The Garden of Eden means "the paradise of pleasure". What are the details of this long lost garden that God made for people? Many still search for traces of it to this day. Is there any connection or future hope of things returning to such a state?

The story of God creating everything is finished. But now, we take a step to the side and the story is retold in more personal detail. God's name is Yahweh; and we learn more the process of Him creating humans. We also get a glimpse into the garden that He made and put them in.

I give my testimony around 22:54 and my experience with reading the Bible.

These are good video podcasts from YouTuber Justin Khoe. Take the time to check out these videos:

https://youtu.be/YC830tcUvko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4QSg5J3Gmo&list=PL07dOAL5M9zj_lB7uHvqKV_Wy--X_PDaX&index=10

https://youtu.be/J1bgBdYQtBg

We also went over how it seems strange that there seems to be either a 2nd creation story, or at least version. They also seem to contradict and not match up at first glance. However, we discussed how these issues can be reconciled with perspective. On the topic of the 2 versions of the creation story, check out these valuable video resources:

https://youtu.be/ptx1rtRk99Q

https://youtu.be/MUtxVr9tuLU

In this episode, we recap and take another look at the very first story and event in the Bible and our world. We also touch on a few points that we didn’t get into in previous episodes and end at some interesting things to come.

There is a very good systematic theology textbook/audiobook and lecture series touching on Creation in Chapter 15.

Systematic Theology (Second Edition) by Wayne Grudem:

https://zondervanacademic.com/systematic-theology-second-edition

Listen to His Free Audio Commentary on Creation Theology - Chapter 15 (Tracks 44-47):

http://www.waynegrudem.com/category/christian-essentials

The creation is finally finished. God stopped and rested and took a break from working on creating because He’d finishing making everything.

Below are a few good links that concisely describe what it means to be made in God's image:

What Does It Mean to Be Made in God's Image? - YouTube

Created in the Image and Likeness of God - YouTube

https://youtu.be/9vzBGgT-6GI?si=euZ3B2zD6XL9Kn1C

Here is a link to a scholar speaking on the historical vs. archetypal first humans.

https://youtu.be/GzTvf2QozAw?si=uGavwHxDBSyn_oJV

On the 5th Day of God creating the world, it's the first distinct day of life existing. The marine animals and birds are the first living souls on earth. God blesses the animals and tells them to be fruitful, increase and fill the earth.

In this episode, we begin by backtracking with the creation, did God create the heavens and earth (the cosmos/world) from nothing, or was there preexistent laws or material. We know that everything has to have a beginning that is material, and energy and any force can't already be in motion unless it is put in motion. Unless God used potential forces such as negative and positive gravity and energy, these things wouldn't have come about just in and of their own properties having no existing prior motion. God could be in or working through these forces, but it's clear that He's not confined to being an inanimate force. This suggests that God was the only one and is the only one could create anything and everything as we know it. The scripture even says in John 1:3 that there's nothing that was made that wasn't made by Him.

If you are wondering that’s nice, and it seems logical, but how did God get made if you apply the same logical. Great question, obviously God’s in a different category since He’s the only thing that’s eternal. Check out this video:

https://youtu.be/tQ2qUEQH_vs

We also see a repetition of light being created, the first time it's light in general, as well as day and night. So we have God creating the construct of light, but then in the first day of the second half of the week we have him making the objects that manage as lights, the day and the night, as well as patterns such as seasons and times, days and years.

This is the link to the NET Bible to follow along!

https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+1

This episode centers around the Third Day of Creation. We cover how God made the land appear and how the sea/ocean was collectively gathered in place. When the land became visible, God could have made it appear, or he could have used means such as lava, and volcanic activity as it's theorized that the world was hot with magma and lava toward the beginning stages of the earth's history. Either way, God orchestrated it on the third day, and we can also logically deduct that if the water was merged to one area, that it was to make room for the land, and that the land would have had only one mass. We commonly view this in our modern day as Pangea, which aligns with the story of Genesis.

Then after the earth had come into place, God had plants of all sorts sprout up. There was also an emphasis on the seeds and how they are in the fruit of the tree, which then produces more trees of its kind. Hence leading to the first mention of reproduction. All of it was made good and God acknowledged it!

In this podcast, we talk about the second day of creation. We get into more of what a day is and how it's not problematic or confiscatory with science if you understand what it's trying to say.

It focuses on the waters above and below and how God separated them to make the sky, which has many translations and name: the atmosphere/heavens/firmament/ozone/expanse. Essentially this forms the water and air structure that we have present. The waters in the sky are controversial and are explained sometimes as the water vapor in the sky in the form of clouds, but also sometimes is thought to be literal water above the firmament, as in there could have been a different atmospheric condition in ancient history that allowed this to be the case. Others believe the water is still there above the dome/firmament.

Although facts and science matters, this is not what the Bible is trying to get at, it's trying to communicate how God carved out the sky by separating water. We also briefly mention, why it doesn't talk about the creation of water, since it presumes that the water is there even in the 2nd verse. My best theory is what we talked about in verse 2 where the water and heavens are thought of and merged both as the deep and it's a given that the waters are representing the empty, orderless, and dead nature of the initial points of creation.

Lastly, we discuss the פ marker in Hebrew, which marks the end of the 2nd section. In a way, it's like a chapter end, meant to be a stand alone section, like a devotional. It's meant to be mediated and reflected on. Repeating, memorizing, studying and applying it practically. Although right now, it is just statements about the creation of the world, there is still big implications that can be reflected on when thinking about God creating and making space in the sky. There are endless thoughts to reflect on the implications of God creating light and the impact on our daily lives that it has. By meditating and being thoughtful, we can take a step beyond what is being said and enjoy what was said and see how it plays out in our actual lives.

In this study, we finish the first full day of avoid creating the world. We backtrack to take into account verses 1 and 2, and we talk about God’s method of creating, the creation of light, and what the Bible means when it refers to a day.

In addition, as I go through the scripture I give Bible Study tips. Here is a good podcast episode with Bible Studying tips in Truth Talks with Tara Podcast:

Another great book that's a 3 part series by Dr. Michael Heiser called Brief Insights:

https://zondervanacademic.com/products/brief-insights-on-mastering-the-bible

There are far more tips for becoming more familiar with the Bible I mentioned a few resources in previous episodes but we’ll also continue to cover more as we keep moving forward! I’m glad your choosing to engage with the Word of God and learn how the world began!