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A Process Theological Interpretation of the Primeval History in Genesis 2–11

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2014

Robert Karl Gnuse
Affiliation:
Loyola University, New Orleans

Abstract

Genesis 2–11, or the primeval history of the Yahwist tradition, has been assessed theologically in several ways by biblical commentators over the years. The author suggests that this portion of the biblical text may be analyzed from the perspective of a process theological hermeneutic to gain new insights. In particular, one may observe the progressive involvement of Yahweh in the creative activity of establishing a world order, which is not always perfect in its developmental advance. Such a portrayal reflects not an omnipotent deity of classical theology, but rather a personal deity deeply related to the on-going creative processes of this world. Such perceptions of God dovetail well with the assumptions of process theology.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The College Theology Society 2002

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References

1 Some recent critical scholars, prefer to limit the so-called “primeval history” to Gn 1–9, while maintaining that Gn 10–11 more properly belongs to the patriarchal narratives as a pre-history: Batto, Bernard, Slaying the Dragon (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1992), 69Google Scholar; Hiebert, Theodore, The Yahwist's Landscape: Nature and Religion in Early Israel (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), 8082Google Scholar; and Löning, Karl and Zenger, Erich, To Begin with, God Created …: Biblical Theologies of Creation, trans. Kaste, Omar (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press/Glazier Press, 2000), 100.Google Scholar We shall work with Gn 2–11, because the pattern to be observed in this study can be traced through Gn 11.

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