"The language of Genesis is mythical, in the sense that it truthfully describes things that are beyond human knowledge. Understood in this way, a 'myth' is not a lie, but an ancient and deeper way of knowing. Even with all the discoveries of modern science, we have not surpassed the truths about man found in Genesis. What a marvelous book!
"Genesis 2 takes the form of a dialogue between man and his creator. God says, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.' [None of the animals is found suitable.] So, 'The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed the place up with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man' (Gen. 2:21-22).
…
"He wakes up 'male' and 'female.' In Genesis 2:23, 'She shall be called 'woman' for she was taken out of man,' we find the distinction between male and female for the first time. Femininity is found in relation to masculinity, and masculinity is confirmed by femininity. They depend on each other.
"Eve is made from the 'rib' that God took from Adam's side. This signifies that the male and female bodies … are of the same species. … [T]he ancient Sumerians used the same written sign for 'rib' as they used for 'life.' Adam and Eve share a common source of life — God's breath.
"The male and female bodies, though different, share the same humanity. When God brings the woman to Adam, he cries out, 'Tis is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh' (Gen. 2:23). He immediately recognizes her body as a human body, even though she is of a different sex.
" … Since the Jews made no distinction between body and soul, the 'bones' referred to the very core of one's being.
"Adam immediately accepts Eve as a suitable companion. For the first time, the man shows joy. He was happy before, but he had no cause for exaltation. Now, in his marriage song, Adam sings, 'She isbeing of my being! A person like me!'"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment