Presentation Type
Oral/Paper Presentation
Abstract
This paper explores the profound influence of Ancient Egyptian culture on the Pentateuch. It challenges the traditional Documentary Hypothesis, which dates the Pentateuch to the Persian and Hellenistic periods, by presenting evidence that many biblical narratives, themes, and motifs are rooted in the cultural and religious milieu of Ancient Egypt, that could not be older than the 1st Millennium B.C.E. The study highlights parallels between the creation narratives in Genesis and Egyptian cosmogonies, such as the concept of primordial watery chaos and the emergence of order through divine command. It also examines the presence of Egyptian religious practices and deities within the Pentateuch, suggesting a significant Egyptian impact on early Israelite religion and culture. The paper delves into specific Egyptian creation myths, such as those from the Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Shabaka Stone, drawing comparisons with Genesis 1:1-13. Additionally, it discusses the role of the Egyptian god Khnum and the motif of God as a potter in biblical texts. By investigating these connections, the paper refutes minimalist theories and underscores the historical and cultural exchanges between ancient Egypt and Israel, which played a crucial role in the origins of the Pentateuch. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the Pentateuch's creation narratives within the broader context of Ancient Near Eastern cosmologies.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Mark Janzen
Recommended Citation
Jenkins, Christopher, "“You are the Potter I Am the Clay” … Tracing Egyptian Creation, Cult, and Ritual Power motifs in the Pentateuch." (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 168.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/168
Included in
Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons
“You are the Potter I Am the Clay” … Tracing Egyptian Creation, Cult, and Ritual Power motifs in the Pentateuch.
This paper explores the profound influence of Ancient Egyptian culture on the Pentateuch. It challenges the traditional Documentary Hypothesis, which dates the Pentateuch to the Persian and Hellenistic periods, by presenting evidence that many biblical narratives, themes, and motifs are rooted in the cultural and religious milieu of Ancient Egypt, that could not be older than the 1st Millennium B.C.E. The study highlights parallels between the creation narratives in Genesis and Egyptian cosmogonies, such as the concept of primordial watery chaos and the emergence of order through divine command. It also examines the presence of Egyptian religious practices and deities within the Pentateuch, suggesting a significant Egyptian impact on early Israelite religion and culture. The paper delves into specific Egyptian creation myths, such as those from the Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Shabaka Stone, drawing comparisons with Genesis 1:1-13. Additionally, it discusses the role of the Egyptian god Khnum and the motif of God as a potter in biblical texts. By investigating these connections, the paper refutes minimalist theories and underscores the historical and cultural exchanges between ancient Egypt and Israel, which played a crucial role in the origins of the Pentateuch. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the Pentateuch's creation narratives within the broader context of Ancient Near Eastern cosmologies.