D.J.A.Clines'article, ‘theme in Genesis 1-11'

D.J.A. Clines’ article, ‘Theme in Genesis 1-11’, “aims to enquire about the theme of a unit of Pentateuchal text, Genesis 1-11,considered in and by itself rather than investigate as most students have done in the past” (483). His main concern is with the text in its form and nothing else. Thus, his main thesis is to enquire about the theme of a unit of Pentateuchal text Gen 1-11.

The article has four major sections. In the first major section, he explores the nature of Theme. Here he explains what ‘Theme’ means. He explains theme by distinguishing it from similar terms like intention, motif, plot and subject. Of all the other terms, he found Theme to be both broader and narrower and deeper than the rest. It is narrower in that it may express only one aspect of the author’s intention and it is broader in that it cannot always be stated adequately in terms of what the author had consciously in mind (484). He further explains the word by answering questions relating to the theme.

According to the author, there can only be one theme to a study. For him there also is no way of demonstrating a theme to everyone’s satisfaction. Thus, he concludes that theme is the statement that most adequately account for the content, Structure and development of the work (486).

The second major section is that of the Themes that were suggested for the reading. This section is divided into three sub-sections. Each sub-section explains in detail one of the theme that has been suggested. The first one is A Sin-Speech- Mitigation- Punishment theme. This theme is realized in the plot or story pattern of the major narratives of Genesis 1-11. It looks at the narratives as they are understood by G von Rad, which is; whenever man sins, God’s response is just yet gracious; he punishes, yet he forgives.

Clines makes his argument about this theme by means of questions. He uses Claus Westermann’s analysis of the narrative pattern and G. von Rad’s analysis as argument questions. The questions asked and answered are i) Can the narrative pattern exemplified in these narratives be differently or better analyzed? And ii) Are the narratives of Gen 1-11 adequate basis for establishing the theme of Gen1-11 as a whole (487).

In answering the first question, Cline uses Westermann’s observation that there always intervenes between the act of sin and the act of punishment a divine speech announcing or deciding the penalty. As evidence to this claim, the author draws Westermann’s table which shows verses on sin speech and punishment from genesis 1-11. However, Westermann does not include the element of mitigation, as G von Rad does. Rad puts mitigation between the speech and punishment in his table. As evidence to this the author also draws Rad’s table which shows verses on sin, speech, mitigation and punishment.

In answering the second questions, the author refers back to his description of the different terms. In reference to the definitions of the terms, the author concludes that the theme of sin-speech-mitigation-punishment can only be called a recurrent motif not the unifying theme.

The second one suggested is a spread of sin-spread of grace theme. This sub-section describes and explains the theme of the spread of sin to which severe punishment is given and a spread of grace on God’s part. It shows the movement of sin from disobedience to murder, to reckless killing, to titanic lust, to total corruption and violence, to the full disruption of humanity. At the same time the author argues that his movement of sin is also the spread of divine grace. God not only punishes but shows divine grace.

To support this claim, the author gives stories of sin and grace: God not only punishes Adam and Eve, but also withholds the threatened penalty of death.; he not only drives out Cain, but also puts his mark of protection upon him; he not only sends the flood, but saves the human race alive in preserving Noah and his family (490).

The third subdivision is the Creation-Uncreation-Re-creation theme. This section explains the flood as the uncreation of the world and the drying