“Secretum meum mihi,” (“my secret is mine.”) was St. Edith's Stein's cryptic response when her best friend asked why she converted. We serve up interviews, historical sketches, Bible studies, book reviews and essays for Catholic women. MY SECRET IS MINE is for women with an audacious hope: that the Messiah makes all things new.
Bible Study: Genesis 1 and 2
Published 3 days ago • 4 min read
Created in the Image and Likeness of God
by Kristen West McGuire
Genesis 1:26-31a 26 And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth. 27 And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth. 29 And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own kind, to be your meat: 30 And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may have to feed upon. And it was so done. 31 And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very good. Genesis 2:20-25 20 And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. 21 Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. 22 And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam. 23 And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. 24 Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh. 25 And they were both naked: to wit, Adam and his wife: and were not ashamed. (Douay Rheims Bible Online - DRBO.org, Public Domain, 1899) Context: There are two accounts of the creation of man in the book of Genesis. The first, in Genesis 1:1 - 2:4, emphasizes the essential unity of man and woman before the Lord. They are given two tasks: to exercise dominion over the natural world, and to be fruitful and multiply. The second account emphasizes the incompleteness of man without woman. This account of the bliss of Eden is untainted by power issues, which arose after the fall. The essential harmony of their relationship is depicted by their lack of shame. Translation: Scholars believe that the first creation account is a compilation done by priests of the Temple, possibly even prior to the first Babylonian exile (about 500 B.C.) The second is more human centered, likely an oral story told and retold by the Hebrew people over the centuries. (Its similarities with the Babylonian creation epic, Enuma Elish, are interesting. But, the Enuma Elish presents the original woman god Tiamat as the evil goddess to be overcome by the other gods.) Vocabulary (Hebrew): Image: tselem – physical representation in two or three dimensions Likeness: demut - pattern or physical resemblance of something very m’od - exceedingly, with force good: ṭôḇ - wellbeing, good, pleasant to name: qārā' - to call or give name to - in the ancient world, to name something was to exercise authority over it. woman: 'iššâ - opposite of man taken out of: lāqaḥ - to be taken out of, also, to be taken captive. man: 'iš - male one flesh: bāśār - body, euphemism for male organ. Meditation: The original paradise resonates with our hearts. Adam and Eve are given a royal role over the plants and animals. And their original nakedness was without shame. Even though Adam names the woman, their equality before the Lord was rooted in joy over discovering one another as helpmates. For most couples, there is a moment of recognition when heart speaks to heart. It is a joyful thing to discover the spouse who God has intended for you alone! And to share that special knowledge with one another is true intimacy that includes God. It re-centers you in God’s creation. And, in the case of a vocation to religious life, there is a similar experience. It’s often expressed as a deep, interior peace, of knowing and being known by God in a special way. The fruitfulness of a vocation is not just physical, but deeply spiritual. Christ literally is our Bridegroom, and we are His Bride as members of His Church. We recognize one another when heart speaks to heart. Love leads to creative union. The fruitfulness of God’s creation is GOOD. And, in Gen. 1:31, God proclaims all creation to be VERY good, most especially the human caretakers. This goodness of the woman is centered on being life-giving. Despite her rib “being taken out of” Adam, the woman is meant only to serve the Lord in union with Adam. There was no evil goddess to be overpowered, just mutual service. The Bible explains our Christian worldview. God created us to be men and women co-existing in paradise, without shame. Adam and Eve are very, very good. Even and especially, together. Discussion Questions: 1. Sometimes, two sets of people can have two very different but valid accounts of a momentous occasion. Which account of creation in Genesis is more meaningful to you today? Why? 2. The Enuma Elish portrays a pantheon of raging gods, while the Hebrew Bible sets up humanity as the divine caretakers of all creation under one benevolent God. How do these creation myths affect cultures? 3. Eve receives her name from Adam as the woman, equal with the man. How does their unity enhance respect?
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Albrecht Durer, "Adam and Eve" 1504
“Secretum meum mihi,” (“my secret is mine.”) was St. Edith's Stein's cryptic response when her best friend asked why she converted. We serve up interviews, historical sketches, Bible studies, book reviews and essays for Catholic women. MY SECRET IS MINE is for women with an audacious hope: that the Messiah makes all things new.
