INTRODUCTION to Genesis

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GENESIS

Lesson #01

INTRODUCTION to Genesis

The Broad Perspective:

• • • The book of Genesis is a long book, and a very important one. It lays the foundation for the rest of the Bible.
    • The book can be divided by subject matter into two parts. Each half has 5 sections, introduced by the phrase, “this is the account of”.
    • Part #1: Chapters 1-11 from creation to Abraham:
      • This part deals with the broad perspective in a very general way concerning primeval history.
      • The subjects covered are:
        • • Creation
          • Sin
        • Nations and government
      • The five sections in part 1:
        • Gen 2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, 11:10 “this is the account of”
        • The time period in part 1:
        • This part covers a time period of about 2,000 years.Because this part covers such a long period of time, we are not told every detail and every event. God only tells us what is important for us to know about these 2,000 years.

 

• • • • Part #2: Chapters 12-50 from Abraham to Joseph:
      • This part deals with personalities of the faith concerning patriarchal history:
        • Abraham
        • Isaac
        • Jacob
        • Joseph
      • The five sections in part #2:
        • Gen 11:27, 25:12, 25:19, 36:1, (repeated for emphasis in 36:9), 37:2 “this is the account of”
        • The time period in part #2:
        • This part covers a time period of about 350 years.
        • Because this larger part of the book covers a shorter period of time, God is telling us that these personal relationships are more important than the bigger issues covered in the first part of the book.It is not that the first part of the book is not important, but that the first part serves as a background for the second part of the book.

 

• The Name of the Book:
  • In Hebrew, the name of the book (beresit pronounced “bray\shéet”) means = in the beginning.
    • It was a practice to name a book after the first words in the book.
    • It is a good title for the book because it is a book of beginnings.
  • Genesis is the beginning of:
    • The physical universe
    • Man
    • Human relationships: male/female, family
    • Sin and its consequences
    • Nations: Jew and Gentile
    • Man’s relationship to God
    • Faith
  • The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is aleph.
    • This letter is called by the Jews the “master” letter.
    • The letter symbolizes the one God, eternal and omnipotent.
      • Read Rev 1:8
      • Read Rev 21:6
• The Purpose of the Book:
  • Genesis gives the basis of God’s plan for man.
  • In a way, it’s the instruction manual for man.
    • It gives us a revelation of who God is and how He works in the lives of people.
    • When we first come to God, we don’t really know who God is and what He expects of us.
      • The same was true for man in the beginning.
      • Gradually God revealed himself to man. Man learned who God was and what He expected.
      • God does the same with us gradually over the years of our lives through experiences and through His word.
  • Genesis gives us a historical base for the rest of the Bible.
  • Genesis gives us a historical base for faith.
• The Author of the Book:
  • Theologians have questioned the authorship of Genesis from time to time.
  • However, most authorities agree that it was Moses.
    • The greatest verification of the authorship is that Jesus said it was Moses.
    • Read Joh 5:45-47
• The Date for the Book:
  • The book of Job is thought to be the oldest book of the Bible.
  • Genesis is thought to be the second oldest book in the Bible.
    • Moses lived about 1471-1451 BC (120 years)
    • Moses probably wrote the first 5 books of the Bible late in his life.
• The Theme for the Book:
  • Faith and redemption through knowing God.
  • In the book of Genesis we learn that God is the creator, the redeemer, the protector and sustainer of life, and the sovereign God.
    • In the book of Genesis God reveals himself to men in the Old Testament through 2 primary methods:
      • A revelation of the names of God that tell us something about God’s character.
      • A revelation of God by his covenants with man that tell us about the plan of God.
    • In the book of Genesis God reveals himself to New Testament man through types and prefigures that point to Christ.
      • “A type” is an object that God intended should represent Christ in his character or His ministry.
      • “A prefigure” is a person that God intended should represent Christ by His character or His actions.
• The Outline of the Book:
  • Part 1
    • Creation (1-2)
    • The fall (3-4)
    • The flood (5-9)
    • The tower of Babel (10-11)
  • Part 2
    • Abraham and the development of faith (12-23)
    • Isaac, the beloved son (24-26)
    • Jacob, the chastened deceiver (27-36)
    • Joseph, from suffering to glory (37-50)
• The Principal Sources for our Study:
  • Chronology of the Old Testament by Foyd Nolen Jones (the source for all the dates)
  • Genesis: Through the Bible commentary series by J. Vernon McGee
  • On the Eve of Adam by J. R. Church
  • The Book of Genesis by Ronald Youngblood
  • The Book of Genesis by Charles F. Pfeiffer
  • Science and Creation by Morris, Broadman, and Koontz
  • The Creator and the Cosmos by Hugh Ross, Phd.
  • The Creator Beyond Time and Space by Mark Eastman and Chuck Missler
  • Discoveries Since 1859 Which Invalidate the Evolution Theory by Walter F. Lammerts
  • Science and Scripture by the Creation Science Research Center
  • Evolution; a radio message by John Jess
  • Creation, Accident or Design? By Harold G. Coffin
  • Evolution by Kenneth Taylor
  • Evidence of a World-wide Flood by Kelly L. Segraves
  • Noah’s Ark: Fact or Fable? By Violet M. Cummings
  • Noah’s Ark: I Touched It by Fernando Navarra
  • God Divided the Nations by Noah W. Hutchings
  • Lord I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur
  • Ages and Dispensations by Willard C. Peirce
  • Gleanings from Genesis by Arthur W. Pink
  • Pharaoh’s and Kings: A Biblical Quest by David M. Rohl
  • Various misc. Notes

Homework

Introduction to Genesis 1

• Consider the following statements (a-f). For each statement write:
  • -1- How does belief in that statement affect one’s faith in God?
  • -2- What are the consequences in a Christian life because of that belief?
    • (-a-) This world came into being by either some cosmic, nuclear, or chemical accident without the involvement of an all powerful God.
    • (-b-) Man is an advanced animal brought about by chance descended from other animals.
    • (-c-) According to evolutionary processes, life is accidental and haphazard.
    • (-d-) Human life developed through time with many blind genetic alleys, misfits, and extinctions always struggling for existence of the most fit.
    • (-e-) The individual human is only as important as the genetic society (gene pool) from which he comes.
    • (-f-) The beginning of this universe was not a supernatural, miraculous event.
• Memory verse: Psalm 33:6