Genesis in July

[Marv]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The last thing you wish to see on this fine summer day is yet another thread on or about the book of Genesis. Some of us are incorrigeable, however. For those who may not yet be suffereing from Creation fatigue, I'm throwing a party. I've decided to do this off site, so as not to be more obnoxious about it than necessary.

 

Accordingly, I have set up a Wordpress blog page for the express purpose of examining "together" the meaning of Genesis chapter one. I understand there is more to Genesis than chapter one, but chapter one does come before chapter two. Besides the immediate stimulus for this fete is discussion of that first chapter. And when I say Genesis One I understand that it spills over a bit.

July has 31 days. Genesis 1 has 31 verses. 31 days. 31 verses. It's a God-thing, obviously. ;-)

 

If you wish to play, please drop by http://genesisjuly.wordpress.com/. The idea is a verse a day. So tomorrow, July 1 will be Genesis 1:1. Saturday, Genesis 1:2. Today, June 30, I have a brief explanation of the project and the rules of the game.

 

You're welcome to participate, observe, comment, whatever you wish. You know another Genesis wonk? Invite him or her along.

 

One caveat: this is about the meaning of the text (a very beautiful passage) and not about the age of the earth, creation/evolution, intelligent design or such matters as may be relevant and important. I'm not saying no mention will ever be made of these things, but let's please not make these the focus of the discussion.

Thanks, and I hope to "see" you there.

 

Marv

[Scott]

Well I could have pointed to Pete Enn's series on interacting with the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy over at BioLogos or Dan Wallace's review of the NIV2011 going on over at P & P.

[Marv]

The latter is a good read. Looking forward to the rest.

[Scott]

Both are a good read, even if you disagree with both's conclusions. At least we are able to understand some very good and presentable thoughts from other sides. You know, kind of like I am not excited to admit it about dispensationalism or cessationism, but at least there are worthy people to interact with from that perspective.

[Daniel]

Was that a request? Want some Peter Enns links? :)
Marv said:

Contaminate this thread, will you....?

[Marv]

I've read enough of C. John Collins' book Genesis 1-4 to understand where he lands now. I think he does as well as one can in presenting a "more time than readily apparent" reading of the text. With only a few bows to what one "needn't believe" about the text, he holds that the "days" are "analogous" to human days. Ultimately this is not terribly different from day-age, though he eschews the usual method of supporting that--dubious lexicology. And he doesn't buy Framework--smart guy. What he does, he does in a straightforward manner--and this is key--admitting his sympathies lie with concordism. His reasons for his position seem to satisfy him, and they may satisfy you, but they are not really all that persuasive. Sorry. 

 

Is this another shameless bump to flag interest in Genesis in July--where you too may lay out your coherent understanding of this interesting and important text (please show your work)? Darn right it is.

[Rey Reynoso]

At this rate, I won't be back there until some time in mid-August. I'm down some staff this week and next week I go on "vacation" to boys camp. After that, I'll be playing catch-up at work.

 

Heretics, enjoy yourselves.

[Marv]

It'll still be there (you slacker!!!). I post on corresponding days, but that doesn't mean anyone else has to. You kind of back up your non-sequential day thing, don't you? ;-)

[Rey Reynoso]

rofl!

[Marv]

Blogogeny recapitulates cosmogony.

[Marv]

To those of you worried that August 1 would bring an end to Genesis in July... I have good news. We actually will need to dip into August and chapter two. What? You didn't take the title literally, did you?

 

To those of you worried that August 1 would NOT bring an end to Genesis in July... try to think of more pleasant things, like the debt compromise, or today's 107 degrees forcast down here.