Stan Campbell - The Bible in One Hour & Pocket Bible Trivia

I ts always good to start at the beginning, yet at the beginning of the Bible we find God already present (Genesis 1:1). The theological belief that God is eternal means not only that he will exist forever into the future but also that he has always existed into the eternity of the past.

Youll notice that its completely dark as we begin our journey through the Bible. Were also in a place that is formless and empty. But all it takes is a word from God and immediately there is light. Another word, and the sky and earth separate. A few more words, and the new world is teeming with plants, animals, and the first human beings (see Creation, God declares his work good. After humankind is established, however, God evaluates all he has done and deems it very good (Genesis 1:31).

Adam, the first created human, is assigned the task of naming all the animals. In doing so, he notices that for him there is no suitable helper (Genesis 2:20), so God places him in a deep sleep and uses one of his ribs to create Eve. God places them in the Garden of Eden, naked but without shame.

Eden is a paradise. But in time, Adam and Eve do the one thing God has instructed them not to do. After being tempted by a serpent, they succumb and eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, they recognize their nakedness and hide from God.

This original sin initiates a separation from God that has made it more difficult for humans to interact with him throughout the centuries. It results, too, in a curse on the serpent, on Adam (thorns, thistles, and sweat as impediments to future work) and Eve (pain in childbirth and subjection to her husband). But it also results in the Bibles first messianic prophecy: A time will come when a descendant of Adam and Eve (Jesus) will crush the head of the serpent (Satan), even though the serpent will strike his heel (Genesis 3:1419).

After Adam and Eve are evicted from Eden (to prevent their eating from the tree of life and living forever in a state of separation from God), it doesnt take long for sin to spread. When God rejects an offering from their older son, Cain, and accepts one from their younger son, Abel, Cain responds in a fit of jealousy. He lures Abel into a field and commits the first premeditated murder. When questioned by God, he tries to plead ignoranceto no avail.

Soon afterward we come to Lamech, who was the first known polygamist, and boastful as well. But we also read of the first rancher (Jabal), musician (Jubal), and metalworker (Tubal-Cain). And this is where we find the Bibles oldest character: Methuselah, who lives to be 969 years old. With such age spans, its no surprise that people are fruitful and multiply, and the population grows.

But so does sin. People live and die and generally ignore God. Yet a couple of people stand out as positive examples. One is Enoch, the father of Methuselah. We are told, Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24). This cryptic statement is better explained in Hebrews 11:5, which tells us that because Enoch pleased God, God didnt require that Enoch face physical death.