As They Say, The Rest is *Salvation* History

The Bible in a Year Reflections: Part 1- The Early World Period

A Quick Introduction

***Disclaimer*** Like so many of us with any resolution, I have fallen behind in my original intentions for this series of articles. While those who have been listening to the Bible in a Year Podcast have already entered the 3rd Biblical Period, I am still getting caught up and will have everything on pace before the end of the 4th Biblical Period. Thank you!

2025 is already off and running, along with everyone’s New Year resolutions. For the second time, I have decided to make Fr. Mike Schmidt’s immensely popular podcast my own resolution for the year. I first went through the entire Bible back in 2022. The experience was very fruitful, and it in many ways inspired my teaching and speaking ministry.

I figured that a semi-formal analysis of the readings and themes throughout the Bible in a Year would be fruitful for those currently undertaking the same resolution, and it can also be an opportunity of spiritual nourishment for those who aren’t doing the podcast.

So, my intention for this series of writings is to highlight any key passages, themes, findings, etc at the end of each Biblical period. For anyone unfamiliar, the Bible in a Year uses Jeff Cavins’s Bible Timeline to separate the Bible and its various books into the appropriate time period. Within that distinction, there are books that are considered narrative- relating the story of God’s salvific plan for all humanity- and supplemental- they set the scene for the narrative events, but they aren’t telling the Story of Salvation History in the same way as the narrative books. This helps the reader to better understand the themes and history that the Holy Spirit inspired the Sacred Authors to work through. The result is 12 different time periods throughout Salvation History.

With 12 periods and 12 months in the year, there roughly be 1 one of these reflections per month. I say roughly because some periods are far longer than others, while some time periods may be incredibly short. Our article today falls into the latter category.

Periodic Overview

• Events

The first period in Salvation History is called the “Early World.” It covers the creation of the world, the fall of Adam and Eve, and the descent of humanity into sin with a flicker of hope in the decisions of God’s people as they wait for the coming of the Messiah to set all things right.

• Major Figures

The major figures of this period are God, Adam, Eve, Satan, Cain, Abel, Noah, and Shem.

• Themes

The Early World is colored by the themes of Love, Sin and its effects, and Sacrifice.

Reflections

***Since this period is so short, I figured that I would focus more on a very wide view of the narrative arc and add in reflections as we go along. The rest of these articles won’t recount the entire story of the Biblical Period and only focus on key points related to the reflection on the themes of the period.***

The opening chapters of Genesis have caused authors for centuries to spill arguably the most amount of ink analyzing them than any other piece of writing. What these pages contain isn’t merely a seismic cosmic event, but the beginning of the relationship of love that God has initiated with His creation- one that crescendos with the creatures made in His own image, Adam and Eve. All is well until Adam and Eve allow themselves to fall prey to the temptation of Satan, and the rest is Salvation History (you see why this series is called that now?!).

With sin and death entering the world, every last part of creation will be plagued until the end of time. Our first look at the themes of sin and sacrifice become apparent in Genesis 3:15. A victory over the work of the Devil is prophesied by God, but there will be a price to pay, “While you strike at their heel.” We know how that will play out in the Crucifixion of the Messiah, Jesus Christ; however, there are foreshadowings or “types” of that sacrifice that appear throughout the Old Testament leading to that most pivotal moment in Salvation History. Sometimes those foreshadowings are the successes of God’s chosen people in foreshadowing Christ’s sacrifice, and sometimes that foreshadowing is how humanity falls short in being self-sacrificial.

Early in Genesis, we see the latter. Humanity, with some bright spots like Abel and his self sacrifice of his finest lamb, becomes so sinful and depraved, like killing their own family members (Genesis 4:8) for example, that God must “reset” humanity. He chooses the righteous man Noah to be that “seed” from which a nobler, holier humanity will sprout forth. The building of the Ark is a great example of Noah sacrificing his time, effort, and strength to obey God. Unfortunately, things don’t exactly go according to God’s plan following Noah’s obedience in preserving his family and the animals. There is an incident immediately following the family’s exiting of the Ark. Noah, in his own sinfulness, becomes drunk to the point that he is unaware of what is happening around him. His son, Ham, takes advantage of his father’s incapacitated state and sins (Genesis 9:18-24) while Noah’s other sons, Shem and Japheth, refuse to take the same course of action that Ham did.

Here again, we see the theme of sacrifice in the failures of God’s people. Noah, unwilling to say no to his lower passions, drinks too much wine and leaves his wife unprotected. Ham, seeing an opportunity to gain a perceived dominance over his father, refuses to say no to his desire for power. In both cases, Noah and Ham are unable to say no to a lower, sinful passion. In other words, they’re not willing to make a self-sacrifice to better love their family and God.

Thankfully, we get to see an example of two others, Shem and Japheth, who say yes to love and cover their father’s nakedness, effectively ending any further near occasion of sin. Shem is a figure who is theorized to make a bit of “cameo” later in the Genesis narrative, and that will further explain how he is an example of holiness and self-sacrifice; however, that is looking too far ahead. For now, we see the rare occurrence in Scripture of a first-born son that truly sets a holy, righteous example for others to follow in Shem.

Following this incident, we read about sinful humanity’s prideful attempt to build the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). This leads to the creation of multiple human languages (thanks a lot, guys) and the further severing of humanity’s relationship with God. Clearly, something even bigger than the flood is needed to right the ship, and God knows exactly what that is.