Supplementary commentary on Genesis, Exodus and the gospels (Gn-Ex-EvIa)

Summary

ON GENESIS

1. Be light made [I.3]: that is, the substance of the sun, as some say, in which light was placed on the fourth day. Even though the entire firmament was radiant, this substance was more clear and radiant still.

2. Let there be a firmament [I.6]. It is called the ‘firmament’ because, as Basil says, it is more solid than any precious stone and more beautiful than crystal.

3. For the Lord God had not rained upon the earth [II. 5]: because there was no rain before the Flood on account of man's sin.

4. A spring rose out [II.6]: Siloam, as some suppose, from which the four rivers take their source.

5. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it [II. 17]: you shall die, that is, in your soul, not in your body, since to the Lord all the days of Adam's life (which lasted 930 years) were reckoned as one day, as scripture says: ‘And a thousand years as one day with God.’

6. And the Lord said to the serpent: ‘thou are cursed’ [III. 14]: formerly, so it was thought, the serpent was without venom. But according to the biblical narrative it is here given to be understood that the first man was created by God in the morning and was in Paradise up to the eighth hour. But not so for the devil: for as soon as he was created by God, he was overcome by pride and fell from heaven.

7. […]