Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
3 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,815 Year: 3,072/9,624 Month: 917/1,588 Week: 100/223 Day: 11/17 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   A Figurative Interpretation of Genesis One
Cedar
Junior Member (Idle past 3377 days)
Posts: 2
Joined: 12-27-2014


Message 1 of 3 (745813)
12-27-2014 5:43 PM


I am posting excerpts from my paper, which provides a figurative interpretation of Genesis one and some of its meaning. Below I’ve included the abstract, and excerpts from the Virtue and Seven Days portion concerning Patience and Courage, corresponding to Genesis days five and six, respectively.
[From Abstract]
Many people believe that the bible is founded on a lie. Some believe this because the scientific evidence supports Man’s gradual evolution as opposed to his discrete creation in one day under creationism. Others believe this because the order of the creation of the universe in genesis chapter one contradicts scientific evidence. Not having heard of an allegorical interpretation and having assumed that there is only a literal interpretation, many dismiss the authority of the bible. This paper asserts that genesis one is an allegory about virtue and states some of the meaning of that allegory. More specifically, each day in genesis corresponds to a particular virtue.
[From Virtue and Seven Days in Genesis — Patience subsection]
And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. (Gen 1:20-23, ASV)
This passage is talking about patience. Ever notice how small fish feed on the plankton, the larger fish consume the small fish, and the whales consume the larger fish? Everything depends on consuming those smaller than yourself; isn’t it cruel? The strong rule the weak- one might observe. Here, the sea creatures are those who pursue power and the sea is the spirit of cruelty. Those who pursue power are ruled by a spirit of cruelty, just as the sea creatures are ruled by the sea. Out of cruelty arises vice, the sea monsters, and just as the sea monsters consume the sea creatures, vice consumes those who pursue power. With patience God created everything, each having its time including the wicked, Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:4, ASV). How much patience God must have to have created vice!
Ever notice how birds sing and dance in order to find a mate? The birds are those who pursue happiness and are ruled by a spirit of lust.
[From Virtue and Seven Days in Genesis — Courage subsection]
And God said, Let the earth bring forth living souls after their kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth, after their kind. And it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing of the ground after its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over the whole earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth on the earth. And God created Man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; (Gen 1:24-29, Darby)
To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food; and it was so.(Gen 1:30, WEB)
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.(Gen 1:31, Darby)
This passage is about courage. Ever notice how cattle group together or move together? Why? For protection. The cattle are those who pursue safety from fear. Those who pursue safety from fear do what the group does; they follow the herd.
Now the man and woman are people of courage. What do people of courage do? The right thing. What does God want people to do? The right thing. So they are like mirrors, they reflect God’s will, and thus, And God created Man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.(Gen 1:27, Darby) And God granted the man and woman of courage, dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over every animal that moveth on the earth.(Gen 1:26, Darby), dominion over those who pursue power, over those who pursue personal happiness, and over those who pursue safety from fear.
The paper from which the excerpts were taken, On Virtue, Revelation, and the Meaning of Genesis Chapter One, can be downloaded from my website at Bible Writings - Home

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by AdminPhat, posted 12-28-2014 5:46 AM Cedar has replied

AdminPhat
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 3 (745827)
12-28-2014 5:46 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Cedar
12-27-2014 5:43 PM


Originality Required
I noticed that you have already posted at other forums. I also looked at your website, Kevin.I will promote you if you actually share with us your original ideas and thoughts on this matter. To start with, tell us a bit about yourself--how long have you been a believer? What specifically is your belief? What brought you to EvC Forum? (Welcome, by the way )
Edited by AdminPhat, : clarification

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Cedar, posted 12-27-2014 5:43 PM Cedar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Cedar, posted 12-28-2014 2:12 PM AdminPhat has not replied

Cedar
Junior Member (Idle past 3377 days)
Posts: 2
Joined: 12-27-2014


Message 3 of 3 (745859)
12-28-2014 2:12 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by AdminPhat
12-28-2014 5:46 AM


Re: Originality Required
"I will promote you if you actually share with us your original ideas and thoughts on this matter. "
No.
"To start with, tell us a bit about yourself--..."
No.
******************************************************
I withdraw my message 1 post.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by AdminPhat, posted 12-28-2014 5:46 AM AdminPhat has not replied

Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024