Biblical Cosmology and Creation Story

Study Notes

The creation story in the Bible is rooted in ancient Near Eastern cosmology
The universe is seen as a tripartite structure:
- Heaven (above)
- Earth (middle)
- Underworld (below)
The firmament (dome) separates heaven and earth, holding back the waters above
The earth is flat and rectangular, with four corners and edges

The first humans created by God in the Garden of Eden
Adam formed from dust and Eve from Adam's rib
They lived in a state of innocence, without knowledge of good and evil
The serpent (Satan) tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the Fall
The consequences of the Fall:
- Expulsion from the Garden
- Pain and suffering in childbirth
- Hard labor and toil
- Eventual death

The story of the great flood that destroyed the earth
God saw the wickedness of humanity and decided to send a flood to destroy all life
Noah, a righteous man, was instructed to build an ark to save himself, his family, and two of every kind of animal
The ark was a rectangular vessel with a roof, measuring 300x50x30 cubits
The flood lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, covering the highest mountains
After the flood, the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat
The rainbow was established as a sign of God's covenant with humanity

The first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament
Divided into two main sections:
- Primeval history (chapters 1-11): creation, early humanity, and the flood
- Patriarchal history (chapters 12-50): the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Written in several genres, including narrative, poetry, and genealogy
Key themes:
- God's creation and sovereignty
- Human sin and rebellion
- God's covenant and redemption
- The origins of the world and humanity

The biblical creation story is influenced by ancient Near Eastern cosmology
The universe is comprised of three distinct levels:
- Heaven (above)
- Earth (middle)
- Underworld (below)
The firmament separates heaven and earth, holding back the waters above
The earth is flat and rectangular, with four corners and edges

Adam, the first human, was created from dust by God
Eve, the first woman, was created from Adam's rib
They lived in the Garden of Eden, in a state of innocence, without knowledge of good and evil
The serpent (Satan) tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the Fall
Consequences of the Fall include:
- Expulsion from the Garden
- Pain and suffering in childbirth
- Hard labor and toil
- Eventual death

God sent a flood to destroy the earth due to humanity's wickedness
Noah, a righteous man, was instructed to build an ark to save himself, his family, and two of every kind of animal
The ark was a rectangular vessel with a roof, measuring 300x50x30 cubits
The flood lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, covering the highest mountains
After the flood, the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat
The rainbow was established as a sign of God's covenant with humanity

Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament
The book is divided into two main sections:
- Primeval history (chapters 1-11): creation, early humanity, and the flood
- Patriarchal history (chapters 12-50): the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Genesis features multiple genres, including narrative, poetry, and genealogy
Key themes include:
- God's creation and sovereignty
- Human sin and rebellion
- God's covenant and redemption
- The origins of the world and humanity