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A Survey of the Book of Genesis

Updated: Feb 23, 2023



  • The first book in the Jewish tradition is “Genesis” which means “beginning”

  • This title comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament i.e. Septuagint.

  • The Hebrew like other peoples of the Ancient Near East, titled literary works after their opening word or words.

  • For ex. Genesis was originally called “in the beginning”

  • The Septuagint and the Vulgate tended to name the books after their contents not their opening words.


#1 -CONTENTS


  • The main subject matter of the book consists of origins: the origin of the created world, of the human race, of the various nations of earth and then particularly of the covenant family which composes the redeemed people of God.

  • Much of the book is concerned with the beginnings, the name “Genesis” does not reflect its scope of the book of which the larger portion consists of the history of Patriarchs and concluded with Joseph’s life. There are basically four beginnings:

  • The creation – Ch. 1-2

  • The beginning of a new life outside Eden after the fall – Ch. 4-5

  • The flood and a new beginning afterwards – Ch. 6-11

  • The new start with Abraham – Ch. 12-50


#2 -AUTHORSHIP


  • Jewish and Christian tradition has nearly unanimously attributed the authorship of Genesis to Moses.

  • Genesis is the only book of the Pentateuch that does not mention Moses’ name or indicate something about its authorship.

  • This omission may well be because the latest events of the book predate Moses by several centuries. Also biblical books seldom designate their authors.

  • Yet the remainder of the Pentateuch builds upon Genesis, without which the constant allusions to the Patriarchs and other persons and events would make no sense.

The summary of the conclusion of Genesis Gen 46: 8-27 in Exodus 1: 1-17 serves as a bridge between the patriarchs and the exodus deliverance and highlights the continuity of the Pentateuch’s story.


#3 - LITERARY FORMS

  • The three major sections of Genesis are characterized by distinct literary types.

  • The primeval events (Gen 1-11) are cast in a poetic narrative form to aid in oral transmission.

  • The accounts of the first three Patriarchs (Gen 12-36, 38) are reports about ancestors that were retained in family records.

  • The Joseph narrative (Gen 37, 39-50) is a short story containing tension and resolution.

  • Within each of these major literary types, however, are other minor types such as genealogies (5: 3-32; 11—10-32), narratives in which God appears (17-18; 32: 22-30), words from God (25: 23), blessings (1: 28; 9: 1; 27: 27-29) and tribal sayings (49: 3-27).


#4 - MAJOR THEMES


Election

  • The book of Genesis makes it clear that the Lord did not choose Abraham and his family because they were more righteous, more faithful, more pious or more deserving than any other family.

  • It was purely God’s grace and choice. The aim however to raise from him a new nation to follow God fully in contrast to the wicked people of Sodom and be an example to the other nations.

  • The Israelites often forgot their role and responsibility as models of God’s redemption to the world and instead saw their election as a matter of ethnic pride.

  • God continually reminded them “the LORD did not set this affection on you and chose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples” (Deut 7: 7) but they forgot God’s plan for them.

Covenant

  • This is the main theme in Genesis with 3 covenants mentioned – that at creation, with Noah and with Abraham.

  • However, Abrahamic covenant is the most important one which is specified in Gen. 12: 1-3 and reaffirmed in 13: 14-17, 15 and 18: 18-19.

  • It is the three parts – the land, a great nation and through this to be a blessing to all peoples.

  • This covenant is the basis of the rest of the Pentateuch and the whole Bible.

#5 - OUTLINE OF GENESIS

  • Gen 1: 1-2: 25 – the creation of the world and Humanity

  • Gen 3: 1-7: 24 – fall of Adam and Eve and the curse of the world

  • Gen 8:1-11: 32 – Renewal of the earth and humanity

  • Gen 12: 1-25: 18 – History of Abraham

  • Gen 25: 19- 28: 9 – History of Isaac

  • Gen 28: 10- 38: 43 – History of Jacob

  • Gen 37:1 -50: 26 – History of Joseph

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