is
northwest Iran. He makes a plausible of written script—pictographic and in heaven” (John 3:13, emphasis added
argument based on linguistic and cuneiform—have been found. throughout).
Who were the “sons of God” Speaking of Seth’s descendants, And all flesh died that moved on the
mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4? Genesis 4:26 adds, “men began to call earth … So He destroyed all living
Scholars debate and disagree over on the name of the Lord,” a phrase that things which were on the face of the
the meaning of the reference to “the could also be rendered, “to be called ground: both man and cattle, creeping
sons of God” in Genesis 6:1-4. Some after the name of the Lord”—that is, thing and bird of the air. They were
people read into these verses the the “sons of God.” If so, the women, destroyed from the earth. Only Noah
idea that it refers to angelic beings “the daughters of men” whom these and those who were with him in the
marrying women and producing a “sons of God” married, were the ark remained alive.”
race of giants. Christ explained that descendants of unrighteous Cain. By Jesus Christ confirmed that the Flood
is impossible, teaching that angels marrying these women, the sons of was global in scope. He said, “For
don’t marry and, by implication, don’t Seth turned from God, leading Him as in the days before the flood, they
produce children to say that the entire were eating and drinking, marrying
either (Luke world was then and giving in marriage, until the day
20:34-36). corrupt (Genesis that Noah entered the ark, and did not
Human beings 6:5-7, 12). know until the flood came and took
are clearly the An alternative them all away, so also will the coming
subject in Genesis explanation is that of the Son of Man be” (Matthew
6—not angels. God “sons of God” in 24:38-39).
said, “My Spirit Genesis 6:2 should In addition, the apostle Peter taught
shall not strive with be rendered “sons of about a universal flood, saying, “For
man forever, for the gods” and refers this they willfully forget: that by the
he is indeed flesh” to men who were word of God the heavens were of old,
(verse 3) and, “I called such not in and the earth standing out of water and
will destroy man whom I have created worship of the Creator, but of pagan in the water, by which the world that
from the face of the earth” (verse 7, deities. Their marriages would have then existed perished, being flooded
emphasis added throughout). been in defiance of the Creator God, as with water” (2 Peter 3:5-6). Clearly, he
The “giants” in verse 4 were simply they lived contrary to His will. Indeed, was referring to a worldwide flood.
people of giant stature. Similar people in light of God’s characterization of Moreover, the Bible clearly records
are spoken of in later times, most society riddled with violence
notably Goliath and his family. (verses 11, 13), it could be that
How, then, can we understand such men forcibly took the
Genesis 6:1-4? Human beings are women as wives.
also sons of God. This is not referring Regardless of which
to becoming spiritual sons of God explanation is accurate, the idea
through conversion, but to the fact that that a half-spirit, half-human
all people are sons of God by creation race resulted from angels
(Luke 3:38). The attitudes and actions marrying women is not what
of these “sons of God” were so wrong the Bible teaches.
that they provoked God to send the
Flood. Was Noah’s Flood a local or a
Halley’s Bible Handbook raises the worldwide event?
possibility that these sons of God were Genesis 7:19-23 states: “And the that the ark finally settled upon the
the descendants of Adam and Eve’s waters prevailed exceedingly on the mountains of Ararat. Could a local
son Seth. Seth, the Bible records, was earth, and all the high hills under flood have lifted Noah’s ark to the top
a son in the image of Adam, who was the whole heaven were covered. The of those mountains?
made in the image of God (Genesis waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, As Gleason Archer, professor of Old
1:26; 5:1-3). and the mountains were covered. Testament studies, explained: “Now
Can people eat anything they want? Genesis, we see the men and women Had the lesson been that now they
Genesis 9:3 says, “Every moving of God eating only clean animals could all start eating pork and other
thing that lives shall be food for (Genesis 18:7; 27:9). Later, the food unclean meat, a lengthy discussion
you. I have given you all laws of clean and unclean on this vital and controversial subject
things, even as the green animals would be spelled would have ensued and would surely
herbs.” out more explicitly—in be mentioned in the book of Acts.
Within the context of Leviticus 11 and Yet again, only the issue of gentile
this section of Scripture, Deuteronomy 14. repentance is mentioned.
we find three key points: Jesus Christ—our The International Standard Bible
• After the Flood, God perfect example and the Encyclopedia gives a good summary
reiterates to Noah’s family One whose example we of the topic, showing that Genesis
His previous instruction to follow—ate only clean 9:3 wasn’t the first time God allowed
mankind to multiply and meat. people to eat meat and that Noah
fill the earth (9:1). Similarly, after Christ’s already knew which meat he could eat:
• God says animals death and the start of the “Though some scholars infer from a
will fear man, and man is New Testament Church, comparison between Genesis 1:29 and
given dominion over them Peter, who had spent more 9:3 that divine permission to eat the
(9:2-3). than three years sharing flesh of animals was first given after
• Man can eat the meat of the meals with Jesus, declared, “For I the Deluge [Flood], it is more probable
animals, but he must not eat the blood have never eaten anything common or that mankind from the beginning made
(9:4). unclean” (Acts 10:14). The context of use of both animal and vegetable food.
From previous instruction, it is this statement is a vision given to Peter “The dominion given to humans
evident that Noah already knew of so he would not again call any gentile over animals (Gen. 1:26) included the
the distinction between clean and “common or unclean” as Jewish eating of them, as dominion over fish
unclean animals. Before the Flood people of that time often did (verse at least cannot mean anything else.
God had told him, “You shall take 28). Abel’s sacrifice (4:4) supposed the
with you seven each of every clean Although these verses are focusing eating of mutton: mankind offered to
animal, a male and his female [that on the equality of man, they do reveal the Divinity what he himself ate. The
is, seven pairs]; two each of animals Peter’s eating habits at that time. And distinction between clean and unclean
that are unclean, a male and his clearly, he did not then begin to eat animals in the ark has no meaning if
female” (Genesis 7:2, emphasis added unclean meat! We know this because meat was not eaten (7:2).
throughout). Other passages explain he later told the church members “Prehistoric findings point to
that “clean” and “unclean” refer to in Jerusalem what he had learned primitive man as an omnivore [eater
animals that should and should not be from the vision. No discussion about of meat and vegetables]. It is only
eaten (Leviticus 11:1-4). actually consuming unclean meat is after settling down as an agriculturist
The implication in Genesis 7 is that brought up. that humans became chiefly eaters of
they were to take these extra pairs of He said, “’If therefore God gave vegetable food. Seminomads like the
clean animals aboard because they them the same gift as He gave us when patriarchs combined both categories
would be raised to provide food for we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, (18:5-8)” (1982, Vol. 2, p. 327).
Noah’s family as well as replenish who was I that I could withstand God?’ To learn more, send for or download
the earth. Only one pair of each of When they heard these things they our free booklet What Does the Bible
the unclean animals was needed for became silent; and they glorified God, Teach About Clean and Unclean
species replenishment since these were saying, ‘Then God has also granted Meats?
not fit to eat. to the Gentiles repentance to life’”
Moreover, after the Flood, Noah (Acts 11:17-18). So the lesson was not Why was Canaan cursed instead of
sacrificed only clean animals before to call any gentiles “unclean” but to Ham in Genesis 9:25?
God (Genesis 8:20). Throughout fellowship with them. The Bible tells us: “And Noah
12
Answers From Genesis, Part 7
Here are more frequently asked questions about Genesis, the book of origins.
The authors of a 2009 book titled to a distribution of peoples in a if the amount of attention given to any
Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will genealogical framework. But among particular line that is traced were used
Quit Church and What You Can Do the Greeks the framework … Many of as a clue to his identity, he might have
to Stop It have found that up to two the names of peoples and countries been a Japhethite, a Canaanite, or even
thirds of young people eventually leave mentioned in this chapter have been an Arab. This is remarkable and shows
their church. Why? One of the primary discovered on the monuments for enormous restraint on the author’s part,
reasons, these authors discovered, the first time … The Table of Nations the kind of restraint which suggests the
was that the youth quit believing that remains an astonishingly accurate hand of God upon him” (A Study of the
the first chapters of Genesis are true. document” (Recent Discoveries in Names in Genesis 10, 1975, chapter 1,
With the constant bombardment from Bible Lands, 1955, p. 70-71). online book edition).
schools and the media against the • The International Standard Bible • Again from The International
veracity of the book of Genesis, it’s no Encyclopedia notes, “As a literary and Standard Bible Encyclopedia: “If
wonder this is the result. historiographic document the ‘Table the ‘table’ is allowed to speak for
This ongoing dilemma is one of of Nations’ is without parallel in the itself in its present canonical context,
the reasons we continue addressing ancient world. What makes it even several themes seem to be emphasized
some of the questions young people more remarkable is its contrast to the or implied. (1) The providential
have about the book of Genesis. Of parochialism [local focus] that tended fulfillment of the Noachian blessing
course, even apart from that, this book to plague the Israelites throughout their and the population of the earth after
that lays the foundation for the rest of history. In one quick stroke the ‘table’ the flood proceeded in the main along
Scripture merits a lot of attention. puts the nation’s history into its proper ordered lines. (2) The world is one
perspective. Although the Hebrews united family, all of whose members
Some believe the Table of Nations were the specially chosen agents of trace their origin back to a common
in Genesis 10 is mostly fictional. Are divine revelation, they were but one ancestor, Noah. (3) The segmentation
they right? member of the universal family of of Noah’s family is reflected in
Genesis 10 traces the genealogies nations, all of whom had a common the present existence of separate
of mankind after the Flood through origin” (1988, Vol. 4, p. 712, emphasis nationality groups, recognizable by
the descendants of Noah’s three sons added throughout). their distinctive locations, languages,
up to shortly before the time of the • Anthropologist Arthur Custance, and political structures. (4) The call
Hebrew patriarch Abraham. The an author dedicated to bridging of Abraham and Israelite history in
chapter has been called the table of science and theology, wrote: “Had this general take place within the context
nations because the descendants listed Table been designed for propaganda of universal history, thus the effects
fathered the 70 nations that eventually purposes (to establish Israel’s position of patriarchal revelation are felt
overspread the earth after the as of equal dignity though not sharing throughout the earth” (1988, Vol. 4, p.
confusion of languages at the Tower of some of the glories of the surrounding 712).
Babel. peoples) or had it been merely the Even after being subjected to
But how accurate is the record, work of some early historian creating extensive analysis by noted scholars,
really? his own data with a comparatively
Here are some quotes from some free hand, then almost certainly some
prominent archaeologists and device would have been adopted for
historians about the Table of Nations. deliberately setting forth not only
• William Albright, probably the the high status of his own ancestors,
greatest archaeologist of the 20th but the very low status of that of his
century, stated: “The tenth chapter of enemies …
Genesis … stands absolutely alone in “In complete contrast, it would be
ancient literature, without a remote difficult to prove with certainty of what
parallel, even among the Greeks, nationality the author of Genesis 10
where we find the closest approach was. We assume he was a Hebrew, but
14 Image: Wikimedia
Answers from Genesis, Part 8
Here are more frequently asked questions about Genesis, the book of origins.
This series has focused on 34:27; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy may well have been ancestral records
beginnings—questions about creation 31:9, 22). passed down, which Moses would
and the earliest history of mankind Furthermore, Jesus Himself testified have put together with editing under
as relayed in the first 11 chapters of that Moses wrote part of the Bible. God’s inspiration.
Genesis. With chapter 12, the narrative He said: “Do not think that I shall The Bible does not specifically
changes and the focus turns to the life accuse you to the Father; there is one mention individuals creating written
of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, who accuses you—Moses, in whom records before Moses, though
then of his son Isaac and then of his you trust. For if you believed Moses, archaeological discoveries confirm
son Jacob, giving the origins and you would believe Me; for he wrote that several writing systems existed in
the history of the Israelite people. about Me. But if you do not believe the Middle East well before Moses’
Consequently, the end of chapter 11 his writings, how will you believe My time that would have made it possible.
provides us with a natural break in the words?” (John 5:45-47). However, it is not necessary that
Genesis account. Christ later explained, “These are Moses had such records at his disposal.
So with this installment we will end the words which I spoke to you while Those who believe in God’s inspiration
the series, wrapping up with some final I was still with you, that all things understand that God could well have
questions about the first 11 chapters of must be fulfilled which were written revealed everything necessary to him
Genesis. in the Law of Moses and had He wanted to.
the Prophets and the Psalms For more on this, refer to the
Who wrote concerning Me” (Luke introduction to the book of Genesis in
the book of 24:44). He was referring to The Good News Bible Commentary
Genesis? the three main sections of the (www.ucg.org/bible-commentary/
The Bible itself Old Testament. The Law of Genesis/Creation;-Earth’s-six_day-
reveals that it Moses is the first section, the renovation;-The-Sabbath/default.aspx).
was Moses, in first five books of the Bible,
the 1400s B.C., also known as the Pentateuch Many accounts in the first 11
who wrote the or Torah. chapters of Genesis are similar to
first five books The New Bible Dictionary the mythical narratives of ancient
of the Bible explains, “For centuries both Mesopotamia, and some of these
(except for the Judaism and Christianity were written down well before
last chapter of accepted without question Moses’ writing of Genesis. Did
Deuteronomy the biblical tradition that the Bible borrow from these other
about Moses’ Moses wrote the Pentateuch” accounts?
death, which was probably added by (1982, p. 904). In recent centuries, It’s important to note that just
Joshua, Moses’ successor and author however, critics have questioned because one account of a distant
of the following book—Joshua). Moses’ authorship and developed historical event was written before
Many passages in these first five complicated theories about the works another, it does not necessarily follow
books of the Bible actually mention of multiple authors being meshed that the second account was taken
that Moses wrote down what was together centuries later. from the first. Nations had histories
thereby recorded in the Scriptures. For Yet writing existed long before that were transmitted by word of
example, God told Moses, “Write this Moses. Indeed, it appears likely that mouth from generation to generation
for a memorial in the book and recount earlier documents or oral traditions until they were finally put down in
it in the hearing of Joshua” (Exodus were compiled by Moses in producing writing in different periods. How
17:14, emphasis added throughout). Genesis. Several sections begin with accurately historical events were
Also notice Exodus 24:4: “And Moses “the generations of …,” each serving to transmitted in different cultures is the
wrote all the words of the Lord.” There advance the narrative (see Genesis 2:4; question.
are many other passages where Moses 6:9; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1, The creation and Flood stories of
writes down God’s words (Exodus 9; 37:2 King James Version). These the Babylonians and the Assyrians, for
16 Image: Wikimedia
WORLDWIDE MAILING ADDRESSES
North, South and Central America Africa
United States: United Church of God East Africa–Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda:
P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 United Church of God–East Africa
Phone: (513) 576-9796 Fax (513) 576-9795 P.O. Box 75261, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
Web site: www.gnmagazine.org E-mail: kenya@ucg.org
E-mail: info@ucg.org Web site: www.ucgeastafrica.org
Canada: United Church of God–Canada Ghana: P.O. Box 3805, Kumasi, Ghana
Box 144, Station D, Etobicoke, ON M9A 4X1, Canada E-mail: ghana@ucg.org
Phone: (905) 876-9966, (800) 338-7779 Malawi: P.O. Box 32257, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
Fax: (905) 876-0569 Web site: www.ucg.ca Phone: (02) 226076 E-mail: malawi@ucg.org
Bahamas: United Church of God Mauritius: P.O. Box 53, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius
P.O. Box N8873, Nassau, Bahamas E-mail: mauritius@ucg.org
Phone: (242) 324-3169 Fax: (242) 364-5566 Nigeria: United Church of God–Nigeria
Martinique: Église de Dieu Unie–France P.O. Box 2265 Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria
127 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris, France Phone: 01-8113644 Web site: www.ucgnigeria.org
Spanish-speaking areas: Iglesia de Dios Unida E-mail: nigeria@ucg.org
P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027, U.S.A. South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia
Phone: (513) 576-9796 Fax (513) 576-9795 and Swaziland:
E-mail: info@ucg.org United Church of God–Southern Africa
P.O. Box 2209, Beacon Bay, East London 5205, South Africa
Europe Phone and Fax: 043 748-1694
British Isles: United Church of God Web site: www.ucg-rsa.org
P.O. Box 705, Watford, Herts, WD19 6FZ, England Zambia: P.O. Box 23076, Kitwe, Zambia
Phone: 020-8386-8467 Fax: 020-8386-1999 Phone: (02) 226076 E-mail: zambia@ucg.org
Web site: www.goodnews.org.uk Zimbabwe: P.O. Box 928
France: Église de Dieu Unie–France Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
127 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris, France Phone: 011716273 E-mail: zimbabwe@ucg.org
Germany: Vereinte Kirche Gottes/Gute Nachrichten
Postfach 30 15 09, D-53195 Bonn, Germany Pacific region
Phone: 0228-9454636 Fax: 0228-9454637 Australia and Papua New Guinea:
Italy: La Buona Notizia, Chiesa di Dio Unita United Church of God–Australia
Casella Postale 187, 24121 Bergamo Centro, Italy GPO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld. 4001, Australia
Phone and Fax: (+39) 035 4523573 Phone: 07 55 202 111 Free call: 1800 356 202
Web site: www.labuonanotizia.org Fax: 07 55 202 122 Web site: www.ucg.org.au
E-mail: info@labuonanotizia.org E-mail: info@ucg.org.au
Netherlands: P.O. Box 93 Fiji: United Church of God
2800 AB Gouda, Netherlands P.O. Box 11081, Laucala Beach Estate, Suva, Fiji
Scandinavia: Guds Enade Kyrka New Zealand: United Church of God
P.O. Box 3535, 111 74 Stockholm, Sweden P.O. Box 22, Auckland 1015, New Zealand
Phone: +44 20 8386-8467 Fax: 0046 0142 10340 Phone: Toll-free 0508-463-763
E-mail: sverige@ucg.org Tonga: United Church of God–Tonga
P.O. Box 2617, Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
ASIA
All except Philippines: United Church of God, All AREAS AND NATIONS not listed
P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027, U.S.A. United Church of God
Phone: (513) 576-9796 Fax (513) 576-9795 P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027, U.S.A.
E-mail: info@ucg.org Phone: (513) 576-9796 Fax (513) 576-9795
Philippines: P.O. Box 81840 E-mail: info@ucg.org
DCCPO, 8000 Davao City, Philippines
Phone and fax: +63 82 224-4444
Cell/text: +63 918-904-4444
Web site: www.ucg.org.ph E-mail: info@ucg.org.ph
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