God and the Creation of Adam in the Vision of Genesis Rabbah 8 and Subsequent Rabbinic Texts

Botica, Aurelian

doi:10.2478/perc-2025-0018

Abstract

Abtract

The following paper analyzes the Midrashic text Genesis Rabbah chapter 8. The texts represents a Rabbinic reading of the biblical text of Genesis 1:26-28. We will show that, even though the rabbis analyzed the text verse by verse, their method of interpretation diverges from the classical, expositive Protestant way of reading the Bible. In their concern to defend the Scripture against pagan religions, Gnostic Jewish mysticism, and even Christian Church Fathers, the rabbis developed a creative way of probing the misteries that surrounded the creation of Adam.

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God and the Creation of Adam in the Vision of Genesis Rabbah 8 and Subsequent Rabbinic Texts

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