Frameworks

The story of Genesis is full of complex meanings and messages that can only be found using the correct frameworks. I believe that using the theological, literary, and scientific frameworks, in addition to comparing and contrasting with other creation stories, is the most fulfilling method of reading Genesis. Using this method creates multiple perspectives that compliment each other to create a broad, yet, intentional perspective. Without this method or an inaccurate method, trying to analyze genesis can create false understandings and misinterpretation of the story. It's important to have a strong understanding of Genesis because how you read it determines how you interpret the rest of the bible. For example, interpreting the creation story

This is why it should be read using the theological, scientific, and literary frameworks. These frameworks suit the story and explore the real world evidence behind it. For example, in Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky…” Using the theological framework we can deduct that God himself gave mankind the responsibility to “rule over” all creatures on Earth. This is significant because a responsibility from God himself is of utmost importance. Using the scientific framework we can deduct that we are made in the preexisting image of God and that we also have been given a position where we are separate from other species. This understanding has given mankind its identity in nature and in God. Finally, we can use a literary framework to analyze the phrase “God said.” The word choice of “said” is important because it shows that God actually spoke when he created everything. The concept of speaking and breath are important throughout the whole bible story. Although these frameworks provide an in -depth analysis of Genesis, to further our understanding of Genesis we need to compare it to other creation

A great example of ancient literature similarities is the importance of water. For example, in The Osirian Cycle the Nile river is a central location and has a large impact on the story. This importance of water is not a unique concept in The Osirian Cycle and can be found in the Genesis story as well. Comparing the significance of water from other stories helps us understand why it is important in the Genesis story. Although similarities of other ancient creation stories can help us understand how the ancient cultures viewed the world, differences in stories can also further our understanding. For example, in the Marduk story, “From the other half of Tiamat's body he made the land..”, the gods create the earth after their own war and are separated from mankind. This separation between God and mankind is a huge difference between the Marduk story and the Genesis story. In Genesis 3:8 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” It is clear that God walks among Adam and Eve in the garden. The relationship between our God and mankind is something that no other creation story