Genesis, Creation, And The Ancient Near East
Posted by Pastoral Musings on February 5th, 2010
It seems that the going thing for many is to draw parallels between the Genesis Creation account and various myths from the ancient Near East.
I have not read much from the ancient Near East, but what I have read seems to be more dis-similar than similar.
Why the parallelism/parallelomania? Are there truly parallels to be found that show these similarities, or is it a sort of wishful thinking on the part of those finding the parallels?
February 5th, 2010 at 11:03 am
We will disagree here, it seems to me that the image of the primordial chaos (Gen.1:2) out of which God made the creation is in contrast to the pagan. I am a creationist, but within the redemptive-historical framework myself.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Irishanglican,
We don’t disagree. I am a creationist, too. I do NOT believe that there are significant parallels between ANE literature and Genesis’ Creation account.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I believe that their are parallels, but overarching, not minutely.
And I think that that is why the theology of Genesis 1 is explicit in the text and one which shows why the parallelisms exist.
Further, consider that surely, the Hebrew idea of Creation was not something only Moses knew, but most likely was handed down. I speculate this way. Since we all descended from one person, stories would have been told, however, as lines drifted, languages changed, and people forgot the One True God, etc… those stories evolved.
Note that all major cultures share common stories and objects. Pyramids, flood stories, dragons, etc… As I will note next week, the Aztec creation story includes something similar to a Hebrew tradition.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:47 am
That’s somewhat where I lean. There is not a concept for concept, line for line correspondence, however. The dis-similarity is so strong that I cannot see how folks want to compare them. Contrasting them seems to be the order for them. What do you think?
In fact, they diverge greatly on important theological concepts.
Moses, I believe, drew from earlier sources to write Genesis.
It would stand to reason that many cultures have creation myths due to the fact of a common Creator. It also stands to reason that they err greatly due to the fallen nature and intellect of man.
February 6th, 2010 at 8:21 am
There is no line for line correspondence, that’s for sure. I think that compare and contrast, however, is what is almost meant to take place. For example, humanity is often seen as a side effect of the gods battles or something not meant to take place, yet, in Genesis 1, we find that creation is centered around humanity. Unlike other ANE myths, there is not a battle royale whiche creates Creation. In Genesis, God sets about to bring order from chaos, purposely, and in progressive stages, making everything ready for humanity, which is His ultimate Creation – Life.
But these are just my thoughts.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:52 am
My problem is when Genesis is treated as the step-child, as though it copied, or derived itself from the ANE myths.
Your comment doesn’t seem to reflect that.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:54 am
I don’t like that either, nor support it.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I intend to study it more in depth over the next year. My plans are to slow down book reviews as the end of March and focus more on a few specific study areas. I still have that book idea on the back burner, too.
February 6th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I’m with you there. Once I finish my standing order, I have other books to read, etc… for me. I hope to be done by the end of March myself.
June 19th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Yes, there are parallels, as Mark Smith points out in The Priestly Vision of Genesis 1. Many in fact, starting with the fact that Genesis 1 does not appear to be the earliest Hebrew creation story. There are briefer stories and allusions to creation in the Psalms, Job, and elsewhere that appear to be older than the high priestly creation story in Genesis 1, and they mention Yahweh defeating monsters. Also, the story in Genesis 1 fits into the genre of creation stories from Ebla to Babylon, with other basic ancient Near Eastern elements included. I go into detail concerning the overlap in my chapter, “The Cosmology of the Bible” that was published in The Christian Delusion. A few points I didn’t mention in my chapter was that Enuma Elish was performed in Babylon during festivals, something the Hebrews in captivity could not have missed. Funny, Enuma Elish was also composed on seven clay tablets, and the number seven held religious significance for the Babylonians as well as the Hebrews. But these are just asides compared with the info in my chapter.
June 19th, 2011 at 4:10 am
I cited Evangelical scholars in my chapter, like John Walton, not just Catholic scholars like Mark Smith. Endnote two also points to further resources by Christian scholars who take the ancient Eastern milieu of Genesis 1 seriously.
June 19th, 2011 at 6:25 am
Thanks for your comments.
In another post I have compared Genesis and Enuma Elish.
I’ll look forward to receiving the offered chapter in the mail.
JLS