Pentateuch First five books of the Old Testament Moses as the author Several sources edited A continuous narrative No attempt was made to fix the differences Life and personality of Moses Oral transmissions of speeches Reflections Poetry Genealogies Liturgical celebrations Laws

Four Major Sources Yahwist (J) Anthropomorphic (earthy style) Elohist (E) Emphasis on prophecies (Elijah, Elisha) Northern Kingdom viewpoint Abraham as the central character Deuteronomist (D) “Second Law”: morality, law Composed by a priest (Northern Kingdom) Speeches of Moses (“Listen, Israel”) Combination of J and E Priestly (P) Census lists, genealogies, numbers, dates, proper ways to worship, regulations about clean and unclean animals Latest source

Creation Stories Genesis 1:1-2; 4a Priestly Tradition Grand, stately creation Awesome, dramatic act of God Genesis 2:4b-25 Yahwist tradition Lighter, down-to-earth Anthropomorphic God Older account

First Creation Story Israelite tradition of a 7 day week 7 th Day: Sabbath (a day of rest and prayer) Creation: took place in 6 days Each day: a higher development (Humans on the 6 th day) Priestly account with no scientific explanation of the Universe There in only one God God planned creation (orderly) Everything that God made is good Sabbath is a special day of rest and worship (God’s creatures to take time for rest and renewal)

Second Creation Story Yahwist account of God as a potter who molds Adam’s body Intimacy between God and the first human contrasts with the idea of a distant God J Source: a compassionate God God cares for Adam by planting a garden and sending animals Adam names the animals (control) Formation of Eve (dignity and equality of women) Intimacy, openness, nakedness

Why are there two creation stories in the Bible? God is great, mysterious, powerful: created humans who reflect His glory God who is goodness and love, is also intimately involved in the life of His creatures Both stories foreshadow Jesus Incarnation: Jesus assumed a human nature to save us from our sins

Second Creation Story God created humans in His image and friendship Adam and Eve preferred themselves to God (original sin) Serpent: symbol of evil Sin does NOT originate from within humans Sin comes from humans consenting to an outside temptation “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” symbolizes knowledge only God should have (Humans must recognize their limits) Shame and guilt (nakedness) Sin broke their harmony with the natural world

God did NOT abandon Adam and Eve or their descendents One day the serpent would be destroyed by the offspring of the woman “New Adam” or Jesus Christ, Son of God “New Eve” or Mary All people influenced by the sin of Adam and Eve (weakened human nature; subject to ignorance, suffering, death) An inclination to commit sin called concupiscence Protoevangelium: great hope; God created humans out of love Humans affected by sin – can be set free by Jesus, whose passion, death, and resurrection have broken the power of the Evil One