Chronological Life Application Study Bible Sampler - Book - Page 10
BEGINNINGS
undated–2100 BC
GOD’S CHOSEN FAMILY
2100–1800 BC
BIRTH OF ISRAEL
1800–1406 BC
GENESIS 1:1–2:4a (cont.)
Then God said, “Let us make human beings*
in our image, to be like us. They will reign over
the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the
livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,
and the small animals that scurry along the
ground.”
26
27
So God created human beings* in his own
image.
POSSESSING THE LAND
1406–1050 BC
UNITED MONARCHY
1050–930 BC
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28Then God blessed them and said, “Be
fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern
it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in
the sky, and all the animals that scurry along
the ground.”
29Then God said, “Look! I have given you every
seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all
We can hardly imagine what it must have been like to be the
first and only person on earth. Adam had to learn to be human on his own. Fortunately, God didn’t let him struggle too long before presenting him with an ideal companion and mate, Eve. Theirs was a complete, innocent, and open oneness, without a
hint of shame. • One of Adam’s first conversations with his delightful new companion
must have been about the rules of the garden. They had complete freedom in the
garden, with the responsibility to tend and care for it. But one tree was off-limits, the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam would have told Eve all about this. She
knew that the tree’s fruit was not to be eaten. However, she decided to eat the forbidden fruit. Then she offered some to Adam, and he didn’t pause to consider the consequences. He went ahead and ate. • In that moment of rebellion something large,
beautiful, and free was shattered . . . God’s perfect creation. Adam was separated
from God by his desire to act on his own. The effect on a plate-glass window is the
same whether a pebble or a boulder is hurled at it—the thousands of fragments can
never be regathered. • In the case of Adam’s sin, however, God already had a plan in
motion to overcome the effects of the rebellion. The entire Bible is the story of how
that plan unfolds, ultimately leading to God’s own visit to earth through his Son, Jesus
Christ. Jesus’ sinless life and death made it possible for God to offer forgiveness to
all. Our own acts of rebellion—both large and small—prove that we are descendants
of Adam. Only by asking forgiveness of Jesus Christ can we become children of God.
• First zoologist—named the animals
Strengths and
accomplishments • First landscape architect, placed in the garden to care for it
• Father of the human race
• First person made in the image of God, and the first human
to share an intimate personal relationship with God
• Avoided responsibility and blamed others; chose to hide
Weaknesses
and mistakes
rather than to confront; made excuses rather than admitting
the truth
• Greatest mistake: together with Eve, brought sin into the
world
• As Adam’s descendants, we all reflect the image of God
Lessons from
• God wants people who, though free to do wrong, choose
his life
instead to love him
• We should not blame others for our faults
• We cannot hide from God
• Where: Garden of Eden
Vital statistics
• Occupation: Caretaker, gardener, farmer
• Relatives: Wife: Eve. Sons: Cain, Abel, Seth. Numerous other
children. The only man who never had an earthly mother
or father.
Key verses
“It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and
I ate it” (Gen 3:12). “Just as everyone dies because we all
belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given
new life” (1 Cor 15:22).
Adam’s story is told in Genesis 1:26–5:5. He is also mentioned in Luke 3:38;
Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13-14.
EXILE
586–538 BC
RETURN & DIASPORA
538–6 BC
the fruit trees for your food. 30And I have given
every green plant as food for all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, and the small animals that
scurry along the ground—everything that has
life.” And that is what happened.
31Then God looked over all he had made, and
he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came,
marking the sixth day.
JESUS CHRIST
6 BC–AD 30
THE CHURCH
AD 30–present
2:1So the creation of the heavens and the earth
and everything in them was completed. 2On
the seventh day God had finished his work of
creation, so he rested* from all his work. 3And
God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when he rested from all
his work of creation.
This is the account of the creation of the heavens
and the earth.
4
Gn 2:2 Or ceased; also in 2:3.
Gn 1:26 Or man; Hebrew reads adam. Gn 1:27 Or the man; Hebrew reads ha-adam.
ADAM
SPLINTERED NATION
930–586 BC
Gen 1:26 Why does God use the plural
form, “Let us make human beings in our
image”? One view says this is a reference
to the Trinity—God the Father, Jesus Christ
his Son, and the Holy Spirit—all of whom
are God. Another view is that the plural
wording is used to denote majesty; kings
traditionally used the plural form in speaking
of themselves. The grammar doesn’t decide
the matter for us, but in either case it is God
who created humans in his image, and God
has revealed himself to us as a Trinity clearly
through the whole of the Scriptures.
Gen 1:26 In what ways are we made in
God’s image? God obviously did not create
us exactly like himself because God has no
physical body. Instead, we are a reflection of
God’s glory. Some feel that the image of God
can be found in one or more of the uniquely
human capacities for reason, creativity,
speech, or self-determination. More likely, the
image of God is something that describes our
entire being as humans, not just one aspect.
God made humans to be in a special relationship with him and to reign over creation
as his ambassadors and administrators on
earth. We ought to reflect his character in our
love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and
faithfulness.
Knowing that we are made in God’s image
provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human
worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public
acclaim. Instead, it is based on being made in
God’s image. Because we bear God’s image,
we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is criticizing
what God has made and the abilities he has
given us. Knowing that you are a person of
worth helps you love God, know him personally, and make a valuable contribution to
those around you.
Gen 1:27 God made both man and woman
in his image. Neither one is made more in the
image of God than the other. From the beginning the Bible places both man and woman at
the pinnacle of God’s creation. Neither gender
is exalted over the other nor depreciated.
Gen 1:28 To “reign over” something is to have
absolute authority and control over it. God has
ultimate rule over the earth, and he exercises
his authority with loving care. When God
delegated some of his authority to the human
race, he expected us to take responsibility for
the environment and the other creatures that
share our planet. We must not be careless
B. The Beginning of Humanity
Learning about our ancestors often helps us understand ourselves. The stories of Adam and Eve in
the Garden, followed by the tragic story of their two sons Cain and Abel, explain the sin and suffering
in our world and help us to live our lives in reliance on God and his promises.
1. ADAM AND EVE
Adam and Eve, our first ancestors, were the climax of God’s creation—the very reason God made
the world. But they didn’t always live the way God intended. Through their mistakes, we can learn
important lessons about the way God wants us to live. Adam and Eve teach us much about the nature
of sin and its consequences.
The Man and Woman in the Garden
the soil. 6Instead, springs* came up from the ground
and watered all the land. 7Then the Lord God formed
When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed
5neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the
the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man
earth. For the Lord God had not yet sent rain to wa- became a living person.
8Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in
ter the earth, and there were no people to cultivate
GENESIS 2:4b-25
Gn 2:6 Or mist.
DAYS OF CREATION
First Day
Second Day
Third Day
Fourth Day
Fifth Day
Sixth Day
Seventh Day
Light (so there was light and darkness)
Sky and water (waters separated)
Land and seas (waters gathered); vegetation
Sun, moon, and stars (to govern the day and the night and to mark
seasons, days, and years)
Fish and birds (to fill the waters and the sky)
Animals (to fill the earth)
Man and woman (to care for the earth and to commune with God)
God rested and declared all he had made to be very good
and wasteful as we fulfill this charge. God was
careful how he made this earth. We must not
be careless about how we take care of it.
Gen 1:31 God saw that all he had created
was excellent in every way. You are part of
God’s creation, and he is pleased with how
he made you. If at times you feel worthless,
remember that God made you for a good
reason. You are valuable to him.
Gen 2:2-3 We live in an action-oriented
world! There always seems to be something
to do and no time to rest. Yet God demonstrated that rest is appropriate and right. If
God himself rested from his work, we should
not be surprised that we also need rest.
Jesus demonstrated this principle when he
and his disciples left in a boat to get away
from the crowds (see Mark 6:31-32). Our
times of rest refresh us for times of service.
Gen 2:3 That God blessed the seventh day
means that he set it apart for holy use. The
Ten Commandments emphasize this distinction by commanding the observance of the
Sabbath (Exod 20:8-11).
Gen 2:7 “From the dust of the ground”
implies that there is nothing fancy about the
chemical elements making up our bodies.
The body is a lifeless shell until God brings
it to life with his “breath of life.” When God
removes his life-giving breath, our bodies
once again return to dust. Our life and worth,
therefore, come from God’s Spirit. Many
boast of their achievements and abilities as
though they were the originators of their own
strengths. Others feel worthless because
their abilities do not stand out. In reality, our
worth comes not from our achievements but
from the God of the universe, who chooses to
give us the mysterious and miraculous gift of
life. Value life, as he does.
Gen 2:9, 16-17 Were the tree of life and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
real trees? Two views are often expressed:
(1) The trees were real, but symbolic. Eternal
life with God was pictured as eating from
the tree of life. ( 2) The trees were real, possessing special properties. By eating the fruit
from the tree of life, Adam and Eve could
have had eternal life, enjoying a permanent
relationship as God’s children.
In either case, Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from the tree of life and thus kept
them from obtaining eternal life. Interestingly,
the tree of life again appears in a description
in Revelation 22 of people enjoying eternal
life with God.
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