For a long time people have pondered how the first two chapters of Genesis fit with a modern scientific understanding of the creation of the cosmos, but it seems that Genesis 1 and 2 are intended to help us see the cosmos as God's Temple with Adam and Eve as the first priests.
John H. Walton has written about this way of understanding the creation accounts of Genesis, saying that 'Temples are built in the ancient world for the gods to rest in, which does not refer to relaxing, but to enjoying and maintaining security and order. With the mention of God’s rest on day seven, we can see that Genesis 1 (and 2) is also thinking about the cosmos as a temple".
This is an interesting way of understanding what Genesis 2:2 is referring too when it speaks of how "God .... rested on the seventh day". The idea of rest as God coming to dwell in His Temple is also seen in Psalm 132: "( 8] Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might ..... [13] For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: [14] "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it." (Psalm 132:8, 13-14)
John H. Walton shows how the seven days of creation relate to the idea of the cosmos being God's Temple. "In the ancient world temple dedications were often seven days in duration. During those seven days,the functions of the temple would be proclaimed, the furniture and functionaries would be installed, the priests would take up their role and at the end, the deity would enter and take up his rest." (John H. Walton)
John H. Walton has written about this way of understanding the creation accounts of Genesis, saying that 'Temples are built in the ancient world for the gods to rest in, which does not refer to relaxing, but to enjoying and maintaining security and order. With the mention of God’s rest on day seven, we can see that Genesis 1 (and 2) is also thinking about the cosmos as a temple".
This is an interesting way of understanding what Genesis 2:2 is referring too when it speaks of how "God .... rested on the seventh day". The idea of rest as God coming to dwell in His Temple is also seen in Psalm 132: "( 8] Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might ..... [13] For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: [14] "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it." (Psalm 132:8, 13-14)
John H. Walton shows how the seven days of creation relate to the idea of the cosmos being God's Temple. "In the ancient world temple dedications were often seven days in duration. During those seven days,the functions of the temple would be proclaimed, the furniture and functionaries would be installed, the priests would take up their role and at the end, the deity would enter and take up his rest." (John H. Walton)
In the cosmic Temple, Adam and Eve were the priests of God. John Sailhamer has argued that it is not coincidental that the two verbs “to work it” and “to care for it” (or "keep it") used in Gen 2:15 are the same verbs as those used in reference to the service of the priests in the temple. The idea of believers being priests is expanded in Scripture (Exodus 19:4-6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:5b-6).
As obedient priests, who obey God's commands (Genesis 2:16), we live out a fourth aspect of the image of God which also speaks of our RESPONSIBILITY to obey God. The human image bearer would be a reflection of God, a ruler under God, in a relationship with God, and responsible to obey God.
As obedient priests, who obey God's commands (Genesis 2:16), we live out a fourth aspect of the image of God which also speaks of our RESPONSIBILITY to obey God. The human image bearer would be a reflection of God, a ruler under God, in a relationship with God, and responsible to obey God.
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