Summary Paper 5

Kwonnung Tim Jang

According to Lawrence in the “Creation” chapter, the story of creation in the Bible is more

than facts. It is a deep narrative about theology, human nature, and the purpose of existence.

It is not just about events, but also their meaning for humanity.

The creation account highlights the importance of practical and theological understanding

that is rooted in the biblical narrative and in our daily lives. This understanding serves as a

frame through which we can view our existence and purpose.

The Bible is a unique book that shows God's perspective through history, statements, and

poetry. It reveals God's thoughts on love, actions, belongings, relationships, and more.

However, understanding it can be tricky because of the different writing styles and diverse

genres used in the Bible.

Lawrence and NDBT both provide methods for interpreting the Bible, such as taking into

account the biblical author’s intent, the context of the text within the larger biblical narrative,

the covenants, typology, and continuity and discontinuity in the biblical narrative.

Lawrence explores five distinct biblical narratives, each offering a unique angle on the entire

story of the Bible from a different point of view. The first story centers around creation,

emphasizing its importance in understanding who God is and His ultimate plan.

Genesis 1, the beginning chapter of the story of creation portrays God's authoritative act of

creation. God creates everything perfectly, but humans rebel, leading to their expulsion from

Eden. This cycle of disobedience and divine judgment repeats in the story.

God steps in to reset and renew, as shown in Noah's time. This pattern continues with

Abraham, whom God calls and blesses with many descendants, forming a great nation. This

intervention happens repeatedly in Israel's history.

The story emphasizes how God's call and transformation of individuals like Abraham altered
the course of human history. Thus, getting to know God on a personal level is vital to

understanding God’s character.

A profound shift occurs In the New Testament. God incarnate in human form as Jesus Christ.

This moment inaugurates a fresh start, a new creation, with Jesus' resurrection sparking a

spiritual rebirth of believers. Through the gospel, God calls individuals into a new

community, known as the church.

Ultimately, the story leads towards a new creation's consummation. The final phase will

encompass the ultimate judgment of evil, the purification of God's people, and dwelling with

God in the new heaven and earth.

The story of creation also displays certain patterns. The first is the structure of the narrative

where it provides a clear narrative structure with a beginning, tension, middle, and climax.

The next is promise and fulfillment where God’s promises are fulfilled on multiple levels,

going beyond specific situations. Then, it is the covenantal storyline where various covenants

shape the story, influencing theological understandings. Then, it is typology where events and

characters serve as types, foreshadowing a greater fulfillment in Christ. The last one is the

representative mediation where representative figures have a significant impact on the story,

influencing future generations.

From this biblical account, we draw conclusions for systematic theology. This gives us

insights into concepts like creation from nothing, the potency of God's Word, creation's

purpose for honoring God, and the effects of sin on creation.

To grasp the creation story, we must acknowledge human rebellion, how it affected creation's

purpose, and the need for God's intervention to mend the intended bond between God,

humanity, and creation.