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A tale of two stories – Day 1

A tale of two stories – Day 1

Bible text(s)

26Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all animals, domestic and wild, large and small.” 27So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, 28blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. 29I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; 30but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food” — and it was done.

Genesis 1:26-30GNBOpen in Bible reader

20So the man named all the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him.

21Then the LORD God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh. 22He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. 23Then the man said,

“At last, here is one of my own kind —

Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh.

‘Woman’ is her name because she was taken out of man.”

24That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.

Genesis 2:20-24GNBOpen in Bible reader

The Descendants of Adam

1This is the list of the descendants of Adam. (When God created human beings, he made them like himself. 2He created them male and female, blessed them, and named them “Humanity”.)

Genesis 5:1-2GNBOpen in Bible reader

1. Compare Genesis 1:26-30 and Genesis 2:20-24

(a) What are your thoughts and feelings when you read these two very different accounts of the creation of man and woman?
 (b) “Hear the word of the Lord” applies to both texts. Should we take the creation story literally? What are the implications if we do? And, if we don’t?
 (c) According to the ‘first’ creation story, God created both man and woman in God’s “own image” Gen 1:27.
 (i) If women and men are created in the image of God, what does it say about women; about men; about God?
 (ii) What then, do you make of Paul’s message to the people in Corinth when he says that a man “is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman but woman for man” (1 Cor11:7-9)?
 (iii) What would you say to Paul if he told you, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed “first” was his (Paul’s) advice to Timothy (1 Tim 2:12-13)?
 (d) What would you say is the value of considering both creation stories for women and men in your context?

Bible Society of South Africav.4.21.9
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