Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Describe the challenges of reading an ancient text

• Explain the concepts of “compatible truths” and “authoritative claims” and their significance for understanding the relationship between the Bible and science

• Define “cosmic geography” and explain how ancient Near Eastern people viewed the cosmos

• Discuss the functional focus of the creation account and contrast it with a material focus

• Explain the concept and significance of a cosmic temple in Gen 1

• Define an “archetype” and explain its importance in the account of Adam and Eve in Gen 2

• Explain the concepts of order, non-order, disorder, and goodness in Gen 1–3

• Summarize why the Church’s interaction with science is important

Course Outline

Unit 1: The Text and the Text in Its Context

• Internal Logic in Genesis 1–3

• Two Helpful Resources for Exploring Questions in Genesis

• Authority

• Reading an Ancient Text

• Useful Resources for Studying Biblical Interpretation

• Communication

• Quiz – Unit 1

Unit 2: The Bible’s Ancient Near Eastern Context

• Unit 2: The Bible’s Ancient Near Eastern Context

• Differences in How We See the World

• The Importance of the Ancient Near East

• Finding Ancient Near Eastern Creation Accounts

• The Necessity of the Ancient Near East

• Mythological Views of the World

• Israel’s Cosmic Geography

• Reading the Text

• Quiz – Unit 2

Unit 3: Science and the Bible

• Natural and Supernatural

• Two Principles for Understanding Science and the Bible

• Quiz – Unit 3

Unit 4: Proposed Thesis: Functional Focus

• Text Analysis

• Comparing Ancient Near Eastern Creation Accounts with Genesis

• The Meaning of Bara' (“To Create”)

• Searching for God as the Subject of Bara'

• The Starting Point

• Comparing Different Translations of Genesis 1:1

• A Functional Focus

• Quiz – Unit 4

Unit 5: Functions and Functionaries

• A House and a Home

• Functions: Days One through Three

• Ancient Near Eastern Focus on Functions

• Functionaries: Days Four through Six

• The Image of God

• The Meaning of 'Asah (“To Make”)

• Using the Proximity Search to Find Where 'Asah Occurs with Bara'

• Quiz – Unit 5

• Midterm Exam

Unit 6: Proposed Thesis: A Cosmic Temple

• Cosmos as Sacred Space: Why Does God Rest?

• Researching Temple Accounts in Relation to Genesis 1

• Cosmos as Sacred Space: Whose Home Is It?

• Seven Days

• Conclusions Regarding Genesis 1

Unit 7: Cosmology outside Genesis

• Material and Functional Issues

• Conclusion

• Quiz – Unit 6–7

Unit 8: Genesis 2–3

• Use of the Word “Adam”

• Literary Introduction

• Archetypal Proposal

• Formed from Dust

• Human Origins in the Ancient Near East

• Quiz – Unit 8a

• Woman from the Side of Man

• Highlighting Important Words with the “Interesting Words” Feature

• Priestly Roles

• Categorizing Uses of 'Ezer with a Passage List

• Archetype Summary

• Ancient Near Eastern Archetypes

• Message of Archetypes

• Adam in the New Testament

• Narrative Art

• Quiz – Unit 8b

Unit 9: Summary Issues

• Material Origins Implications

• “It Was Good”

• Order, Non-Order, Disorder

• Hypothetical Model: Pre-Fall

• Hypothetical Model: Fall

• Answers to Issues

• How Should We Think?

• Why It Matters

• Quiz – Unit 9

• Final Exam

Details

• Title: OT301 Origins of Genesis 1–3

• Instructor: John H. Walton

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2014

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 4