| Our goal is to help you discover what the words of
Genesis meant to their author and the people for whom they were
written. The first chapters of the Book of Genesis deal with
topics about which there were numerous sagas in the ancient East, both
among the Israelites and the other peoples. Hence, it is not
possible to understand the purpose of the Bible in these chapters
without constant reference to the lore and learning, the doctrines and
traditions, of neighboring peoples, and of Israel itself, concerning
these and related matters. We must not only consider the parallels
between Israel and the other peoples, but also the divergences between
them, because the differences are likewise important and we can learn
much -- maybe even more so than from the similarities.
One of the greatest challenge that each person will face is the
temptation to bend the Bible to make it fit his or her beliefs and
traditions. Please remember the primary guideline of the Biblical
Heritage Center as you face the certain to come challenges as you study
the words of Genesis:
Our beliefs must be large
enough to include all the facts,
open enough to be tested,
and flexible enough to change.
Make the decision now to adjust your beliefs to the information that
you will discover as you journey through this study and you will receive
the greatest spiritual and intellectual benefits. Lay aside your
doctrines and theologies and allow the text of Genesis to reveal its
concept of God, story of creation, and the accounts of the first human
beings. The words of Genesis were written long before the
doctrines of monotheism and trinitarianism, - long before the formation
of Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
Resist the urge to project your beliefs back into the story -
simply allow the ancient author to share his or her beliefs with
you.
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