♰ Bible Study by Abouna Angelos Genesis 5: Genealogy Genesis 6: The Flood Genesis 5: Genealogy 0. God ...... ∞ 1. Adam ..... 930 2. Seth ..... 912 3. Enosh .... 905 4. Kenan .... 910 5. Mahalalel 895 6. Jared .... 962 7. Enoch .... 365 8. Methuselah 969 9. Lamech ... 777 10. Noah ..... 950 11. Shem, Ham, Japheth Enoch [1] Ethiopian Book of Enoch (used by the newer Noah movie). Action packed. Talked about disciplined angels. Angels cast to earth to mend their ways. In the movie, they were redeeming themselves by helping Noah. One of the prophesies was his son. “When that dies, we will send it.” Methusaleh [2] Lived the longest years on earth in history (name “when he dies will send it”). See Jude. The length of his life means that God is very patient. There are poems people wrote on the mouth of Methusaleh saying, “How long O Lord.” His life is a witness to the longsuffering of the Lord. Jude 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 “to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” He’s describing the status of the world in his time. What were people saying and doing. Noah received the judgement before Methusaleh was born. So we waited almost a millenium. What was going on was even worse than before. By letting it go on, the human race would have eradicated itself. Once they ignore God, they eat each other like a cancer. A tumor starts eating the regular flesh until there is no more and then it dies from within, by eating itself. He is a descendent of Enoch. If he was righteous enough to be taken in rapture, so must his descendants. What saved Noah? The ark? Only physically. What truly saved him? The water! Because of the water, Noah was given a chance when the evil that was spreading on the worth was treated. God gives Noah a new chance on the earth. Otherwise God will have to wipe it and start over. But God said, let’s give it a chance. 1 Peter 3:18-22 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1. Who went to the spirits in prison? Jesus 2. How he went? In spirit through the cross. Like Jonah going to save a wicked people. They have no clue. These people were given a chance to hear the message of God. 3. Note that God was waiting. Gave them a chance until they exhausted all their chances. Then He said His Son. He doesn’t leave anyone. The five questions: 1. God. What does this story tell us about God? Patient. Eager to save all not wipe it and start over. 2. Church. What is the Church? Why do we need to have a Church? What do we do? The ark is the church. There is one genus, one creature that will not be killed. The sea creatures. That is one of the symbols of Christians. The live in the world, but they are not of the world. They are not killed by the flood. Live fish swim against the current. So the fish are on God’s side. That is why the early Christians drew a fish. 3. Commandment. What is required of me? What should I (not) do? Do not use the name of God in any kind of common. I would prefer not to mention the name of God in any casual conversation. It is profane to use the name of God outside of prayer. If we do, it can happen that you are saying profane words and you insert the holy name with it. Almost like I am eating anything and I eat a piece of the Body of Christ with it. What if we mis-pronounce the name of God. We have to understand the name of God has power. We say, O God, the Great the Eternal. 4. Prayer. How can I pray, communicate with God? How about “walk with God”? Continuous relationship at all times. He said “walk with me and be perfect.” We are required to walk with God. We should go His way. We should seek His life. Not to invite Christ into our life but seek His life. “Leave your father and come to a land I will show you.” 5. What is the meaning of this story? Genesis 6: The Flood Why did God make Noah make the ark when He could have made it? The sin of presumption (asking for things that are not for us, doing things that we are not supposed to do -- the two extremes). “Thou shalt not test the Lord your God.” Sometimes we are so laid back that we are apathetic. The other extreme is we try to do everything and ignore God. We need a balance and serentity, “God help me to change the things I can and to accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Genesis 7:4 seven days, an oath a swearing, shva, the creation is an oath, first covenant was with Adam, second with Noah. We use seven when we talk about nature. In unction of sick, we use seven candles and seven prayers, “remember your oath to humanity, you made in 6 and blessed on the seventh.” -- References about Christ enlightening the souls in hades... Sirach 24:45 I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and will behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord. Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Zechariah 9:11 As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also HE WENT AND PREACHED TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 4:1-6 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED ALSO TO THOSE WHO ARE DEAD, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Coptic Anaphora Ⲁϥϣⲉⲛⲁϥ ⲉ̀ⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉ̀ⲁ̀ⲙⲉⲛϯ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓ̀ⲥⲧⲁⲩⲣⲟⲥ. He descended into Hades through the Cross. Armenian Anaphora Իջեալ ի ստորին վայրս մահու մարմնովն՝ զոր ի մերմէս ընկալաւ յազգակցութենէ. եւ զնիգս դժոխոցն աղարտեալ հզօրեղապէս, զքեզ միայն ծանոյց մեզ ճշմարիտ Աստուած, զԱստուածդ կենդանեաց եւ մեռելոց։ Descending into the nether regions of death in the body which he took of our kinship, and mightily breaking asunder the bolts of hell, He made You known to us, the only true God, the God of the living and of the dead.