Beginning to Read the Bible

Typology and Genesis: The Antediluvian Period

Typology

• A Biblical Type is a person, place, or event in the Old Testament that has its own proper significance but also prefigures a person, place, or event later in the Old Testament or in the New Testament.

• For example, Jonah emerging from the whale after 3 days is a type of Jesus emerging from the tomb after 3 days.

Typology

• Also, Moses’ parting of the Red Sea can be viewed as a type of Baptism (according to St. Paul 1 Cor 10:2)

• Typology shows us that God is the author of history and how He gradually unfolds His plan to save humanity.

• See CCC 1094

Creation

• We already discussed that there are two separate creation accounts, but now let’s look at Genesis 1 in more detail.

Genesis 1• It is easy to remember the Order of Creation:– The first three days are the creation of environments• Day 1: Day and Night (Time)• Day 2: Sky and Sea (Space)• Day 3: Land and Vegetation (Life)

– The last three days are the creation of rulers for those environments• Day 4: Sun and Moon• Day 5: Birds and Fish• Day 6: Humans and Animals

Genesis 1

• On the Seventh day God rested. This is significant because God formed a covenant with creation.

• This interpretation is based off of the Hebrew root שבע which means ‘seven’ as well as ‘to swear, take an oath’ (depending on the arrangement of vowels).

• For overview see chart on page 50.

The Adamic Covenant• A covenant has been established and the Covenant

Sign is the Sabbath Day. • When Eve was created, this started the institution

of marriage, which is the form of the covenant. • Adam’s role in this covenant is as Husband.

• Although the two creation stories are indeed separate, throughout history this was not always known, so some elements of the Adamic covenant are taken from both Gen 1:1-2:4a and Gen 2:4b – 25.

The Fall: Genesis 3• By eating from the Tree of Knowledge Adam and

Eve suffered a spiritual death and expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

• Spiritual Death means that they lost supernatural life, original holiness, and original justice.

• The human nature was wounded by Original Sin. This means we also suffer from the spiritual death that Adam and Eve experienced.