Genesis (Part 15)

We’re always looking for ideas to get the most out of Dr. Jeannie’s lessons. With this in mind, the following questions were provided by Marianna Sayeg from the Bible study group at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA. These questions are related to both Genesis (Part 14) and Genesis (Part 15).

Reading: Genesis chapters 6-8

Review Questions:

  1. Why is Noah’s virtue so impressive? What is the significance of Noah being called a “righteous man”? What does St. John Chrysostom believe that Noah did between ages 500 and 600?
  2. Why is Noah’s genealogy introduced twice? And why are there different numbers of animals described entering the ark? What does this mean for our understanding of Genesis?
  3. Why did God close the ark door from the outside? What makes Chrysostom think that Noah was depressed in the ark? What does it mean that God “remembered” Noah?
  4. What is the ark a “type” for?
  5. When the ark comes to rest, Noah’s first action is to make a sacrifice. How is Noah’s offering similar to Abel’s? Why did God allow animal sacrifice at all?
  6. What is God’s covenant with Noah? How does it reveal His vast loving-kidness — especially in comparison to how we interact with one another?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Was Noah a real person?
  2. Were Noah’s family wicked people that were only saved because of their relation to him? Or were they also righteous? Why are they not mentioned?
  3. Why didn’t humans eat animals from the beginning of creation?

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