Reading the Bible-Day One

Actually today is the 16th. It would be easy to confess that I actually did the reading last night and just didn't post until today. I did read the Bible last night but it was the devotion from Portals of Prayer. I kind of forgot that it was Tuesday the 15th, the day I was going to begin this project. Hopefully this isn't an omen of how this is going to go. Probably is, but one can hope nonetheless. I plan to read the second day's tonight. I may not post until tomorrow again. Tonight is midweek classes and choir at church. What I manage to do will depend upon what time we get home, how quickly I get the Peanuts to bed, and whether Blue Bloods is a rerun tonight and if so, do I watch it. LOL

My Bible is the ESV translation. That is the version I have linked to here. If you prefer a different translation, that's fine. This is my preferred for links since it's what I'm reading. However, I think the Kretzmann commentary may be using the KJV, but I'm not sure.

Unless otherwise noted, most of the commentary and other words not mine are from The Lutheran Study Bible (TLSB) from CPH. The following quotes in italics are from AE...that's a reference to Luther's Works American Edition. If you want more info, you should be able to find it at CPH.

Luther on Genesis: In his first book [Genesis] Moses teaches how all creatures were created, and (as the chief cause for his writing) whence sin and death came, namely by Adam's fall, through the devil's wickedness. But immediately thereafter, before the coming of the law of Moses, he teaches whence help is to come for the driving out of sin and death, namely, but by the law or men's own works (since there was no law as yet), but by "the seed of the woman," Christ, promised to Adam and Abraham, in order that throughout the Scriptures from the beginning faith may be praised above all works and laws and merits. Genesis, therefore, is made up almost entirely of illustrations of faith and unbelief, and of the fruits that faith and unbelief bear. It is an exceedingly evangelical book. {AE 35:237)

We assert that Moses spoke in the literal sense, not allegorically or figuratively [about the creation], i.e., that the world, with all its creatures, was created within six days, as the words read. If we do not comprehend the reason for this, let us remain pupils and leave the job of teacher to the Holy Spirit. (AE 1:5)

The line of descent was traced from Adam, through many patriarchs, down to Noah, and from there down to Abraham. During this time the church suffered great damage, for ungodliness had increased to such an extent that even the descendants of the saints were carried away into error. Therefore it was necessary for Moses to point out how in this great peril God accomplished the rebirth of the church, lest it collapse entirely and true religion be utterly blotted out.

This account deserves our attention as an extraordinary example of mercy. It should encourage and persuade us that God will preserve the church also in our own time, when everything is threatening religion with destruction. Despite the great importance of their content the preceding accounts are very brief (chs 1-11). In these which follow, however, the Holy Spirit will speak at greater length and will discuss everything in greater detail. Accordingly, up to this point the church looks like a brook that is flowing along peacefully; but now it receives accessions and rushes along with the roar of a real river until, through the marvelous blessing of God, the holy nation expands into a vast ocean and fills the world with its name. (AE 2:245)

Genesis 1-3

God's first act, the creation, is an act of grace. He shows His character by making the world "very good". Over the centuries people have asked why evil exists and how a loving God could allow bad things to happen. But evil isn't the part that's hard to understand. The real question is how can goodness, beauty, and love exist in our world. A world without God cannot explain these things. "The persistance of goodness reminds us of what we have lost, but it also offers us a glimpse of God's grace and the everlasting glory to which God has called us through Christ." (TLSB)

Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

The above link to the commentary is something you need to use. Since we're reading such large chunks of scripture at a time I would have incredibly long posts if I just copied and pasted. So unless there are things I want to quote because they're just too good not to, I will just remind you of the link. The left sidebar is where you find the books and chapters you want to look up. I highly recommend this site.

When God created Adam and Eve, he did so very intentionally. Like every other aspect of His creation. But instead of creating them like the rest of the animals, He took the time to design them especially. He didn't just speak Adam into existence, He actually formed Adam like a potter forms a vessel of clay. And He removed a rib to build Eve. That's the word used in Genesis for creating Eve...He built her. "God did not make Eve out of nothing or form her directly out of the dust of the ground. By making her from something taken from Adam, God both establishes their relationship within the order of creation and ensures that she will be a helper appropriate to Adam." (TLSB)

As for the Fall, oh my! That could take us days. Satan tried to misquote God to trick Eve. Eve let herself be led into an argument with Satan. Then she exaggerated God actual words and it all went you-know-where in a hand basket after that. But out of that came the promise of the Seed.

Luther: Here Adam and eve are dressed in garments by the Lord God Himself. Whenever they looked at their garments, these were to serve as a reminder to them to give thought to their wretched fall from supreme happiness into the utmost misfortune and trouble. Thus they were to be constantly afraid of sinning, to repent continually, and to sigh for the forgiveness of sins through the promised Seed. This is also why He clothed them, not in foliage or in cotton but in the skins of slain animals, for the sign that they are mortal and that they are living in certain death". (AE 1:221)

These first 3 chapters of Genesis are so hard to unpack...there's so much there. This post is not what I'd hoped. I feel as if I'm just jumping around with my head cut off. I'm really not. There's just so much there and so much in the study notes and in Kretzmann's commentary, etc. These are just some of the highlights.

If anyone wants to read along and/or discuss, you're more than welcome to. Please feel free to post links or quote things in your comments. Please do read the commentaries from Kretzmann and any other links I post. Not required, of course, highly recommended...especially if you're not certain where I'm getting something I say here. If you're from something other than the Lutheran tradition, please feel free to post. I want to discuss this stuff. Not just read and post. I'm fine doing that, but I'd like some conversation too.