The story of creation and what Christians refer to as "the fall" in Genesis 1-3 has shaped western attitudes to sex and gender for all of Christian history. The Pauline epistles refer to Jesus as the New Adam or the Second Adam (cf. Romans 5: 12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 44-49),  and from the time of the early Church, Mary was given the parallel title of the New Eve. Pope John Paul II's Catechesis on the Book of Genesis interpreted Genesis 1-3 as the divinely revealed blueprint for marriage and the relationship between the sexes, and this has shaped the Theology of the Body movement which has had a profound influence on modern Catholic teaching on gender, sexuality and marriage.

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But how far does the Hebrew text of Genesis support these interpretations, and what might be lost in translation? What new insights might we gain if we revisit the Hebrew to explore the subtle linguistic nuances that inform the story of the creation of humankind as male and female, made in the divine image? How do rabbinic interpretations differ from those offered by Christian interpreters of the Bible?

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Rabbi Dr Michael Hilton and Catholic Professor Tina Beattie have known each other for many years through their work in Jewish/Christian/Muslim dialogue. Join them as they explore key questions about scripture, translation and interpretation.

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This is the first in a series of public webinars offered as part of the Sophia Institute's "Introduction to Theology" programme. We do not charge for these online events, but we invite donations to support the work of the Sophia Institute to promote education and pastoral and spiritual formation among communities in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on women.

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