The Early World of Genesis
Unit Highlights
The Old Testament begins with the Book of Genesis. Some important stories in this book are:
The story of creation which emphasizes that from nothing God made all things good, to reveal God’s goodness and to form a single web of life. The story of creation also shows that man and woman were formed in God’s image and likeness.
The story of the fall of Adam and Eve, which conveys the truth of our sinfulness and recounts God’s promise of redemption
The story of Noah and the Flood, which illustrates the destructiveness of sin and God’s determination to save us.
Dramatize some significant events of Genesis.
We appreciate and respect all of God’s visible creation. We recognize the goodness of every living creature, and we respect the integrity of the whole of creation. We treat each human life as sacred because human beings are created to share by knowledge and love in God’s own life.
We are to use our gift of free will to make choices which are good. Jesus offers us His Spirit who assists us in making these choices.
We experience the destructiveness of sin in our own lives and in the world through the many manifestations of violence, injustice and evil which deprive people of their rights and dignity, and bring about ecological disasters.
Unit Introduction

Vocabulary
Concupiscence
Creation
Dominion
Ex nihilo
Immutable
Infinite
King
Leisure
Nahash
Navi
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Original Justice
Original Sin
Priest
Prophet
Protoevangelium
Shamar
Sin
Son/Daughter of God
Spouse
The Church
The Great Flood
Transcendent
Sources
Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraphs 56-58, 71, 279-361, 374-379, 388-389, 396- 406, 410-412, 753-757, 760-761, 845, 901, 1094, 1147, 1219, 1849-1850, 1865, 2169- 2172, 2402, 2099-2100
Scripture Studied in This Unit
Genesis 1:1-3:24; 4:1-22; 5:3; 6:5-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; 9:1-17;
Numbers 3:5-8;
Psalm 8:4-6;
Luke 21:3-4;
Acts 22:16;
Romans 7:15;
1 Peter 3:19-21;
1 John 4:7, 20-21
Activity 1: Make a Circle Map on The Early World of Genesis
Brainstorm, list, and/or draw:
Information you know, or kind of know, about the early world of Genesis.
Guesses about the early world of Genesis.
Questions you have about the early world of Genesis.
Information you would like to know the early world of Genesis.
What comes to mind when you think of the early world of Genesis.
Activity 2: Scripture to Memory
Pope St. John Paul II strongly encouraged that the faithful memorize important passages of Scripture. In the Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, he wrote: “The blossoms ... of faith and piety do not grow in the desert places of memoryless catechesis.” When you have memorized important Scripture passages, the Word of God resides in your minds and hearts and is at the ready when you need it.
To respond to Pope St. John Paull II’s wish, you should write out and commit to memory some or all of the following Bible verses, which complement all the lessons in this unit. Take a few minutes each day to study them and practice recitation and writing. Before completing this unit, you will write out two or more of these verses, from memory.
Explore different means of memorization, such as hanging important Scripture verses on your refrigerator at home, or on your bathroom mirror, reciting and discussing Scripture with your parents, using passages in conversation, and other creative means of use and memorization.
God looked at everything He had made, and found it very good.-GENESIS 1:31
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place—What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor.-PSALM 8:4-6
For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.-ROMANS 7:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.-GENESIS 3:15
If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it.-GENESIS 4:3-7
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.-ACTS 22:16
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.-1 PETER 3:19-21