What kind or genra of writing are the early chapters of Genesis?

[Seamus_Sully]

Is there an official teaching by the Church as to what kind of writing the chapters of Genesis is?

Is there a common teaching by the Doctor and Fathers of the Church as to what kind of writing the early chapters of Genesis is?

 

[Donald45]

The literary and grammatical structure of Gen.1 suggests that this is a Creation Hymn, an ancient literary form used by the Hebrews as well as the pagan nations around them. As for official statements, according to the Catechism:

**“Scripture presents the work of the Creator symbolically as a succession of six days of divine work, concluded by the ‘rest’ of the seventh day (Gen. 1:1-2:4). On the subject of creation, the sacred text teaches the truths revealed by God for our salvation…” (337).

Blessings,

Don
+T+

 

[Jim_Baur]

Donald45

Thank you so much!!!

Please do not laugh at my next question: How should I understand symbolically? In the normal way?

Again, thank so much!

 

[Seamus_Sully]

Donald45

I want to thank you for your kind help!

Should I understand symbolically in the normal way?

Again, THANKS!

 

[Donald45]

Should I understand symbolically in the normal way?

Of Genesis 1, Cardinal Schonborn, in his recently published book Chance Or Purpose? writes:

"It is not the aim of this text to give us information as to how this world originated. It is not a text on natural science. Saint Augustine already discussed this point, writing very clearly in his treatise against Felix the Manichean:

’We do not read in the Gospel that the Lord said, “I am sending you the Holy Spirit, that he may teach you about the course of the sun and the moon.” He wished to make people Christians, not astronomers!'

Saint Augustine was quite clear about this: We can quite safely and confidently leave the investigation of ‘How?’ questions to natural science… The Bible does not offer any theory about the origin of the world and the development of the species" (pp. 55-56).

In light of this, it seems apparent that the Genesis account is symbolic in the sense that it should not be taken as a woodenly-literal, journalistic-style record of the “how” of the creation of the world and the myriad life forms that inhabit it. These are ancient documents, not modern newspapers or textbooks. They were composed by ancient people in an ancient culture with ancient beliefs and assumptions, using ancient modes of communication and ancient literary forms. They are not modern documents that address our contemporary scientific or historical questions and concerns. These documents must be approached on their own historical and literary merits, and interpreted accordingly. A symbol points beyond itself to something else, to something whose meaning is suggested by the symbol itself. In other words, Genesis 1 says something about who God is, who human beings are, and how the two are related.

Here are a few articles you might find useful:

pibburns.com/augustin.htm
xent.com/pipermail/fork/Week-of-Mon-20050808/037436.html
asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2003/PSCF12-03Fischer.pdf
asa3.org/ASA/topics/Evolution/commission_on_creation.html

Blessings,

Don
+T+