THE PATTERN OF SIN AND JUDGMENT IN GENESIS 1-11 (BIBLE, OT, LITERARY CRITICISM, THEOLOGY, OLD TESTAMENT).

摘要

The purpose of the dissertation was (1) to determine the presence of a pattern of sin and judgment in the plots of the narratives of Genesis 1-11; (2) to analyze and describe the structure, elements, and expression of such a pattern; and (3) to examine its literary function and theological message through comparative and individual study of the narratives. The dissertation built on the work of Claus Westermann, Gerhard von Rad, and David J. A. Clines but sought to further their work through employment of new literary-critical methodology to the examination of the narratives. Study was limited to the narratives of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, the Flood in Genesis 6-9, and the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Each narrative was examined according to its plot, characterization, and setting, with attention to narrative form and content. Then the narratives were compared in order to enunciate and reflect on their common and individual features.;Summary and conclusions were presented in chapter four. The pattern of sin and judgment was found to provide both formal and thematic frameworks for the narratives. Formally, the pattern was found to consist of episodes of sin, discovery of sin by Yahweh, judgment speech, mitigation of the judgment, and execution of judgment. In all but the flood narrative an episode of temptation preceded the commission of the sin. Thematically these narratives enunciate in the context of creation and the establishment of the human community on earth an essential violation through human will of the relationship between creature and creator and the response by the creator to uncover sin and correct it with judgment and grace.;Chapter one described previous work done on the pattern of sin and judgment, examined the various methods used to study it, and laid out critical issues involved in the study of the pattern. Chapter two examined the Garden of Eden story, while chapter three examined the remaining three narratives.