Iain Strachan wrote:
> Kenneth wrote:
>
> > Why are the first 11 chapters of Genesis included in Holy Writ? In
> > particular what should we understand about the scriptures recorded in
> > Genesis 1, 2 and 3? Do the creation stories, and the fall story teach us
> > anything at all?
>
> Call me old-fashioned and naive but I truly thought the point of the Fall
> story was to tell us about our fallen state, arising from disobedience to
> God. Without the Fall, what is the point of the Crucifixion? On the Cross,
> Jesus says "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?", something we've all
> been saying since the disobedience of Adam, and A&E were thrown out of Eden.
>
> I have always been stunned and amazed by the vast scope of Romans 5:18:
>
> Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to
> condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon
> all men unto justification of life.
>
> I am sure the above applies whether you take it as literal history or as
> some sort of metaphorical parable. It seems to me it's at the core of the
> Gospel. Without the Fall, the Gospel is meaningless (or at least Rom 5:18
> is meaningless).
>
> ... or maybe I'm just a dinosaur in this respect ? ;-)
The basic human problem is sin. Questions about how & why humanity is
sinful are secondary - which doesn't mean unimportant or unnecessary. Romans
1-4 set out the fundamental problem and its solution before any reflection on
the relationship between Christ and Adam in Chapter 5.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
"The Science-Theology Dialogue"
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