Noah and The Flood. Basic Thoughts on Gen 6:1-8

I begin my blogging resurgence with Noah and the flood.  (I may actually do and post two various studies at once to break it it up)

What follows are my loose initial thoughts on Gen 6:1-8

(note I was still tweaking my slightly revamped study process when beginning this study-see HERE for the revamp)

Summary of Gen 6:1-8

Instead of learning the genealogy which is usually the first piece of information we get in the Bible, we instead learn that God was angry with mankind's behavior and sinfulness and that he had decided to blot out all living creatures.
Man's every thought and intention was evil. 

BUT!  Noah found favor in God's eyes!  And that is significant.  Gen 6:1-8

My initial questions:



Gen 6:2
Who are the sons of God?

Gen 6:3
Is the 120 years how much time God was planning before the flood?

And what is the significance of "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever..."?

Gen 6:4
What are Nephilim?

Gen 6:6
Regretted?  Such a strong word!  Is it related to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah?

Gen 6:7
Why did the animals and creatures now get judged as well?  Is this significant?

Gen 6:8 
Noah found favor.  The KJV says found grace!   What DOES this mean?


I believe it is very significant that the last sentence in this section highlighted the fact that Noah had found favor with God.
After all of the negative we are given a positive!  There might be hope for mankind?

Below are some historical, literary and archaeological considerations:

Genesis Overview

Moses is generally thought to be the author but that is up for debate within scholarly circles.

Thompson Chain Introduction points out (as does the New Bible Dictionary) that the purpose of Genesis is to introduce the genealogy of man and his relationship to God.  Especially God's chosen family as begun with Adam and Eve.

Written to the people of Israel.

The ESV Literary Study Bible:

Stresses that Genesis gives us the first principles of biblical faith! 
Genesis makes MUCH use of the "hero story" narrative.  (in our case Noah)

Hero Story:
A story built around the character and exploits of a protagonist who is (a) representative of a whole community and (b) largely or wholly exemplary/idealized. The Bible is in many ways a collection of hero stories, and one of the distinctive features of these stories is that only a few of its heroes are completely idealized, in keeping with the essential realism of the Bible. (from the ESV Literary Study Bible)

Is Noah completely realized?  HMM??  Good question!

More thoughts on a hero:

five crucial principles regarding a literary hero:(1) real life provides the materials for a hero, but the image of the hero is always a selection and distillation drawn from a larger body of information about a person; (2) cultures celebrate heroes as a way of codifying their ideals, values, and virtues; (3) literary heroes are representative of the culture producing them and of people universally; (4) to rank as a hero, a person must be generally admirable—an ideal character to whom we look up; (5) this does not mean, however, that heroes are wholly idealized, and in the Bible they rarely are wholly idealized. (ESV Literary Study Bible)

Also points out that God is the only character present throughout Genesis.   All the human stories and characters interact with God!  Or better said, He chooses to interact with them,.  God IS the protagonist.  Important with Noah!  As Noah rarely speaks!

Genesis also has epic qualities as well.  Noah and the flood can definitely be considered epic!

Also points out unifying motifs:

• God and His dealings with people
• Sinfulness of human race
• God's unfolding plan to redeem us!
• Hero story
• Beginnings of God's covenant with His chosen people.

Theological Themes:

• God and His creation and ownership of physical nature
• God's nature!  (His love, laws, how He interacts)
• Our nature!  Basically we sin but some of us are good and have faith but we all sin!
• FAITH!  The characters and their faith and obedience to God
• Providence:  God IS directing it all!

The ESV Bible Atlas:

shows Mount Ararat to be not that far from the supposed place of the Garden of Eden.  Although in that day it would have been incredibly far!  So the ark did some traveling.

Zondervan OT Commentary of the KJV:

Points out that many of the everyday matters discussed in Genesis (including a great flood) were of vital concern to the peoples of Mesopotamia and that everyday matters in Genesis reflect findings from other sources.

The 11th tablet of Gilgamesh (an ancient archaeological find) are similar to the outline of the great flood in Genesis.

Also repeats our earlier notes that Genesis is a book of relationships:  God and nature, God and man, man and man.

Eerdman's Bible Dictionary:

Points out that Noah was the last patriarch of the former age.  And humanity began anew sort of with the "descendants of Noah".

Repeats that other ancient Mesopotamia articles discuss a flood. 

Some geography:

The word Mesopotamia means "between the two rivers."  The very fertile land E of the river Orontes and lands watered by the rivers Habur and Tigris.  (Modern Eastern Syria and Northern Iraq.

Egypt and Mesopotamia were the great civilizations of those times according to the ESV Bible Atlas.

The ark may not have been as glamorous as the movies make it out to be!


I will continue with Cross-References to Gen 6:1-8 in my next post.

I also promise to tighten up the format as I get used to my new study tweaks.

After almost two years I am back!!!

Blogging is an interesting thing!  Sometimes motivation to actually blog can wane significantly.  Work, life and stuff can all take precedence!

But I am still trying to study God's Word the best I can and still trying to learn and apply it the best I can to grow closer in my relationship with God.  And trying to be the best servant I can.

And seeing that the blog still gets some visits I will resume posting my studies. 

I must state that I hold no pretense about my studies.  I am an amateur!  I am just sharing them to share them.  Mostly with the hopes that it will inspire someone to start Bible study for themselves.

There are some tweaks to take note of:

I have changed my choice of Bible study software to Olive Tree.

I get no kickbacks from them whatsoever!  I just have found the work flow to be incredible.  The cross-platform management and syncing is VERY well done.  Wordsearch has some serious problems with their mobile apps. 

It really doesn't matter what software.  People will fight for "their brand".  Just try a few demos and use the one that allows you concentrate on the actual study part of the studying.

Also a slight rearrangement of how I am approaching the studies.  Not much different, just a little.  See below:

PART I-READING, LABELING AND ASKING:

-Read the entire section in ESV, NASB, HCSB, REB, NIV and KJV translations

PART II-OBSERVATION

·        Write down brief cursory summaries and initial thoughts.

·        Think on each paragraph and write down any questions I would need or like to have answered for that paragraph or the section as a whole.

Find and draw out the following considerations:

-Important People

-Important places

-Historical context

-Textual context

-Things emphasized

-Things repeated

-Things related

-Things alike-Comparison (word pictures, metaphors and similes-like, as etc.)

-Things unalike-Contrast (certain metaphors, but, irony etc.

-Things that are true to life

-Cause and effect

Gather any and all relevant Scriptural cross references using Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and various Translation Cross-references

·        Then write down any thoughts, questions or conclusions from those Cross-references.

Draw out the following factual considerations using introductions and articles from Literary Study Bible, New Bible Dictionary, Erdman’s Bible Dictionary, ZOTC, and Thompson Introductions

-Author and intended audience

-Important People

-Important places

-Historical context

-Textual context

-Literary considerations

-Any other grammatical considerations(verb tense etc.)

PART III-GATHERING:

Topics:

·        Gather cross-references for topics Using Thompson’s Chain Bible System, and Nave’s

Terms:

·        Find relevant cross-references for important terms

·        Find, gather and write down definitions (literal and expository) on  important terms using:

o   Strong’s and NASB dictionary

o   Mounce’s Expository Dictionary

o   Hendricksons’ Expository Dictionary

o   New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words

·        Write down conclusions

Find, gather and write down any information on the above mentioned factual considerations using:

-ESV Atlas

-New Bible Dictionary

-Erdman’s Bible Dictionary

-Any literary thoughts from the ESV Literary Study Bible

PART IV-ANSWERING AND SUMMARIZING:

Revisit the following considerations:

-Things emphasized

-Things repeated

-Things related

-Things alike-Comparison (word pictures, metaphors and similes-like, as etc.)

-Things unalike-Contrast (certain metaphors, but, irony etc.

-Things that are true to life

-Cause and effect

PART V-BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES:

Answer the following questions to discern the main Biblical Principles stated in this paragraph.

-Given the original context, what does the text mean?

-What fundamental Universal truths are presented in this passage?

-State that truth in a simple sentence or two.

-What issues in our own culture and my own situation does this truth address?

-What are the implications when applied to my life and the world around me?  What changes does it require?  What values does it reinforce?  What difference does it make?

PART VI-APPLICATION and QUESTION ANSWERING:

-Using all the above data and good old fashioned prayer, answer my original questions the best that I am able!

Answer the following questions regarding the paragraph:

-Is there an example to follow?

-Is there a sin to avoid?

-Is there a promise to Claim?

-Is there a prayer to repeat?

-Is there a command to obey?

-Is there a condition to meet?

-Is there a verse to memorize?

-Is there an error to mark?

-Is there a challenge to face?

Summarize the answers and form into how YOU are being directed to apply this Scripture to your life!

PARTVII-COMPLETION:

-Reread the entire segment again in a few translations.  Are there any new questions??  Any new revelations or insights?  Record them and meditate on them.

-Consult the Zondervan Old and New Testament Commentary, Literary Study Bible, ESV Study Bible, Life Application Study Bible and Matthew Henry Commentary to compare what I have found.  Make notes!

-Write a BRIEF summary on the entire section in a form that could be considered a lesson

Cross-referencing is still the main thing!  Study helps are great and checking words out (also includes cross-referencing) is VERY helpful!

I am currently studying  John 1:1-8     and the story of Noah and the flood ( Chapters 6, 7 and 9 in Genesis )

I will start posting those soon! 

Topical Study, Resisting Temptation: Resisting Temptation

Now that we have looked at the Common Causes of Temptation AND how we might go about Avoiding Temptation we are going to take a closer look at exactly why and how we should  resist temptations.


The initial overview of this topical study can be found HERE.

Part I of the Common Sources of Temptation  can be found HERE. 

Part II of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part III of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part IV of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE.  

Part V of the Common Sources of Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part I of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE. 

Part II of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE.  
 

Part III of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE.

Parts IV and V of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE.

Parts VI, VII and VIII of Avoiding Temptation can be found HERE.

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

Why We Must Resist Temptation

Mat 4:1-11

• Initial Observations  --  We are going to look closer at this section of Scripture at our conclusion of this topical study but it is important to take note a couple of things:  

1.  Jesus (who IS God incarnate) still relied on the Word of the Father to fight the battle for Him.  Jesus quoted Scripture as His defense against temptation!! 
2. Jesus really knows the Scriptures!  We can't fully utilize what we don't know!  (see all of Ps 119  )
3. Jesus tells Satan to leave!  James 4:7  tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us!  But we need to resist him with the Word of God and the armor of God.  ( Eph 6:10-18 )

Heb 12:3-4  

• Initial Observations  --  There is no way around it!  When we can't avoid it (for whatever reasons) we MUST resist sin.  And lest we grow weary with the struggle we should remember just HOW MUCH Jesus endured so that we could have the opportunity to resist sin and to be forgiven those sins we have and do commit!  As tough as my struggle against sin has been, it is nothing compared to what Jesus went through for me!  (FOR ALL OF US!)  But think about that for a minute:  Jesus endured extreme torture, pain, humiliation and ultimately death so we could be forgiven!  And then He rose again on the third day so that we could have the chance to be presented to the Father as clean!  If Jesus went through all of that just for me (US!) then how can I not continue the struggle against my worse temptations??  I have to continue the struggle because if I stand firm and continue to fight the good fight, then the victory has been assured!  Not through me or my efforts but through Jesus! 
• Cross-references  --  Mt 10:24  Gal 6:9  Rev 2:3  Heb 12:2  1Sa 12:24  !!  2Ti 2:7  2Ti 2:8  Pr 24:10  1Co 15:58  2Th 3:13  Php 2:8  1Co 10:13  !!  2Ti 4:6-7 

Eph 6:10-18

• Initial Observations  --  It is important to notice that Paul is telling us exactly what to "put on" so that we may stand firm against the devil!   And take special note of the first thing Paul tells us to do:  "....be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."  We are NEVER to resist the devil (or temptation) on our own!   We are always to call on God to enter the fight for us!  Whether through prayer, His Word, or both!  And faith!  Which leads us to:

James 4:7-8 

• Initial Observation  --  Yet another section of Scripture that will be given a closer examination:  James tells us point blank to submit to God!  James tells us point blank to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  And most importantly we are to draw close to God!  Mt 4:1-11 Eph 6:10-18 and James 4:7-8 are a complete course in how to resist the devil and fight temptation!
• Another thing to notice is that we are never told to FIGHT the devil.  We are told to resist and call on God to do the fighting!
• The Wycliffe Bible Commentary:  Puts in nicely by stating:  "Christian determination triggers divine counter force."

1Pe 5:8-9

• Initial Observations  --  Having seen this verse earlier in our study, we know that Peter is warning us that the devil (and temptation) are always just around the corner.  We cannot get lazy or complacent!!  And then Peter gives us the simple words:  "But resist him, firm in your faith..."  So simple!  And also a command!  When avoidance is not possible (and sometimes it ain't!)  We MUST resist!
• Cross-references  --  Eph 6:13-14  James 4:7  Lk 4:3-12  Eph 4:27 

 Thoughts And Application

• The commands found in the Bible are clear!  We must resist temptation.  We won't always be able to avoid it.  So when push comes to shove we must resist!  BUT when we resist, we need to rely on God's strength and His Word, not our own strength!  We will explore this subject in our next post.

Bibliography

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• Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Fleming, Don. Concise Bible Commentary. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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