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Courses Reconquest > Understanding Old Testament History > Module 2

Module presentation 2 - From the Creation of Man to the Tower of Babel

This module offers an opportunity to contemplate humanity’s journey from the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise to the period leading up to the emergence of Abraham. The events examined show how human infidelities and Satan’s plots in no way frustrate God’s loving and almighty plans, regardless of appearances.

In concluding His six-day work with the creation of man, “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen 1:31). This “very good” ensemble of Creation had man at its summit, in a certain sense, since God would one day become incarnate in human nature. “‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Gen 1:26).

In their prideful ambition to be equal to God, Adam and Eve disobeyed a divine prohibition, seduced by the serpent’s words: “‘You will be like God’” (Gen 3:5).

The opposite proved true: by sinning, Adam and Eve lost Divine Grace and shattered the harmony that existed within their souls and throughout Creation. Yet the Tempter had no time to rejoice. God immediately promised a future Redeemer and foretold Satan’s defeat.

With humanity’s newfound moral weakness, mankind became increasingly dependent on God’s grace and divided between those who accept His help and those who reject it. In the Deluge, God chastised the latter while safeguarding the faithful Noah and his family in the ark—a prefiguration of the Church.

The descendants of Noah formed a new, but not God-fearing, humanity. They began to build the Tower of Babel, and their evil intent was punished: God confused their language and “scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth” (Gen 11:8).

All these crucial events are examined from the perspective of God’s ever-prevailing plans and the contrast between the faithful and those who oppose Him. We see how God permits even evil to serve His designs, bringing about a greater glory—one He wills to share with His faithful children.

Conteúdo

Module presentation

Module lessons

Bibliographic references

Comments

Module lessons 2

1. The creation of Man

When God created Adam, He favoured him abundantly and reserved a lofty mission for him. Our first lesson will cover this origin of mankind and the uniqueness of human nature, as well as investigate the various types of gifts God bestowed on Adam.  

2. Adam and Eve in Paradise

This lesson describes the creation of the first woman, Eve. It takes a look at Adam and Eve’s ideal existence in the fabulous Garden of Eden, and even deals with future developments they may have enjoyed there if they had not sinned.   

3. “Inimicitias ponam!”

Why did God let the serpent enter Paradise? Why did Adam and Eve fall so easily, making Satan imagine he had wrecked God’s plans? How did God react? To answer, this lesson explains God’s first promise of the Redeemer, and His “Initmiticias ponam!” that set enmity between good and evil.  

4. First years outside of Paradise

Cain and Abel were the first sons born to the first couple — individuals with opposite mentalities. Here we will study how Cain’s murder of Able exemplifies the disorders rampant in fallen nature, the refusal to accept God’s aid, and  the continuation, on earth, of the battle fought between good and bad Angels in Heaven.   

5. The clash between two Lineages

The clash between the sons of darkness and the sons of Light heightens. Cain's descendants sink into sin and drag God’s children down with them. In the midst of so much disorder, holy souls arise, true prophets, who strive to lead humanity back to the right path.    

6. The Great Chastisement

Today we will contemplate one of the most grandiose chastisements God ever inflicted upon the earth — the Flood that wiped out wicked humanity, sparing only Noah and his family. The details of this lesson’s topic will attest that God is Lord! He is Mercy... but He is also Justice!  

7. The descendants of Noah

A monument to human pride and malice, the Tower of Babel was a challenge to God and the landmark of a new epoch.  Chastising humanity with confusion of language, God put an end to their undertaking and forced them to form groups and disperse over the earth.    

Bibliographic References

MARY OF JESUS OF AGREDA. Mystical City of God: The Divine History and Life of the Virgin. Hammond: W.B. Conkey Company, 1914.

THOMAS AQUINAS. Summa Theologiae. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1948, vols. I–V.

BERTHE, Augustin. Jesus-Christ: Sa vie, sa passion, son triomphe. [Jesus Christ: His Life, His Passion, His Triumph] Dublin: Omnia Veritas, 2015.

BIBLE. Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

BOSCO, João. História Sagrada. [Sacred History] São Paulo: Livraria Salesiana, 1949.

BROWN, S. S. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Hoboken: Prentice Hall, 1990.

CLÁ DIAS, João Scognamiglio, EP. Maria Santíssima! O Paraíso de Deus revelado aos homens. [Mary Most Holy: God’s Paradise Revealed to Men] São Paulo: Arautos do Evangelho, 2020, vols. I–III.

______. New Insights on the Gospels. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana; Nobleton: Heralds of the Gospel, 2014, vols. I–VII.

______. Pequeno Ofício da Imaculada Conceição comentado. [Commentaries on the Little Office of the Immaculate Conception] São Paulo: Associação Católica Nossa Senhora de Fátima, 2010.

______. São José: quem o conhece? [St. Joseph: who knows him?] São Paulo: Instituto Lumen Sapientiae, 2017.

EMMERICH, Anne Catherine. The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations. Rockford: TAN Books, 2004, vols. I–IV.

FILLION, L. C. The Life of Christ. New York: Herder, 1948.

______. La Sainte Bible. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1923, vol. I.

JOSEPHUS, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Delhi: Alpha Editions, 2021.

LAWRENCE, Paul; MILLARD, A. R. The IVP Atlas of Bible History. Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

MONLOUBOU, L.; BUIT, F. M. du. Universal Biblical Dictionary. Paris: Desclée, 1984.

MONTFORT, Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. True Devotion to Mary. In: God Alone. New York: Montfort Publications, 1987.

OLIVEIRA, Plinio Corrêa de. Conferences. São Paulo: Arquivo ITTA-IFAT.

ROPS, Daniel. The Story of the Old Testament. London: Burns and Oates, 1956.

______. O povo bíblico. [The Biblical People] Porto: Tavares Martins, 1955.

SALGUERO, José. Biblia Comentada. [Commentaries on the Bible] Madrid: BAC, 1965, vols. I–VII.

SILVA, Duarte Leopoldo e. Concordância dos Santos Evangelhos. [Concordance of the Holy Gospels] São Paulo: LTr, 1998.

WEINRICH, William C. La Biblia Comentada por los Padres de la Iglesia. [The Bible Commented on by the Fathers of the Church] Madrid: Ciudad Nueva, 2010, vols. I–XVIII.

See also

Mariology

Why must we suffer? – Module 2
Mariology

A Spiritual Retreat
Mariology

Why must we suffer? – Module 1
Mariology

The Universal Mediation of Mary - 3
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