1. IN THE BEGINNING… Image of the Elohim 2

2. the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground 2:7 ‘Adam’‘adamah’ (red clay) Adam = ‘red’ = Edom; a word with a pejorative flavour [Esau] said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 25:30 “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” the LORD says. “Yet I have loved Jacob [Israel], but Esau [Edom] I have hated” Mal 1:2-3

3. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 2:7 Doctrinal point:Live Man is a soul not has a soul Formula: Adamah (clay) + God’s breath = soul (Adam) when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Ps 104:29-30 Also gives hint of the doctrine of resurrection God gets involved in human creation

4. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along …” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 1:26-27 Threefold repetition Not only a description: a mandate. And [Jesus] said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” And he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mt 22:20-21

5. Mandate: Reflect the image of God And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Mic 6:8 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God. Rom 11:22 fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands… Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut 6

6. The Asymmetry of God fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deut 6

7. These all died in faith, not having received the promises… Heb 11:13 The ‘Translation’ of Enoch Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away 5:24 2 questions:What happened to Enoch? Why is this recorded? => Enoch Died 2 nd question more important 1 st question: Intuitively reasonable, since even the most faithful, Jesus, had to die

8. The ‘Translation’ of Enoch [Enoch] did not experience death… because God had taken him away Heb 11:5 Jesus Christ Enoch Walked with God 5:21 Pleased God Heb 11:5 Died in Faith Heb 11:13 Express Image of God Heb 1:3 Well Pleased God Matt 3:17 Died in Faith Jn 19:30 So how to understand this verse?

9. Preservation of the Loved One from Corruption Age when ‘taken’ ~ (365 / 910) * 77 ~ early 30’s Age when crucified ~ early 30’s EnochJesus Christ For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Ps 16 Did not experience decay in life or death Acts 2 Enoch’s Purpose? Precursor of Christ: One who walks with God won’t corrupt To teach all: Those who please God will not see corruption

10. “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 2:18 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” 2:24 And God Created Woman No marriage ceremony: they were already literally ‘one flesh’ – defines marriage

11. Institution of Law “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” 2:16-17 Why create a forbidden anything? “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things…? This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Is 66:1-2 Necessary for Perfection Perfection = Obedience, not Automation Create a world in which God can live (reflect God)

12. The Introduction of Death “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” 2:16-17 Death from sin is natural consequence (pulling away from source of Life), rather than God’s judgment When one ball rolls off (i.e. clock deviates from designed function) time is incorrect (i.e. clock is dead) Sin Kills, not God’s Law

13. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Phil 2:5-7 Grasping Equality with God When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good… she took some and ate it. 3:4-6

14. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” 3:15 The Curse / The Promise of Atonement

15. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 2:25 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. 3:1 Nakedness - The Serpent’s Nature, and Role Adam and Eve were both crafty (of the serpent’s nature) but unaware of it. The serpent’s acted to reveal (make naked) their nature to them. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked. 3:7 ארזם ‘crafty’ 3:1 אזם ‘crafty, shrewd’ ארזם ‘naked’ 2:25 Counter-intuitive couplet: naked ~ crafty, not simple. ?

16. ATONEMENT The LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 3:9 The LORD God is not searching for Adam “Where are you?” => “You are not with Me” Recognition of Divorce by the act of Sin / Death AT-ONE-MENT