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This study is an introduction to the Study of Genesis. The things we learn in this introduction should be the predominant thought in our minds as we study the book chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

The Title

The King James Version follows the Septuagint and indicates the contents by the title, taken from the first word of the book in Hebrew, Beginning. This characterization is true of the entire book, for it is one of genetic development throughout.

Genesis nowhere records its purpose, but by careful reading it is possible to grasp its unique significance, for it is indeed the record of several beginnings. In particular, it tells first of the beginning of the world, the period from Adam to Abraham, and then of the beginning of the Covenant People of GOD, the period from Abraham to Joseph. These two epochs are seen in the two main divisions of the book chapters 1 to 11, with its brief summary of the worlds history (primeval); and chapters 12 to 50, with its elaborate detail about only four men (patriarchal). The first division is introductory to the second.

Abraham is the central figure and most of the contents of the book concern him and his posterity. We may stand, as it were, at chapter 12 and first look back at Abrahams decent from Adam, and then look on and survey his descendants. Or, we may say that eleven chapters are devoted to heaven and earth, and thirty-nine to Abraham and family. If this seems like a disproportion it is in reality the key to the purpose of Genesis. The book could have begun with Abraham if the Hebrews were an ordinary race, since Jacob was the real founder of the Twelve Tribes and Abraham could be mentioned merely as his grandfather, according to common procedure of the modern biographer. But the Hebrew race is not an ordinary one, and the wonder is that chapters 1 to 11 are included at all not that they are so fragmentary. This is another way of saying that Genesis is not the universal history of mankind, but the unfolding of the divine purpose of Redemption and how it was to be accomplished. It is history with a special purpose, namely, to set forth as the foundation of the Biblical religion the origin of the divine plan of Redemption, and also the origin of the people chosen as its depository. The religion of the Bible is shown to be the bring back of man to God through Redemption, and all its dispensations and developments were designed to this end.

The Plan

The literary structure of Genesis is clear and simple. It is divided into an Introduction and Ten sections each headed "These are the generations" or "The book of generations," as follows:

1. Introduction (1: to 2: 3).
2. Heaven and earth (2:4 to 4:26).
3. Adam (5:1 to 6: 8).
4. Noah (6:9 to 9:29).
5. Sons of Noah (10: 1 to 11:9).
6. Shem (11:10:26).
7. Tera (11:27 to 25:11).
8. Ishmael (25: 12-18).
9. Isaac (25:19 to 35: 29).
10. Esau (36:1 to 37:1).
11. Jacob (37:2 to 50: 26).

These show that the book consists mainly of a compilation of family documents. Pre-existing materials were used by the author or editor (cf. Luke 1: 1-4), traditionally Moses (cf. N. T. Corroboration, e.g., John 1: 45; 5: 34), and welded into unity in a truly masterly way. It is thus that Genesis traces the antecedents of the Chose People and of the Messiah.

There is also a rational and spiritual as well as a literary plan, in three sections:

1. Introduction: The Origin of the Religion of Redemption as connected with the Creation of Man (chaps. 3 to 11).
2. The fall of Man and its Consequences (chaps. 3 to 11).
3. The New beginning (chaps. 12 through 50).

Dr. G Campbell Morgan has appropriately described these three sections as Generation, Degeneration, and Regeneration. Or we may call them Construction, Destruction, and Reconstruction. True throughout to the idea of "Beginnings, Creation begins with a view to development. Sin begins by showing its power over human life, and Redemption begins in primeval promise to mankind and is presented in preliminary symbols.

There is a definite literary and religious unity in Genesis, however it has come about. It should, therefore be studied as a whole. There is an exact chronological thread running through it, and all parts of it are interdependent. There is also a similarity of language throughout and, like the remainder of the Pentateuch, it is written in accordance with a definite plan worked out consistently from beginning to end. It is this unity that gives each book its literary form and stamps the group as the first known examples of a literary conception of history.

There is a regular series of genealogies from Adam to Jacob, occasionally interrupted for the introduction of related facts, and then resumed. They deal first with collateral branches of Adams family before the main topic of Israel is introduced, e.g. Cain before Seth, Ham and Japheth before Shem, Tera before Abraham, Ishmael and Esau before Isaac and Jacob. The apparent tacks and turns are strictly in accordance with the fundamental principle of beginnings," and thus Genesis is full of " geneses."

Gods presence is prominent throughout and it is shown how, under His guidance, the purpose of Redemption was accomplished by the separation of the chosen man and the chosen race from others, and how they were fitted for carrying out that purpose. A characteristic sign of unity is the law of selection. The section 1:26 to 11:32 gives the Abrahamic descent and explains why a new start became necessary, and why Abraham was chosen from among the sons of Terah even as Seth, Noah, and Shem had been chosen before him. The reason why such a selection was necessary is shown to be the perennial conflict of good and evil.

Another way of regarding the unity of the book is to observe that it records the story of man, not creation in general. Who are the great men, the representative men of Genesis? Each of them is connected with an event, a three-fold promise and a sign.

1. Adam-in whom the race was born:

1. Event: Fall-Sin;
2. Promise: Threefold-conflict, victory, suffering;
3. Sign: Cherubim and sword-separation through sin.

1. Noah-in whom the race was preserved:

1. Event: Flood-judgment;
2. Promise: threefold-dominion, sanctity of life, assurance;
3. Sign: Rainbow-separation because of sin.

1. Abraham- in whom the race was blessed:

1. Event: Call-redemption;
2. Promise: threefold-land, seed, blessing;
3. Sign: Circumcision- separation from sin.

Thus we see three themes in all this: sin, judgment, redemption: three men, events, promises, signs: and in each case the promise answers to the need: Savior, safety, blessing. Man is fallen, punished, redeemed; God is Creator, Judge, and Savior.

The Value

Genesis is the foundation of Biblical revelation and the explanation of all that follows in the history of Redemption through the Seed. There is no truth that is not here in germ. Its completeness is also noteworthy. When the calling of Israel is properly appreciated the sweep of chapters 1 to 11 is the more evident, in all its moral breadth and grandeur. It is a pre-Jewish book, human, universal. Looking back from Jacob, it ever-widens in view until Adam; while on from Jacob there is an ever widening out in fulfillment of Divine purpose.

Thus Genesis should be studied not merely as history, but as a succinct record of some of the stages in Gods effort of mercy to restore man to righteousness. Only thus may we understand its omissions and inclusions. It should be studied in constant view of the presence of the supernatural element. God is in Genesis for Redemption, and this constitutes the difference between it and all other books dealing with what is known as primitive religion. It should be studied as part of a volume that is in truth the Word of God, a fact that gives its authority. It cannot be accounted for unless acknowledged as an integral part of an inspired volume.

The Message

The Keynote of Genesis is the first four words of 1:1, "In the beginning God." It is thus a book of divine beginnings. It shows the origin of Creation, Man, Sin, and Redemption, with special emphasis on Redemption and as such its message is fourfold:

1. Gods Presence. The prominence of God in chapter one is seen throughout. He is creator, Lawgiver, Preserver, Judge, Redeemer.
2. Gods Purpose. Redemption is dominant from first to last, affecting the selection and proportion of materials.
3. Gods Plan This is carried out

1. Under His guidance. All through it is "God first." Man is the instrument, not the agent.
2. With a definite object. This is not civilization (Cain), not conquest (Nimrod), but the spiritual blessing of salvation (Abraham).
3. Through suitable instruments. God works through means and His instruments must be fitted to His purpose. The supreme requirement is faith, as see in Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (cf. Heb. 11:6). The unfit are eliminated, from Cain down to Reuben. There must be faith to respond to Gods revelation.

1. Gods Promise. From first to last this is the support and nourishment of His people. It has been well said that Genesis commences with God (1; 1) and ends with a coffin in Egypt (50:26); but while this is true we must not forget that the coffin was associated with Josephs absolute assurance of Gods visitation according to His word (cf. 50: 25), and was expressive of strong faith and certain hope.

Thus, through Gods Presence, Purpose, Plan, and Promise, Genesis looks forward to a great future, culminating in the Apocalypse (cf. Gen. 1 to 3 with Rev. 20 to 22 and note the corresponding particulars). Genesis is to be transformed into Palingensis, when human generation is succeeded by supernatural regeneration, through Him who is both the Seed of the Woman (3: 15 Galatians 4: 4) and the Deliverer out of Jacob (49:10; Rom. 11: 26).

Title

Questions

*1* From where do we get the name Genesis?

Answer------------------

*2* What does the word Genesis mean?

1. its just a name

(b) God is Savior

(c) it means the end of things

(d) it means Beginning

Answer-------------------

*3* What does the name tell us about the whole book?

Answer---------------------

*4* Where in Genesis do we find the record of its purpose?

1. Gen. 24: 4
2. Gen. 2: 5
3. Gen. 49: 5
4. Just after the tree of knowledge?
5. There is no record of its purpose in the book.

Answer------------------

*5 * How then are we able to determine the purpose of Genesis?

1. by reading Revelation 22
2. by listening carefully to what people tell us
3. by becoming involved in long discussions about how to interpret the seven days
4. by a careful study of the Book itself

Answer---------------------

*6 * What is the first event in the period of beginnings?

1. The beginning of the world
2. The beginning of the French people?
3. The beginning of the Jewish nation?
4. The beginning of the period from Adam to Abraham?

*7 * What is the second event in the period of beginnings?

1. The Creation of the world
2. The period from Adam to Abraham
3. The period from Abraham to Joseph

*8 * In what chapters do we find the above two epochs?

Answer---------------------

*9 * What is the third event in the period of beginnings?

1. The period from Abraham to Joseph
2. The Creation of the world
3. The period from Adam to Abraham

Answer---------------------

*10* What chapters in the Book of Genesis cover this period?

Answer---------------------

*11 * What is the common name given to the third epoch?

Answer---------------------

*12 * How many men are dealt with in this third epoch?

1. 20
2. 30
3. 2
4. 4

Answer-----------------

*13 * Who is the central figure in the book of Genesis?

Answer-------------------

*14 * How many chapters of Genesis are devoted to heaven and earth?

1. 20
2. 25
3. 10
4. 9
5. 11

Answer-------------------

*15 * How many chapters of Genesis are devoted to Abraham and family?

1. 50
2. 9
3. 11
4. 40
5. 39

*16 * What do we learn from this disproportionate amount of chapters being devoted to one family?

Answer------------------

*17 * Of what is Genesis not the history?

Answer-------------------

*18 * Then what is Genesis the unfolding of?

Answer---------------------

*19* The literary structure of Genesis is divided into how many sections

Answer-----------------------

*20* Name the Sections

Answer--------------------

*21* What does this division teach us about the compilation of the book of Genesis?

Answer-----------------------

*22* What is the heading by which these divisions are recognized?

Answer--------------

*23 * How many sections are spiritual and rational as well as the literary plan?

Answer-----------------

*24 * What are the titles of these sections?

Answer

THE UNITY

*25 * How is the book of Genesis to be studied?

1. By its divisions?
2. By its famous men?
3. By its happenings?
4. As a whole?

Answer--------------

*26 * Whose presence is predominant throughout the book?

1. Abraham
2. Joseph
3. Adam
4. Isaac
5. Satan
6. God

Answer---------

*27 * Under Gods guidance, what purpose is accomplished?

Answer-----------------

*28 * How was this Redemption accomplished?

Answer----------------

*29 * We can observe the unity of the book by realizing that it records the story of ----------- not of ------------ in general.

*30 * Who are the great men, the representative men of Genesis?

Answer-----------------

Each of them is connected with an event, a threefold promise, and a sign.

*31 * 1 Adam- In whom the race was born:

1. Event: answer------------
2. Promise: answer------------
3. Sign: answer-----------

2 Noah- In whom the race was preserved:

1. Event: answer------------
2. Promise: answer-------------
3. Sign: answer-----------

3 Abraham- In whom the race was blessed:

1. Event: answer-----------
2. Promise: answer-------------
3. Sign: answer-------------

*32 * What are the three themes that we see in all this?

Answer-----------------

*33 * Genesis is the foundation of ---------------- and the -------------- of all that ---------- in the history of --------------- through -------------.

*34 * Genesis should be studied not merely as history, but as a succinct record of some of the stages in Gods effort of mercy to-----------------.

THE MESSAGE

*35 * The key note of Genesis is -----------------.

*36 * What is the fourfold message of Genesis?

Answer: 1 --------------, 2----------, 3-------------, 4------------