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Author: Walter Mattfeld
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2010-10-24
Total Pages: 191
ISBN-13: 0557705169
DOWNLOAD EBOOKSeveral pre-biblical protagonists appearing in Mesopotamian myths are identified as being fused together and recast as the Garden of Eden's serpent.
Author: Walter Mattfeld
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2010-11-01
Total Pages: 186
ISBN-13: 0557885302
DOWNLOAD EBOOKScholarly proposals are presented for the pre-biblical origin in Mesopotamian myths of the Garden of Eden story. Some Liberal PhD scholars (1854-2010) embracing an Anthropological viewpoint have proposed that the Hebrews have recast earlier motifs appearing in Mesopotamian myths. Eden's garden is understood to be a recast of the gods' city-gardens in the Sumerian Edin, the floodplain of Lower Mesopotamia. It is understood that the Hebrews in the book of Genesis are refuting the Mesopotamian account of why Man was created and his relationship with his Creators (the gods and goddesses). They deny that Man is a sinner and rebel because he was made in the image of gods and goddesses who were themselves sinners and rebels, who made man to be their agricultural slave to grow and harvest their food and feed it to them in temple sacrifices thereby ending the need of the gods to toil for their food in the city-gardens of Edin in ancient Sumer.
Author: Brook Wilensky-Lanford
Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic
Published: 2011-08-02
Total Pages: 263
ISBN-13: 0802195636
DOWNLOAD EBOOKA “certainly weird . . . strangely wonderful . . . [and] often irresistible” search to find the real Garden of Eden (The New York Times Book Review). Where, precisely, was God’s Paradise? St. Augustine had a theory. So did medieval monks, John Calvin and Christopher Columbus. But when Darwin’s theory of evolution changed our understanding of human origins, shouldn’t the desire to put a literal Eden on the map have faded away? Not so fast. This “gloriously researched, pluckily written historical and anecdotal assay of humankind’s age-old quixotic quest for the exact location of the Biblical garden” (Elle) explores an obsession that has consumed scientists and theologians alike for centuries. To this day, the search continues, taken up by amateur explorers, clergymen, scholars, engineers and educators—romantic seekers all who started with the same simple-sounding Bible verses, only to end up at a different spot on the globe: Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, the North Pole, Mesopotamia, China, Iraq—and Ohio. Inspired by an Eden seeker in her own family, “Wilensky-Lanford approaches her subjects with respect, enthusiasm and conscientious research” (San Francisco Chronicle) as she traverses a century-spanning history provoking surprising insights into where we came from, what we did wrong, and where we go from here. And it all makes for “a lively journey” (Kirkus Reviews).
Author: Tryggve N. D. Mettinger
Publisher: Eisenbrauns
Published: 2007
Total Pages: 185
ISBN-13: 1575061414
DOWNLOAD EBOOKIn a book marked by unusually readable yet academic style, Mettinger transforms our knowledge of the story of Eden in Genesis. He shows us a story focused on a divine test of human obedience, with human disobedience and its consequences as its main theme. Both of the special trees in Eden had a function: the tree of knowledge as the test case, and the tree of life as the potential reward for obedience. Mettinger adopts a two-tiered approach. In a synchronic move, he understakes a literary analysis that yields striking observations on narratology, theme, and genre in the text studied. He defines the genre as myth and subjects the narrative to a functional analysis. He then applies a diachronic approach and presents a tradition-historical reconstruction of an Adamic myth in Ezekiel 28. The presence of both wisdom and immortality in this myth leads to a discussion of these divine prerogatives in Mesopotamian literature (remember Adapa and Gilgamesh). The two prerogatives demarcated an ontological boundary between the divine and human spheres. Nevertheless, the Eden Narrative does not evaluate the human desire to obtain knowledge or wisdom negatively. A piece of fresh, original scholarship in accessible form, this book is ideal for courses on creation, primeval history, the Bible and literature, and the Bible and the ancient Near East.
Author: Heiser, Michael S.
Publisher: Lexham Press
Published: 2015-09-01
Total Pages: 615
ISBN-13: 1577995570
DOWNLOAD EBOOKIn The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of Scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You'll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God's Word. Why wasn't Eve surprised when the serpent spoke to her? How did descendants of the Nephilim survive the flood? Why did Jacob fuse Yahweh and his Angel together in his prayer? Who are the assembly of divine beings that God presides over? In what way do those beings participate in God's decisions? Why do Peter and Jude promote belief in imprisoned spirits? Why does Paul describe evil spirits in terms of geographical rulership? Who are the "glorious ones" that even angels dare not rebuke? After reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again. Endorsements "There is a world referred to in the Scripture that is quite unseen, but also quite present and active. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm seeks to unmask this world. Heiser shows how important it is to understand this world and appreciate how its contribution helps to make sense of Scripture. The book is clear and well done, treating many ideas and themes that often go unseen themselves. With this book, such themes will no longer be neglected, so read it and discover a new realm for reflection about what Scripture teaches." --Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement "'How was it possible that I had never seen that before?' Dr. Heiser's survey of the complex reality of the supernatural world as the Scriptures portray it covers a subject that is strangely sidestepped. No one is going to agree with everything in his book, but the subject deserves careful study, and so does this book." --John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary "This is a 'big' book in the best sense of the term. It is big in its scope and in its depth of analysis. Michael Heiser is a scholar who knows Scripture intimately in its ancient cultural context. All--scholars, clergy, and laypeople--who read this profound and accessible book will grow in their understanding of both the Old and New Testaments, particularly as their eyes are opened to the Bible's 'unseen world.'" --Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
Author: Brevard Childs
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Published: 2009-10-01
Total Pages: 113
ISBN-13: 1608990354
DOWNLOAD EBOOKExplore biblical theology with monographs from a diversity of experts. The Studies in Biblical Theology series includes a wealth of resources to help you understand the development of various doctrines, concepts, and terminology across the Old and New Testaments. Investigate the characteristics of worship in the early church with studies on its liturgy and sacraments. Fine-tune your understanding of Jesus' ministry by exploring his wilderness experience and the nature of his mission. Delve into detailed word studies, investigate Christological titles used by Paul, and come to a new appreciation of the Ten Commandments. These in-depth treatments will give you a better grip on key theological themes found throughout the Bible.
Author: Thomas William Doane
Publisher: Pantianos Classics
Published: 1882
Total Pages: 630
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThomas Doane's thorough examination of Old and New Testament Biblical myths and legends, drawing parallels to stories belonging to older traditions, such as those of ancient Egypt. The central purpose of the text is to unite, in a single compendium, analysis of all the Bible myths which bear resemblance to earlier tales. Doane's system is practical; the myths are recounted, examined and compared against their apparent forebears in chronological order. The purpose is to demonstrate that religions share much in common with one another; while their themes and the names of figures change, the character of the tales and legends remains similar or even identical across centuries of lore. At the outset, Doane acknowledges that very little of this book is entirely original; what is special and unique to this work is its arrangement, and the systematic, readable manner in which the subject is tackled. Each chapter is amply annotated, that the reader may consult both the Bible and surviving texts of other religious works, plus previous scholarly researches into ancient mythologies. Perhaps most controversially, Doane focuses upon the tale of Christ. His birthplace, the events in which he was involved, the subject and message of his sermons, and his untimely death upon the crucifix are shown to mirror aspects of previous stories concerned prophets or holy men of other religious traditions.
Author: John Day
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2021-11-18
Total Pages: 286
ISBN-13: 0567703118
DOWNLOAD EBOOKJohn Day investigates disputed points of interpretation within Genesis 1-11, expanding on his earlier book From Creation to Babel with 11 stimulating essays. Day considers the texts within their Near Eastern contexts, and pays particular attention to the later history of interpretation and reception history. Topics covered include the meaning of the Bible's first verse and what immediately follows, as well as what it means that humanity is made in the image of God. Further chapters examine the Garden of Eden, the background and role of the serpent and the ambiguous role of Wisdom; the many problems of interpretation in the Cain and Abel story, as well as what gave rise to this story; how the Covenant with Noah and the Noachic commandments, though originally separate, became conflated in some later Jewish thought; and the location of 'Ur of the Chaldaeans', Abraham's alleged place of origin, and how this was later misinterpreted by Jewish, Christian and Islamic sources as referring to a 'fiery furnace of the Chaldaeans'. These chapters, which illuminate the meaning, background and subsequent interpretation of the Book of Genesis, pave the way for Day's forthcoming ICC commentary on Genesis 1-11.
Author: Eve Wood-Langford
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2009-09-08
Total Pages: 298
ISBN-13: 1452058059
DOWNLOAD EBOOKCan the concept of original sin truly be founded on the beautiful Genesis creation story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Only if the story is misinterpreted in terms of literal truth which entails belief in an articulate serpent. But when the story is interpreted as myth-history - not literal history - this important myth records a unique, fundamental and uplifting event in the human story. The garden paradise pre-dates the written Old Testament, having circulated in Abraham's country of Mesopotamia in the second millennium BC incorporated in some of the world's oldest literature: the epic poem of Gilgamesh. Behind the naked figures of Adam and Eve stands an earlier naked couple whose 'history' should certainly be preserved in Genesis. However, interpretation of this 'history' in literal terms and from the standpoint of monotheism turns that ancient 'history' on its head. During its long life the story of the first man to enter the garden paradise has been interpreted differently from at least four differing standpoints: Mesopotamian polytheism, the revolution of patriarchal monotheism, Christian monotheism, and the standpoint of science. At its origins, however, this priceless 'history' had nothing to do with the origin of sin. On the contrary, that interpretation throws the baby out with the bathwater. Look at the story in terms of myth, and in sympathy with its integral guiding images of serpent and tree and the garden reveals its long-buried treasure of truth.
Author: Arthur George
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Published: 2014-05-23
Total Pages: 459
ISBN-13: 0761862897
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is a cornerstone of Western civilization, yet there are still many mysteries concerning its origins and meaning. In The Mythology of Eden, Arthur and Elena George utilize new historical and archaeological discoveries to reveal how the story’s author uses veiled symbolism and mythological storytelling to convey his message about the most profound questions of human existence regarding the divine, life, death, and immortality. This innovative book offers an interdisciplinary interpretation of the Eden story that delves into incorrect assumptions and brings to light details that have previously gone unnoticed. The Mythology of Eden provides a new understanding of the story of Adam and Eve and illuminates the story’s role and meaning in our modern world.
