Genesis: a study and discussion of chapters 1 to 11.
Devised for Llwchwr Ministry Area (near Swansea, UK), meeting on zoom. Jan-Feb 2023
Welcome! These questions were designed for a Parish Group, meeting on zoom. You are welcome to use / adapt them for group or personal use.
If you haven’t been part of a group like this before, it isn’t complicated. We take a few minutes to greet one another and “catch up” at the beginning. Then we ask for volunteers to read sections of the Bible text we are looking at, and begin our discussion using some prepared questions, or those people want to ask. We try to listen carefully to one another, and to God (who can often be heard through the text and discussion). Everybody is welcome to speak, but briefly and as clearly as possible, please.
After about 60 minutes of discussion, the leader of the day will call a halt, and we will use some form of worship together for 10-15 minutes.
Week 1 Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
It will be helpful if you have a chance to read this before we meet. If you want to look at the questions below, feel free – but equally, just have them with you when we meet.
1. “In the beginning God . . “ Does this seem a good / significant / strange start to a book? Do you think it affected John’s gospel which starts “In the beginning was the Word . . “ Do our lives centre on God, or does God occupy a place at the edge of things for us? Put it another way: Do you value God for starting things, or as a tool to sort out your problems?
2. Verses 3-13 (days 1-3) seem to be reflected in verses 14-31 (days 4-6), as the earlier work is refined and detailed. Do you think this story speaks of intentional pattern and purpose?
3. There are many “Creation Stories” from around the world. Why do you think people find such stories important? Earlier scholars thought this account was borrowed from a Babylonian Creation Story, but now Genesis is seen more positively. (The Babylonian story is detailed in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En%C5%ABma_Eli%C5%A1 and the last paragraph, influence on Biblical research, may be more useful than the other detail.) If the writer, or a later editor of this version, knew that story, what points might be made by:
- the idea that God (one God) creates by command, rather than hard work or conflict?
- The idea that creation is deliberate and purposeful?
4. Humankind is us – but are we just another species, a danger to the Universe, or something special? How should we see ourselves in creation, and what does this text have to say? (verses 26,28) and what consequences might this have?
5. Are we being “scientific” or “spiritual”, and what might the difference be? Is it valid to distinguish “how” and “why”? How do we regard the scientific theory of creation – and does it need anything else added?
6. Resting. Have we forgotten the seventh day, Gen 2:2,3? What is it about – and is there something fundamental in our created nature about that? What do you think we should do about this?
Of course there is more – this is a rich area! If you have lots of time, you could follow up other references to the Babylonian creation story (Job 26:12, Ps 89:10, 74:13, Is 51:9). There are echoes of the Genesis story in Isaiah, who sometimes emphasises elements of it eg Is 27:1, 40:25ff, 45:9-12. The worship due to the Creator is mentioned in Ps 8:3f, 95:6, and Rev 4:11. The witness of creation is highlighted in Rom 1:20, Eph 2:10 and Col 1:15f.
Ended with Compline
Week 2 Genesis 2:4 – 25
1. Read Gen 2:4-17. Another account of creation? How would you describe and explain Genesis 2 after Genesis 1? Is there something about focus or viewpoint?
2. Gen 2:7. “the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. What does this say about humanity, the value of life and the control of a life?
3. Two trees are forbidden. Is this just the inevitable alternative of obedience and discipleship or disobedience and a bid for independence? Or is Wisdom something which should lead to the “fear of the Lord”, but in small quantities may lead to pride and a bid for independence?
4. Read Gen 2:18-25. What is the significance of man naming the animals?
5. What do v21-24 say about the relationship between man and woman? And the priority of marriage over the parent – child bond?
6. For most of human history, man’s greater strength and freedom from pregnancy and the nursing of babies has dictated roles. Does this text command this, assume this, or not deal with it?
7. Matthew Henry commented on God’s choice of a rib to create Eve: “Not made out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” How do you feel about that?
Ended with the Litany.
Week 3 Genesis 3
This chapter is probably on the list of “unfavourite passages”, but is very important!
1. Read Genesis 3:1-7. Temptation takes several forms here: God’s goodness is questioned (v1); the rule is exaggerated (v2 “must not touch”); God’s word is contradicted (v4); jealousy and ambition are encouraged (v5); appearances and desire are prioritised (v6). Which of these do you find most difficult to resist? Can you see other forms of temptation here?
2. The serpent promises becoming like God and knowing good and evil. What do Adam and Eve experience (v7,8)? Why is “nakedness” important?
3. Read Genesis 3:8-13. If God already knows what has happened, what is happening in these verses? Do we also make excuses? Do they damage our relationships, with one another and God?
4. Read Genesis 3:14-19. Judgement follows – is that unexpected? Do we see why it is necessary?
5. Some people object that if a loving God existed, our world would not be in such a mess. What alternative explanation does this chapter give?
6. Is it right to trace our broken relationships to a refusal to live God’s way? Does this also explain why we experience pain, and why there is hard work? (But we cannot just “go back”; there has to be a fuller solution – what?)
7. Read Genesis 3:20-24. God’s judgement does not replace his mercy (v21). He recognises a new situation. Do you see v22 as kind? The impossibility of forcing a way back to Eden makes clear the need for a Saviour, and not self-improvement. v15 has sometimes been seen as looking forward to Jesus victory over Satan and the powers of evil.
End with the General Thanksgiving, and Taize chant “Bless the Lord, my soul”.
Week 4 Genesis 4:1- 6:8
(Note that we won’t be able to read all the text during our meeting, you may want to do so beforehand.) If Genesis 3 showed how things began to go wrong, these chapters show a progression of evil. Hopefully you find it encouraging that God has met these problems before, and not given up!
1. Read Genesis 4:1-7. How would you describe Cain’s response and mood? Do you recognise it as something you have ever done?
2. Read Genesis 4:8-12. Cain has been warned, but this looks like premeditated murder. What is his response? (v9). What is the consequence? Do you see a progression of evil: Eve was tempted to disobedience; Cain, despite warning, murders his brother, then lies and denies responsibility. Does any of this sound familiar from the news we hear today?
3. Read Genesis 4:13-16. Cain even argues over his punishment – but what is the purpose of God’s mark on Cain? While there is a progression of evil, it seems God’s care is not reduced.
4. It can’t get any worse – or can it? Read Genesis 4:17-24. The beginnings of civilised life show the potential for good – and for evil. Cain had succumbed to evil, and looked for protection. It seems Lamech enjoys inflicting violence, and looks for provocation. Do you know of people who “go looking for trouble”? Have you ever done so yourself?
5. As we look through the last verses of Genesis 4 and through Genesis 5, the birth of Seth gives hope. – he will be the ancestor of Noah (see next week!). The ages here are hard to understand – either death-causing problems had not yet developed much, or they reckoned time differently, or the names are clans not individuals (impossible in some cases), or . . .What do you think? [Interestingly, long lived ancestors feature in other, unrelated, cultures]
6. In the middle of largely unknown names, Enoch (v18-24) “walked faithfully with the Lord” – a lovely picture of piety. He appears to escape death 5:24, as later Elijah (2 Kings 2:11f), and this is referred to in Hebrews 11:5-6 (though using the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT!). There are 3 books named Enoch, none accepted as scripture (or Apocrypha), and an obscure quote in Jude 1:14f. The Mormon Church talks about him more. Perhaps this is an area where warnings like 1 Timothy 6:3-5 apply?
7. Much the same might apply to Genesis 6:1-8. The “sons of God” v2 have been variously understood, most often as (fallen) angels. The hope comes in v 8, which will lead us into next week’s discussion about Noah. (Genesis 6:8- 9:29).
Today we will go back to ending with Compline.
Week 5 Genesis 6:5 – 9:29
1. Read Genesis 6:4-8. The story of Noah has a lot to say about God’s judgement. Is it right that God should judge the world? What gives such a right? When we talk about human rights (a talk that depends largely on the Judaeo-Christian tradition – Muslim and Buddhist world views are rather different!) do human rights go further than what one human might expect of other humans?
2. A commentator says of Gen 6:7,8 “The two verses show God’s characteristic way with evil: to meet it, not with half measures, but with the simultaneous extremes of judgement and salvation.” Do you agree? How is that shown in this story?
3. Read Genesis 6:9-22. Noah is righteous, and so shares God’s confidence and saves his family as well as himself. Do those close to “godly” people share their blessings?
4. Just as there are other “creation” stories, there are other “flood” stories around the world. The Babylonian version (c1600 BC) centres on the gods, who lose control and then needed the food provided by sacrifices. Here there is judgement, a righteous man, and God in control. We won’t read all chapter 7 and 8 together, but note how the flood first reverses creation (the separation of water on the 2nd day, Genesis 1:6-8). Then in chapter 8 as God “remembers Noah”, there is a planned re-creation.
5. Read Genesis 8:15-22. Noah’s thanksgiving is acceptable, and there is a new beginning. How do 8:17, 9:1, 9:7 compare with 1:28?
6. Read Genesis 9:8-17. The rainbow is a sign of the covenant – but what is a Covenant? Notice that it involves “every living creature”, not just humanity. What is promised? Are there conditions?
7. This may be a new beginning, but what shows the loss of innocence? How is the relationship of humans and animals affected? And what does the story of Genesis 9:10-25 say about human interactions?
We will end using the Litany again.
Week 6 Genesis 10 and 11
1. Do you have, on paper or computer, a family tree? Why do you think people are interested in these, and TV programmes like “Who Do You Think You Are?”. Do you know of a family connection to royalty, celebrities, or maybe other countries?
2. Look at Genesis 10 (you may have read it before we meet). Many of these names or places mean little to us. Why might they matter? What is the author saying?
3. Some names are identifiable: Madai (v2) are Medes; Kittites (4) are Cypriots, and of course the descendants of Shem are Shemites, who we would call Semites (as in “anti-Semitic”?). The Hamites are largely enemies of God’s people: Egypt and Canaan (6), and Babylon (10). The Shemites were friendly, the Arameans being close to the patriarchs (cp Dt 26:5)
4. Read Genesis 11:1-9. What is wrong with this ambition? (How does it compare with what we said about Genesis 4:19-22 and the ethical neutrality of technology?)
5. Why does God find it necessary to intervene? Is this just punitive, or can you see mercy in his action?
6. A commentator says “Unity and Peace are not ultimate goods”. When might they not be good?
7. The chapter ends (Genesis 11:10-32) linking to Abraham, and the start of the story in “identifiably historical” times with more of God’s mercy to be seen.
8.You may want to investigate the Babylonian ziggurat, perhaps behind the tower of Babel story. It seems that we have learnt of Israel’s relationship to all nations (under one God), of many aspects of human sin, and of God’s mercy in limiting at least some of the damage.
We’ll end with a prayer and some Taizé music.
I hope you have found this series helpful. If there are subjects you would like the chance to consider, please say so!