GenesisThe Framework of the Bible Genesis 2:4-25 June 24, 2010 Note: The full text of these lessons will be posted at www.cfcnb.org Significance of Genesis 2:4-25 in the context of the whole book Genesis 2:4 gives the significance of this next section in Genesis. 1. From here on, each section of Genesis will be introduced by the phrase, These are the generations of The other occurrences of this section introduction are: 5:1a This is the book of the generations of Adam. 6:9a These are the generations of Noah. 10:1a These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11:10a These are the generations of Shem. 11:27a Now these are the generations of Terah. 25:12 These are the generations of Ishmael 25:19a These are the generations of Isaac 36:1 These are the generations of Esau 37:2a These are the generations of Jacob. 2. This phrase always marks the beginning of a new section dealing with the descendants of the person(s) named. It means, This is what became of 3. Here in Genesis 2:4, this phrase tells us that what follows is not a second account of creation, but an account of something that came from the creation of the heavens and the earth, namely man. 4. The sections are going to narrow in scope throughout the book. By Steve Sherman, Pastor of Christian Fellowship Church, North Brunswick, NJ. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).
Genesis 2:4-25 2 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth The heavens and the earth 2:4 generations of the heavens and the earth 5:1 generations of Adam Man 6:9 generations of Noah 10:1 generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11:10 generations of Shem Noah s descendants Shem s descendants 11:27 generations of Terah Abraham and his descendants 25:12 generations of Ishmael 25:19 generations of Isaac Isaac s descendants 36:1 generations of Esau 37:2 generations of Jacob Jacob s descendants REST OF OLD TESTAMENT Nation of Israel NEW TESTAMENT Rev 7:9-10 a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!
Genesis 2:4-25 3 Significance of Genesis 2:4-25 in the context of the whole Bible The Garden of Eden is the beginnings of the kingdom of God God s blessed people, in God s blessed place, under God s blessed rule. 1. God s blessed people Adam and Eve 2. In God s blessed place a garden (2:8) the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for good, including the tree of life (2:9) Source of four great rivers (2:10-14) Place where God walked and manifested His presence (3:8) 3. Under God s blessed rule God spoke with Adam and Eve (1:28-30; 2:16-17) God blessed Adam and Eve (1:28) God gave Adam and Eve food that was plentiful and good (1:29) God placed the man in the garden to work it and keep it (2:15) God prohibited Adam and Eve from what was bad for them eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:17) Adam and Eve were dependent upon God God s continued self-revelation Genesis 2:7 teaches God s self-existence. He doesn t need anything from us for His happy existence. Acts 17:24-25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. Significance of the tree of life Genesis 2:8-9 The tree of life gives eternal life The tree of life will be in the new Jersusalem (Rev 22:2) Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Revelation 22:19 Nature of work Genesis 2:15 teaches the goodness of work. It isn t a result of the curse. Future result of the fall into sin
Genesis 2:4-25 4 Genesis 2:17 teaches that immediate death would be the result of a fall into sin. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned Romans 5:15 many died through one man's trespass Nature of manhood, womanhood, and marriage Genesis 2:18 1. The woman was made to be a helper for the man in marriage 2. The woman was made fit for the man. This means she was equal and adequate. She was equally made in the image of God and was of equal value and dignity. 3. The truth that the woman was made to be a helper for the man is one of two reasons given in 1 Corinthians 11 why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head when she prays or prophesies in corporate worship, and why a man ought not have one. 1 Corinthians 11:7-10 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head Compare 1 Corinthians 11:3 the head of a wife is her husband While there is debate regarding the application of 1 Corinthians 11 to present-day churches, one thing is clear in 1 Corinthians 11 Genesis 2:18 teaches that a man is the authoritative head of his wife. Genesis 2:21-23 teaches that the woman was made after the man, and was made from the man. 1. This is the second reason given in 1 Corinthians 11 why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, and why a man ought not have one. 1 Corinthians 11:7-10 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.that is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head 2. This is also one of two reasons given in 1 Timothy 2 why a woman is not to teach or exercise authority over a man in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12-13 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
Genesis 2:4-25 5 3. So Genesis 2 does not just teach male headship in marriage. Male headship is broader, and extends in to the church as well. The very nature of manhood includes responsibility to benevolently lead, provide for, and protect women. The very nature of womanhood includes a disposition to affirm, receive, and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men. 1 Genesis 2:24 1. Teaches that the marriage God ordained between the first man and woman was an authoritative pattern for all future marriages a pattern of one man, one woman, one flesh. 2. Means that marriage is for life. Matthew 19:3-6 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause? He answered, Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. 3. Means that husbands and wives are to love their spouse as their own body. Ephesians 5:28-31 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Applying the Word and Ministering the Word 1. Suppose you find yourself living in a lazy way working as little as possible, relaxing as much as possible. What does Genesis 2 say about this? 2. Imagine you are evangelizing a person who believes they will go to heaven because they supposedly have obeyed the 10 Commandments most of the time. They admit to breaking a commandment occasionally. How can you use Genesis 2 to show the person that just one sin excludes them from heaven? 3. Suppose you find yourself having a persistent, unloving attitude toward your spouse. How can Genesis 2 lead to change in your life? 1 These descriptions of manhood and womanhood come from John Piper, A Vision of Biblical Complementarity: Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible, in Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Femininism, ed. John Piper and Wayne Grudem (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1991).