TIMING: No historical chronological corroboration available. REASON TO READ: This is the beginning of God’s relationship with man. If we understand how God “meant it to be” in its simplest form, then we can begin to see how He can steer our lives to resemble the paradise that God created for Adam and Eve to enjoy. BRIEF SUMMARY: God creates the world and puts Adam in the garden of Eden with Eve as his helpmate. They are allowed to eat of any tree in the garden except one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve is deceived by the serpent and convinced to eat of the tree. She convinces Adam to do the same, and they become aware of their nakedness. They cover themselves in fig leaves, but God performs the first sacrifice and covers them with animal skins. They are kicked out of Eden and two cherubim with flaming swords are put at the gate to prevent them from going back in. HOW THIS FITS IN THE TOP TEN: To a certain extent we may take for granted the significance of God first creating then seeking a relationship with human beings. God could have very easily created us to be like earthly angels whose role is to serve God rather than creating us in his image and inviting us to become his children. We can discuss later what it truly means to be in God’s image and likeness, but for now let us simply see that we have a unique relationship with God...

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Quite often we hear arguments that sound like the following: "I can do whatever I want even if it's wrong as long as I'm not bothering anybody", or "It's my body, I can smoke or do drugs as long as I'm not affecting anyone", or "Me and her are in agreement, if we sleep together, what's it to you?!", or "Why do you care if I pray or not, go to church or not, etc...  I'm only impacting my spiritual life"... etc. Basically an argument that follows a pattern like "I can do ______ (a negative action) as long as I'm not bothering anybody or affecting anybody".  Sound familiar?  The answer to this argument comes in Genesis in the following verses: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth."  (Genesis 6:11-12) At a first glance the second sentence might seem redundant.  However, after carefully reading it we see that it adds a new concept.  The first verse simply says that the earth was corrupt and filled with violence.  This could be understood as "the people on the earth" were corrupt and filled with violence.  Then comes the second verse to clarify and make the point that "the earth" was corrupt because "all flesh" corrupted their way.  As in, the earth and the nature were...

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In Genesis Chapter 5 we read the following: "This is the book of the genesis of mankind in the day God made Adam, whom He made in God's image.  He made them male and female, and blessed them; and the day He made them He called his name Adam.  Now Adam lived two hundred and thirty years, and begot a son according to his form and image, and named him Seth.  After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were seven hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.  So all the days Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died." (Genesis 5:1-5) In verse 5 we read that Adam died.  However, it was not the will of God for His creation to experience death.  But if it's not the will of God, then how did it come to pass?  Can anything happen against God's will?  Isn't God the Almighty? God created mankind, and blessed them.  This is God's will.  God also gave Adam the free will to choose.  This is also God's will to grant man the free will.  However, it was through the will of man and due to the envy of the devil that death has entered into the world.  God's will was to create man and bless them.  His will was that man would live in Harmony with Him and with His creation.  God's will was for man to live forever in perfect union and communion with God.  Man, however, abused the gift of free will...

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In Genesis Chapter 3 we read about man's fall.  Adam's sin caused mankind to be exiled from the paradise of joy.  Even during the punishment however we see God's mercy and His compassionate hand start to heal us. We see that God punishes Adam by exiling him from the paradise of joy.  This punishment however is out of God's mercy and love for us "lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." (Gen 3:22)  God did not want man to live forever in sin, away from Him. Even the punishment of death we see His mercy.  St. Gregory the Theologian says "Yet here too He provides a benefit--namely death, which cuts off sin, so that evil may not be everlasting. Thus His punishment is changed into mercy." So too are our personal experiences with God.  Whenever God punishes us, He does it with mercy and utmost love.  He might bring temporary pain so that we may turn to Him for help.  And when He delivers us, the harsh experience becomes a solid foundation for faith which we can build a lasting relationship with Him.  In this case the pain is without a doubt for our benefit.  He prunes us that we may bear more fruit (John 15:2)  Job discovered this fact when he said "He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole." (Job 5:18)  In the RSV translation it reads "he smites, ...

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Everything God created was Good.  In Genesis 1 it says multiple times that "God saw that it was good".  It wasn't until later in chapter 2 when God said "It is not good..."  This was in verse 18 when He said "It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make him a helper comparable to him."  Here a question comes: did God create something that is not good?  Did God create something that is lacking?  Was Eve an afterthought?  Or a patch?  Something to fill a gap?  Did God in his foreknowledge not know that "It is not good for man to be alone..."?  Certainly not! God knew from the beginning.  God had this plan all along.  Earlier in the first chapter we read "So God made man; in the image of God He made him; male and female He made them."  (Genesis 1:27)  This was always in God's plan.  Also, the very next verse reads "Then God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply...'" (Genesis 1:28)  How can God command man to multiply without providing him with a woman?  It must be that God had Eve planned from the very beginning, but He intentionally delayed her creation just a little bit. The next question is why didn't God create Adam and Eve together at the same time?  Perhaps one reason for the delay is to show Adam how much he needed Eve.  He wanted ...

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