Staff Report
Bladen County has a lot of very talented writers, like Tom Atkinson, minister, writer, self-publisher. Tom has a new book for sale that discusses some of the age-old questions about what’s really written in the book of Genesis. Below you’ll find a synopsis in Tom’s own words.
Reversing the Curse: A study of Genesis 1-11, by Tom Atkinson.
A few years back, I had decided that I wanted to write material for my Bible class dealing with Genesis 1-11. Oh, I have been reading and studying from the book ever since becoming a Christian in 1976.
However, this time I wanted to look more closely into the first eleven chapters. The reason for this is that I am convinced that the foundation of all human history and God’s dealing with his creation (from the start to the present) is laid in the first eleven chapters of the book! (Not to mention that I have always preferred writing my own class curriculum). I also decided that I would do my very best to lay aside any of my preconceived ideas and presuppositions and attempt to look at the material as if I’d never studied it before. Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, all of us have blind spots in our thinking and unless we deliberately attempt to discover them and eliminate (or minimize) their influence, it prevents us from seeing what the text actually says.
To make a long story short, that is what I set out to do and by the time I was completed I realized I had not only written my class material but actually had the making of a book. 1 Peter 3:15 reads: “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” The reason I’m publishing my book is to share some of the “reason” for the hope that is within me; and in doing so I hope to encourage others to further build upon their hope! Perhaps even find hope that they do not yet possess. Of course, I also wanted to find answers to various questions that I’ve had for many years concerning the content found within the first segment of the book.
Keep in mind, Genesis 1-11 is covering approximately two thousand years of human history!
The book highlights selected historical events, but for the purpose of giving a theological presentation. Strictly speaking, it is not a history book! The accounts described therein are historical events but told with a theological purpose in mind. The stories described have always left me with many questions. Perhaps you can identify with some of these questions yourself.
For example: “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26a); and “Come, let us go down and there confuse their language” (Genesis 11:7a). One curious aspect of these verses is the expressions: “Let us make man in our image;” and “let us go down.” If there is but one God, who does the “us” refer to? Of course, I know about the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and that seemed to be a plausible answer, yet it still did not completely settle the questions I had. However, I learned that the answers are there!
What kind of creature tempted Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)? Was there a talking snake in the garden? If the entity was a snake, then why punish an entire species of animal for the glaring missteps of one? Could such creatures originally talk? Or is something more going on?
What about the old worn-out question that skeptics like to ask concerning Adam and Eve’s son, Cain? Where did Cain get his wife? It is a good question, and there is a very reasonable answer to it.
Who were the “sons of God” spoken of in Genesis 6? Or the “mighty men of old?” How did they bring such turmoil and chaos into the world?
What curse did Adam actually bring onto humanity; and what was so wrong with the earth being of “one speech?”
In my book I have consulted the best scholars and researchers on these topics and have attempted to put it into a format that will encourage and motivate anyone who reads it to do his/her own
study of the material. You may be surprised at what you find?
The book retails for $20. Copies may be purchased locally at Anderson’s Pharmacy, or you may write me at tomvason@gmail.com to receive details on how to purchase your copy of Reversing the Curse: A study of Genesis 1-11. It is my prayer that you may further increase your faith and grow in God’s grace and knowledge.
Tom Atkinson
Author: staff report
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