The Gospel of John opens up with these words:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome" John 1:1-5 ESV
This statement ties Jesus to: the beginning, His divine nature, His job as creator, His job as life giver, His job as light, and his job as overcomer.
This statement is believed to draw on both Greek and Jewish thought.
(Ancient Greek stoic philosophers viewed the idea of word (logos) as the divine animating principle of the universe. Aristotle viewed the logos as reasoned discourse.
In the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible phrase "word of the Lord" was often translated using the Greek word logos. Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo incorporated the term into Jewish Philosophy. If you wish to read about this in more detail please click here)
The book of Genesis opens up with these words:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" Genesis 1:1 ESV
The Revelation to John opens up with these words:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants, the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw." Revelation 1:1-2 ESV
I would therefore submit to you that Genesis through Revelation is God revealing Himself to humanity. This revelation was incarnated in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It was God and Jesus who decided to whom and how this revelation would take place.
The first to write down a record of God's revelation to humanity was Moses. He penned Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Moses in Genesis depicts God as creator, who seeks a relationship with humanity. Humanity messes up that intended relationship and is in need of reconciliation. God then working through two attempts at reconciliation followed by judgments (sons of God mating with women, judged with the flood; building the tower of Babel, judged with the dispersal of the nations). He then calls Abraham and starts building his own people, eventually the nation of Israel.
The interpretation of Genesis, the Jewish and Christian book of Origins, has lead to great debate among people who desire to be faithful to the text they view as divinely inspired revelation of God.
Studies have been conducted to find out why so many young people are leaving church. You can read more about one such study here. One of the identified reasons people leave the church is that, they perceive a conflict between Science and a Judeo-Christian world view. This is very unfortunate.
In my next blog I will begin to explore the perceived conflict between science and faith.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome" John 1:1-5 ESV
This statement ties Jesus to: the beginning, His divine nature, His job as creator, His job as life giver, His job as light, and his job as overcomer.
This statement is believed to draw on both Greek and Jewish thought.
(Ancient Greek stoic philosophers viewed the idea of word (logos) as the divine animating principle of the universe. Aristotle viewed the logos as reasoned discourse.
In the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible phrase "word of the Lord" was often translated using the Greek word logos. Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo incorporated the term into Jewish Philosophy. If you wish to read about this in more detail please click here)
The book of Genesis opens up with these words:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" Genesis 1:1 ESV
The Revelation to John opens up with these words:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants, the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw." Revelation 1:1-2 ESV
I would therefore submit to you that Genesis through Revelation is God revealing Himself to humanity. This revelation was incarnated in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It was God and Jesus who decided to whom and how this revelation would take place.
Moses in Genesis depicts God as creator, who seeks a relationship with humanity. Humanity messes up that intended relationship and is in need of reconciliation. God then working through two attempts at reconciliation followed by judgments (sons of God mating with women, judged with the flood; building the tower of Babel, judged with the dispersal of the nations). He then calls Abraham and starts building his own people, eventually the nation of Israel.
The interpretation of Genesis, the Jewish and Christian book of Origins, has lead to great debate among people who desire to be faithful to the text they view as divinely inspired revelation of God.
Studies have been conducted to find out why so many young people are leaving church. You can read more about one such study here. One of the identified reasons people leave the church is that, they perceive a conflict between Science and a Judeo-Christian world view. This is very unfortunate.
In my next blog I will begin to explore the perceived conflict between science and faith.
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