God’s Intent in Genesis 1 (Genesis 1)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

What is Genesis 1 all about?

This is a question that has brought sharp division among certain Christian groups.

Biblical scholar John Walton writes, “It is regrettable that an account of such beauty has become such a bloodied battleground, but that is indeed the case.”^[1] While scholars have differing views, in The Reason for God, Keller writes, “I think Genesis 1 has the earmarks of poetry and is therefore a ‘song’ about the wonder and meaning of God’s creation. Genesis 2 is an account of how it happened.”[2]

If this is the case, how should we view this passage? I think Sandra Richter offers a helpful perspective when she writes,

What did the author of Genesis 1 feel was necessary to set up the theological and historical lens for his audience as he launched his readers into redemption’s story? I must tell you that I do not think he was concerned about the chronological and geological details of the creation event, nor do I think he was occupied with explaining the end of the dinosaur age or the “old” and “young” earth theory. Rather, I think his most central concern was probably educating Yahweh’s wayward people about who this God was and what this God expected of them. And certainly a major point of confusion for the recently liberated, too-long-in-Egypt Israelites was the concept of monotheism. Yahweh was a god unlike the others of the ancient Near East, one who stood outside and above his creation, a god for whom there were no rivals and who had created humanity as his children as opposed to his slaves. Thus I think Genesis 1 was intended as a rehearsal of the creation event (where else would you start the story?) with the all-controlling theological agenda of explaining who God is and what his relationship to creation (and specifically humanity) looked like. Basically, Genesis 1 was written to answer the questions: “Who is God and what is his relationship to us?” Or…“What was God’s original intent?”[3]

“Who is God and what is his relationship to us?” “What was God’s original intent?” Start with answering these questions, and Genesis makes sense. Avoid them, and you’re likely to wind up going down some rabbit trails that the original authors never intended you to travel.