Scholar Interpretations of Genesis 1

We discussed the significance of “In the beginning” vs. “When God began to create” which influences interpretations of the text and readers’ views of God. We compared similarities and differences between ancient near eastern myths and the Genesis account such as the significance of naming, monotheistic vs. polytheistic, and the characteristics of the Hebrew God and ancient gods. Humans are the pinnacle of creation; man was created in the image of God and has the ability to have a relationship with God–this is a unique view in light of the ways other myths viewed the role of man.