Biblical Cosmology and Creation Story

Biblical Cosmology

• 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

Adam and Eve

• 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

Noah's Ark

• 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

Genesis

• 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

Biblical Cosmology

• 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 and Eve

• 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

Noah's Ark

• 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

• 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