Genesis Introduction

1. Name.

2. Author.

3. Date.

4. Primary audience.

5. Themes.

   1. Beginnings – Genesis shows us the origin of many things.

      1. All creation, so the beginning of the universe, the world, and all mankind.

      2. Sin (including murder) and the curses that it brought.

      3. Rebirth after the Flood and Noah’s family.

      4. Various languages.

      5. Promises of God to the Hebrew people.

      6. Israelite nation.

      7. Nations around Canaan (e.g. Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Midianites).

      8. Why they are in Egypt.

      9. Their purpose in Canaan.

   2. Redemption.

      1. This really is the theme of the whole Bible, but it all starts here.

      2. God created everything perfectly, but given the choice, we choose to disobey.

      3. As a result, sin is condemned, and punishment follows.

      4. But redemption is coming through sacrifice.

   3. Generations.

      1. This is another translation for the name Genesis.

      2. This could be generation, origin, or birth (toledoth, H8435).

      3. We find that it refers to…

         1. Heavens and earth (2:4) – NKJV translates it as “history.”

         2. Adam (5:1).

         3. Noah (6:9; 10:1, 32).

         4. Shem (11:10).

         5. Terah (11:27).

         6. Ishmael (25:12-13).

         7. Isaac (25:19).

         8. Esau (36:1, 9).

         9. Jacob (37:2) – NKJV translates it as “history.”

      4. It begins with the beginning of humanity, continuing to narrow it down to the family of God.

      5. Again, this is the story of the entire Bible, but this is where it narrows down from the world to a single family/nation.

6. Outline.

   1. Creation to Abraham (1:1–11:26).

   2. Abraham and Isaac (11:27–25:18).

   3. Isaac and Jacob (25:19–28:9).

   4. Jacob (28:10–36:43).

   5. Joseph (37:1–50:26).

 

Apologetics Press: The Five Manifestations of Natural Phenomena