Introduction to Genesis
YOU WILL BE A BLESSING
Genesis Study
Key Verse: 12:2
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
Author & Date of writing
Genesis is the first of the Bible’s 66 books, and was written in approximately 1406-1446 B.C., as the first book in what is called the Pentateuch—a word that means five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). These five books were most likely written by Moses, except for the last chapter of Deuteronomy, which tells about Moses’ death.
Genesis has had the greatest influence on human history of any of the books. It is the foundation of the entire Bible. If Genesis were removed from the Bible, it would be impossible to understand the remaining books. It would be like a building without a foundation or a bridge without supports. If we had no book of Genesis, mankind would lack its vivid picture of the origin and purpose of all things.
The Fundamental Truths of Genesis
Genesis, as a record of “beginnings”, deals with the problem of the origins of all things—the origins of the universe, of the solar system, of life, of mankind, of marriage, of civilization, of language, of culture, of race and, especially, of human sin, of God’s promises and plans for salvation, and of a special relationship between Abraham and God. Genesis is the foundation of history as well as of science and philosophy. Within Genesis is hidden the germ of all truth. Just as the elements of an apple are hidden in the apple seed, so the roots of revelation of things to come are hidden in Genesis. For instance, the origin of the gospel first appears in Genesis 3:15, and begins in earnest in chapters 12:2 and 22:18. Revelation appears more and more clearly through Psalms and the Prophets, and is given fully at Jesus’ coming (Gal 4:4). As Dr. Bollinger has said, “Genesis is the seedbed of all the Scriptures, and the basis for understanding them.”
The fundamental truths of Genesis seem to be as follows:
Of God, Genesis testifies that he is the Creator, King, and Savior.
Of the universe, Genesis teaches us how it came into existence.
Regarding human beings, Genesis tells us where we came from, and why and for what reason we came into being—the meaning and purpose of our existence.
Regarding sin, Genesis tells us what it is, how it entered the world, and the consequences of sin.
Of salvation, Genesis tells us how the history of salvation began.
Major Theme
Genesis clearly teaches us the principles of the history of the order and harmony between God the Creator, mankind, and creation. How did God set world history into motion? In what direction is it moving today? Genesis makes clear the meaning of humans' existence and the role of creation in world history. If we examine the text carefully, we see that the author writes from first to last in such a way as to convey to us several integrated, coherent points.
(1) That the purpose of God’s creation was “good”, for his glory, as we see in 1:31, ‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good’. His good purpose - to restore fallen creation to its original state - has never changed since the fall of mankind.
(2) That the curse on the serpent, and the promise of ultimate victory of woman’s offspring (3:15) is found not only throughout Genesis but the entire Bible.
(3) That, beginning with chapter 12, God begins his redemptive work with the calling of one man, Abraham. Beginning with 12:2,3, God carries out his redemptive work based on his promise to Abraham.
A Perspective for Genesis Study
There are several perspectives we can take to the study of Genesis. We may focus on the literary style and the beauty of composition; similarly, modern scientists may be only interested in the Bible's scientific claims and their validity or lack thereof. The Bible, however, is simply not a book of science. That is not to say that it is unscientific. As science and archaeology progress, more and more proof surfaces that the Bible is both scientific and historical. For example, some ancient civilizations regarded light and celestial bodies to be the same, but even then, the Bible distinguished them: light was created on the first day, and celestial bodies on the fourth day.
From what perspective then, should we study Genesis? In short, a historical perspective is the most fruitful for purposes of understanding. The Bible is a history book. Not an ordinary history book, but a book of the history of salvation. Genesis starts from the very beginning, but it does not include all events from that point forward. Rather, it selectively records those individuals and events pivotal to the history of salvation of the human race. Therefore, when we study Genesis, we need to set aside our preconceptions and biases, and open our ears, that we may humbly hear what the author is trying to say.
Purpose of our Study
(1) To know God
Each person has his or her own ideas and views about God, but if we study the Bible carefully, we may find that our own ideas about God and what the Bible says about him are completely different. The Bible is a book of God’s own revelation regarding himself. Finite human beings cannot know infinite God. Within the bounds of the revelation of nature and God’s Word, it is possible. And since the Bible is the special revelation of God by God himself, it is possible to know God and meet Him personally through it. To know God is crucial; it is a matter of salvation. And when we know God, we can truly know ourselves.
(2) To know the meaning and purpose of my existence
When studying Genesis, we need to take an existential viewpoint. Who exactly am I, and what is the meaning and purpose of my life? Why and for what purpose am I alive? And how can I find real happiness? No one can lead a genuinely happy and meaningful life without first settling these two questions of “why” and “how”. By studying Genesis, we solve fundamental life problems and lay down a solid foundation for our lives. And as we continue, we should pray that we may establish our outlooks on life, the world, and history on a foundation of truth, laying the foundation of happiness in our lives.
(3) To be used by God in His redemptive history
The three forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Joseph, make key appearances in Genesis as instruments in the salvation history of God. God becomes the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is a personal and historical God, living and active in history. And God is still performing his redemptive work through persons he has chosen. The world urgently needs fathers of faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As we study Genesis, we pray that we too may be used as God’s chosen people for God’s salvation work in the world today.
Outline
• The Creation of the Universe, the Earth, and Mankind (1:1-31)
• The Planting of the Garden of Eden (2:1-25)
• The Fall of Man and the Consequences of Original Sin (3:1-5:32)
• Noah and the Judgment by Flood (6:1-9:29)
• The Tower of Babel and the Scattering of the Human Race (10:1-11:32)
• The Story of Abraham (12:1-25:18)
• Isaac and his Family (25:19-26:35)
• Jacob and his Sons (27:1-37:1)
• The Story of Joseph (37:2-50:26)