Genesis

• Stewardship


  The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God
• Genesis 2:15: 'God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it'
• Dominion


  Humans have power over the Earth and could use its resources
• Genesis 2:26-28: 'God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."'
• Christians must take care of God's creation
• Loving thy neighbour is the second most important commandment, which means we should protect our environment to benefit those around us
• In the beginning, God created everything from nothing (ex nihilo)
• Nothing God makes has any imperfection
• Genesis 1


  Not a scientific account but a theological truth about the creation of the world
• Adam


  The Hebrew word for humanity
• Free will


  The belief that God gives people the opportunity to make decisions for themselves
• Genesis 2 was written much earlier than Genesis 1, and the two stories are not meant to be seen as one account
• God creates Adam from dust, which can mean how precious humanity is and that God gives humans free will and responsibilities
• Genesis 2:18: 'Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him."'