a time to tear down | A Time to Build Up » biblical studies

Gilgamesh, Atrahasis, and the Flood, Parts 2 and 3

Pete Enns — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:15:06 +0000

The final two parts (two and three) of my three-part discussion of the biblical flood vis-a-vis Mesopotamian literature is now up on the BioLogos website. Hint, yes I think the Mesopotamian literature is very important for understanding the theology of the biblical story :-)

Gilgamesh, Atrahasis, and the Flood

Pete Enns — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:13:43 +0000

Here is this week’s BioLogos post where we look at the similarities between these Mesopotamian and the biblical flood story.

Genesis 2-9 and Atrahasis

Pete Enns — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:11:34 +0000

Here is this week’s post at BioLogos, this one on the well-known similarities between Israel’s second creation story and the Atrahasis Epic. As we saw with last week’s post on Genesis 1 and Enuma Elish, Genesis 2-9 and Atrahasis breathe the same air. They share ancient Mesopotamian ways of talking about origins. This is a clear indication that the second creation story does not speak to contemporary science. Hence, (1) it cannot and should not be harmonized with contemporary science, (2) it should not control what can be concluded from scientific investigation.

Genesis 2-9 is an ancient story asking addressing ancient issues. Understanding that ancient context will keep us from asking this story to deliver more than it is prepared to. And it will also help us mine the theological depths of what this story said to ancient Israelites nearly three millennia ago.

Genesis 1 and Enuma Elish

Pete Enns — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:50:07 +0000

Here is this week’s blog post at BioLogos on a perennial topic: the relationship between Genesis 1 and the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish. Both stories are distinct yet they clearly breath the same ancient air when it comes to describing origins.

Israel’s Two Creation Stories (Part 3)

Pete Enns — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:02:38 +0000

Here is the third and final BioLogos post on the differences between the two creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 (God’s names, different methods of creating, different views of humanity). The purpose of seeing these differences is not to hold the two stories apart, but to understand why they are placed where they are in the Old Testament. Blurring the differences will blur the theology.

More on Israel’s Two Creation Stories

Pete Enns — Tue, 04 May 2010 21:08:05 +0000

Part two of my summary of the differences between the two creation stories in Genesis is posted today on the BioLogos blog. This week I look at the different literary styles and different depictions of God.

Gary Anderson on Augustine and the Fall

Pete Enns — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:56:51 +0000

Gary Anderson (if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand) has shared some thoughts on Augustine and Scripture at BioLogos. Specifically, Anderson’s post concerns Adam and how Augustine understood him with respect to Eve’s culpability in the fall. This post does not directly affect the kinds of scientific matters that normally occupy BioLogos, but there is value of this post for other reasons. Anderson is reminding us that interpreting the notion of the “fall” in the Garden episode has numerous dimensions of complexity and ambiguity, and that brilliant and capable minds have been trying to get their arms around it since before the Christian era.

New Series on Genesis 1-11

Pete Enns — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:49:00 +0000

I am starting a new series of posts on BioLogos on Genesis 1-11. The first two or three will be on “Israel’s Two Creations Stories” (Genesis 1 and 2), and part 1 is up now.

NT Wright interview, 4-20-10

Pete Enns — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:27:56 +0000

I am interviewing NT Wright in NYC tomorrow on camera for BioLogos. Apparently, you can submit questions through Twitter or the BioLogos Facebook page, and we will see what we can get to.

World News Tonight interview over Waltke’s Resignation

Pete Enns — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:59:30 +0000

I was interviewed yesterday in my home by ABC’s World News Tonight to discuss Bruce Waltke’s resignation from RTS last week. I had a chance to focus on some of the larger issues involved regarding Evangelicals, science, and faith. About two hours with the ABC crew will likely result in about 7 seconds of air time, so we’ll see what they pick.

The piece will air either tonight (Friday the 16th) or this Sunday night.