The Genesis

The Mysteries of the Biblical Version of Creation

Rudolf Steiner›s introduction to his work on Genesis is not a mere preamble, but a true declaration of intent. With profound and insightful language, he lays the foundation for a radically new approach to understanding the first book of the Bible. The text you provided is a magnificent starting point for exploring not only Steiner›s thought, but also his bold thesis: to understand Genesis, we must go beyond literal translation and reconnect with the spiritual consciousness that generated the text. The introduction encourages us to consider the book not as a historical or scientific account in the modern sense, but as a document of a profound spiritual experience.
Steiner begins with a crucial observation: the modern reader, even one sincerely interested in spirituality, finds himself at a disadvantage. If he has «placed himself on the ground of spiritual science,» that is, anthroposophy, and is open to the teachings on world evolution, then and only then can he hope to «penetrate those pious words.» This sentence emphasizes that understanding Genesis is not an intellectual act, but a consequence of an inner preparation.