Genesis Revisited by John Everett - HTML preview

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Finished

The final section of this myth is:

The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done. This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.

We have assumed that for 21st century readers six literal 24 hour days is not a possible concept, given the knowledge we have of how old the universe is, and so have talked of six stages. We also want to avoid the anthropomorphic idea that God was tired and needed to rest.

But here we also meet a reflection on the way our seven day week is organised, so that one day can be designated as a day of rest. Our rendering of these verses needs to reflect this. Hence:

"Now the universe had become complete. After six stages of development there was a seventh stage where no new interventions occurred, a cessation of development. Thus in any week a seventh day can reflect this pattern of work and rest.

All this has been the account of how the whole universe, physical and non-physical, came into being."