Catholic understanding of Genesis?

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Is there one official Catholic understanding of Genesis? Or are there several acceptable views? Do some believe that the first 11 chapters are allegory (unlike Sts. Peter and Paul), some who believe the entire book is allegory (unlike Sts. Peter and Paul) and some who believe it is all literal (while using literary devices throughout - the Patristic and traditional view).

Are all these views O.K? Or just one or two?

You will forgive my insertion of my personal view. My point there (if anyone cares) is that the Apostles speak quite literally about Adam and Noah. There is a pretty clear assumption in the New Testament that these men were real historical figures. So I choose to side with the first Pope and St. Paul etc.

Mel
 
It is the Catholic understanding that the book of Genesis imparts essential truths about the creation of Man, his fallen state, and the origins of the People of God. Its purpose is not to describe a scientifically sound account of astrophysics 4.5 billion years ago. The Church allows for the interpretation of Genesis as either wholly or partly allegorical or as literal. The only requirement is that those who view Genesis as allegorical do not therefore consider it “false”. It is true in the sense that it speaks truth about faith and morality.
 
Dr. Colossus:
It is the Catholic understanding that the book of Genesis imparts essential truths about the creation of Man, his fallen state, and the origins of the People of God. Its purpose is not to describe a scientifically sound account of astrophysics 4.5 billion years ago. The Church allows for the interpretation of Genesis as either wholly or partly allegorical or as literal. The only requirement is that those who view Genesis as allegorical do not therefore consider it “false”. It is true in the sense that it speaks truth about faith and morality.
Thanks Dr.,

I agree that Genesis is not meant to be a science text book. Though I find those Christians who are embarrassed by it tend to usually be either Biblically illiterate or more apt to follow liberal higher cristicism.

You prompted another questions. Is it really acceptable for a Catholic to believe that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Patriarchs and Moses are all fictional? I mean if all of Genesis is allegory then that would necessitate the rest the Torah to be allegory as well. So Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy would all have to be allegorical. You see the problem? I can understand the Church’s tolerance (though not the acceptance) of the first 11 chapters as allegory.

Mel
 
Is it really acceptable for a Catholic to believe that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Patriarchs and Moses are all fictional?
Whoops. A failure to clarify on my part. Mea Culpa! I was referring to the *creation account * in Genesis. The patriarchs most definitely existed. Especially considering Moses appeard to Christ and His Apostles.
 
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Melchior:
Is there one official Catholic understanding of Genesis? Or are there several acceptable views? Do some believe that the first 11 chapters are allegory (unlike Sts. Peter and Paul), some who believe the entire book is allegory (unlike Sts. Peter and Paul) and some who believe it is all literal (while using literary devices throughout - the Patristic and traditional view).

Are all these views O.K? Or just one or two?

You will forgive my insertion of my personal view. My point there (if anyone cares) is that the Apostles speak quite literally about Adam and Noah. There is a pretty clear assumption in the New Testament that these men were real historical figures. So I choose to side with the first Pope and St. Paul etc.

Mel
Adam means man…there is not official teaching on genesis, but there is one one one original sin and that includes one man and one woman …
 
Dr. Colossus:
Whoops. A failure to clarify on my part. Mea Culpa! I was referring to the *creation account * in Genesis. The patriarchs most definitely existed. Especially considering Moses appeard to Christ and His Apostles.
Gotcha 👍. Thanks for clarifying.

Mel
 
Genesis is really two seperate books. The first chapters are teaching stories. They are teaching truth: God created everything out of nothing and it was good, an original set of parents, an original sin, but set in a background understood by the jews. Do not underestimate the value of Genesis, it is a gold mine of theology.

Actual history starts with Abram and his family.
Genesis is really a great prologue to what the jews considered the most important event in their entire history - the Exodus.

The best notes on Genesis are found in the Navarre Bible. You can also order the Genesis bible study at Catholicexchange.com written by Scot Hahn and Mark Shea.
 
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cmom:
Genesis is really two seperate books. The first chapters are teaching stories. They are teaching truth: God created everything out of nothing and it was good, an original set of parents, an original sin, but set in a background understood by the jews. Do not underestimate the value of Genesis, it is a gold mine of theology.

Actual history starts with Abram and his family.
Genesis is really a great prologue to what the jews considered the most important event in their entire history - the Exodus.

The best notes on Genesis are found in the Navarre Bible. You can also order the Genesis bible study at Catholicexchange.com written by Scot Hahn and Mark Shea.
I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut, Cmom. But I totally disagree with you - respectfully of course 🙂 . That is not the Patristic concensus. Of course the creation account uses Hebrew poetry and should be read in light of that. But the stories from Adam through Babel are historical. 1 Peter 3:20 disproves the allegory theory. Peter (the first Pope!) speaks of Noah in literal terms. There is no getting around it. With all due respect, those who allegorize the first 11 chapters have a poor understanding of Hebrew literature. I recommend you look to the more ancient Catholic sources and better scholarship. That is the problem with not looking at scripture as a whole. Those who allegorize Genesis are at odds with the writings of the Apostles in the New Testament. Paul spoke of Adam as a real person. His theology relies on it.

In Peace,

Mel
 
cmom

Actual history starts with Abram and his family.

It is a de fide belief that we are all descendents of Adam and Eve.
 
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