8/31/2015 objectives Differentiate between objective and subjective truth Paraphrase 5 proofs for God's existence Diagnose who you believe Jesus is Recall basic Scriptural apologetics

9/28/15 objectives Paraphrase context of Genesis 1 Describe problem of original sin as seen in chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis

Orlando Pace

BuildingFilling Day 1: Light/DarknessDay 4: The stars, moon, and sun Day 2: Water above/water below Day 5: Birds and Fish Day 3: Land separated from water Day 6: Land Animals/Human beings as God’s Image

“In ancient times, one build a temple in order to place an image for god for whom the temple was built. In Genesis, God builds a Temple in which to place His image, human beings, male and female.” Tom Riello

“Human beings are God’s image and likeness and are called to reflect God’s glory into the world and back to God.” Tom Riello

Good stuff

“Man finds himself alone before God mainly to express, through a first self-definition, his own self- knowledge, as the original and fundamental manifestation of mankind.” Tom Riello

Sharing in the divine life

Purpose of chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis “Before we come to know a solution, we must first realize that there is a problem…In particular, our goal in utilizing chapters two and three of Genesis is to reveal God’s purpose for us and the effects of sin in our world and our own lives.” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-18

9/28/15 objectives Paraphrase context of Genesis 1 Describe problem of original sin as seen in chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis

What is adam’s role in the garden? “God also gives Adam a role and purpose. The distinct role He gives to Adam is to till and keep the garden. In Hebrew, the word for keep is shamar, which can mean ‘protect.’ The command is suspenseful: from whom or what is Adam protecting the garden?” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

Was either the serpent or eve telling the truth? “The serpent begins by misquoting God in verse one-he says that God told them they cannot eat from any tree (God just said not to eat from one tree). Eve responds by exaggerating God’s command—she says they cannot touch it lest they die (God said they could not eat, nothing about touching). Finally, the serpent tells Eve that they will not die if they eat the fruit; directly contradicting God’s command.” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

What do adam and eve believe about God when they eat the fruit? “God is a loving father to Adam and Eve; He has provided them everything they need in the garden. The serpent, however, paints the picture of God who is a liar and a senseless rule giver.” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

Why do you think it is easy for us today to fall into the trap of viewing god as a ruler giver instead of a loving, compassionate, and kind father?

Why do you think god put the tree in the garden? “God could now know if Adam and Eve truly loved Him unless they had the opportunity, the choice to disobey Him.” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

What is adam’s response to God? “Embarrassed about their sins, Adam and Eve hide from God. God finds them and questions them about what happened. Adam immediately blames Eve. But there is a deep irony here. Adam was told to protect the garden and Eve with it. He fails to fulfill the purpose for which God created him.” Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

What is the consequence? “The harmony in which they had found themselves, thanks to original justice, is not destroyed: the control of the soul’s spiritual faculties over the body is shattered; the union of man and woman becomes subject to tensions, their relations henceforth marked by lust and domination. Harmony with creation is broken: visible creation has become alien and hostile to man. Because of man, creation is now subject “to its bondage to decay.” Finally, the consequence explicitly foretold for this disobedience will come true: man will ‘return to the ground,’ for out of it he was taken. Death makes its entrance into human history.” CCC 400

“All men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as St. Paul affirms: ‘By one man’s disobedience many [that is, all men] were made sinners’: ‘sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned…’ The Apostle contrasts the universality of sin and death with the universality of salvation in Christ. ‘Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.’” CCC 402

What’s the solution? “This passage is mainly about the problem and not the solution. The worse the bad news is, the better the good news sounds. The more we let this passage from Genesis soak in, the more responsive we will be to the ultimate solution to our problems—Jesus Christ” and the Sacrament of Baptism. Kevin Cotter, FOCUSEquip

9/28/15 objectives Describe problem of original sin as seen in chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis