The Book of Genesis

Daniel Gross

“Genesis is the seed-plot of the whole Bible. It is essential to the true understanding of its every part. It is the foundation on which Divine Revelation rests; and on which it is built up. It is not only the foundation of all Truth, but it enters into, and forms part of, all subsequent inspiration; and is at once the warp and woof of Holy Writ.” (Bullinger)

“Genesis is the book of origins. It gives a majestic account of the beginnings of all that the Creator brought into being. It answers men’s questions concerning the origin of the world, and of plant, animal, and human life. It tells of the establishment of the family, the origin of sin, the giving of the divine revelation, the growth and development of the race, and the inauguration of God’s plan to bring about redemption through his chosen people. (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

I. Author

Moses wrote the book of Genesis. Liberal theologians claim that Moses did not write the Pentateuch (the first five books in the Bible). Supposedly four different authors wrote it. This theory is known as the JEDP theory. [The idea is that “J” used the name Jehovah for God’s name and “E” used Elohim. “D” wrote the law portions and “P” wrote the priestly sections.] Supposedly J wrote about 850 BC; E about 750 BC; D in 621 BC; and P in 500 BC. The JEDP theory has no Biblical basis and is contradicted by the Bible.. God’s word teaches us that:

A. Moses was well-educated (Acts 7:22)

B. God commanded Moses to write a book (Exodus 17:14).

C. Moses did write a book. (Exodus 24:4; Numbers 33:2).

D. The book that Moses wrote was called “the book of the covenant” (Exodus 24:7) and “the book of this law” (Deuteronomy 28:61).

E. God acknowledged Moses to be the author of “this book of the law” (Joshua 1:7-8).

F. Joshua acknowledged Moses as the author of “the book of the law” and made a copy of the book (Joshua 8:30-35).

G. Joshua told Israel to obey “the book of the law of Moses” (Joshua 23:6).

H. David told Solomon to obey “the law of Moses” (I Kings 2:3).

I. Joash obeyed “the book of the law of Moses” (II Kings 14:6).

J. Amaziah obeyed “the law in the book of Moses” (II Chronicles 25:4).

K. Daniel confessed that all Israel had transgressed “the law of Moses” (Daniel 9:11).

L. Malachi urged Israel to remember “the law of Moses” (Malachi 4:4).

M. Ezra acknowledged the book as “the law of Moses” (Ezra 3:2).

N. Nehemiah wrote about what “they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses” (Nehemiah 8:14).

O. Jesus Christ acknowledged that Moses had written Scripture (Mark 10:2-9; Luke 24:27,44; John 1:17; 5:46; 7:19; 7:23).

P. Mark, Luke, Paul, James, and the author of Hebrews acknowledged Moses as the author of “the law of Moses” (Mark 12:26; Luke 2:22; Acts 13:39; 15:21; 28:23; I Corinthians 9:9; Hebrews 10:28).

Who was Moses?

Moses is known as the lawgiver, since it was through Moses that Israel was given the law. He was Israel’s leader during the exodus from Egypt and during the wandering in the wilderness. The Egyptians gave him his name meaning “child.” Pharaoh’s daughter found a child. He belonged to the tribe of Levi. His father was Amram and his mother was Jochebed. Aaron was his elder brother and Miriam his sister.

II. Recipients

The nation of Israel.

III. Where was it written?

Possibly while Moses was a sheepherder with Jethro. Another possibility is that it was written at Sinai as the first book of the law.

IV. Date

About 1530 BC

V. Purpose

To prove that the God of Israel is the Creator of all things and to trace the history of the human race from creation to the time of Israel’s development as a special people. To tell us about the beginning of all things. The word “Genesis” means “origin.” The book of Genesis is often called the “book of beginnings.” Genesis tells of the beginning of: 1) Creation; 2) Humanity; 3) Marriage; 4) Family; 5) Sin; 6) Work; 7) Murder; 8) Religion; 9) Revelation; 10) Races; 11) Nations; 12) Human Languages; 13) The Hebrew Race.

VI. Key Verse

Genesis 12:1-3

VII. Key Word

“Generations” appears 19 times.

VIII. Important People

Adam & Eve; Cain & Abel; Enoch & Noah; Abraham & Lot; Ishmael & Isaac; Esau & Jacob; Joseph & his brothers.

IX. Types of Christ

1. Sun (Genesis 1:16 cf. John 8:12 and Malachi 4:2)

2. Adam (Christ, is the last Adam—See I Corinthians 15:22; 45-47)

3. The Bridegroom (Genesis 2:18-24 cf. Matthew 9:15)

4. The Lamb (Genesis 4:4 cf. John 1:29)

5. The Ark (Genesis 7:1 cf. Hebrews 11:7)

6. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20 cf. Hebrews 7:21)

7. Isaac (Genesis 21—Christ was an obedient Son and a willing Sacrifice)

8. Joseph a. Joseph was beloved of his father (Genesis 37:3 cf. Matthew 3:17)

b. He was hated and rejected by his brothers (Genesis 37:2-4 cf. John 15:18)

c. His brothers plotted to slay him and did so, figuratively (Genesis 37:20-27 cf. Luke 20:13-14)

d. He was reconciled to his brothers and they were blessed through him (Genesis 45)

e. His father sent him, and he was perfectly willing to go (Genesis 37:13 cf. John 3:16)

f. He revealed to his brothers the exalted position he would hold in the future and they hated him for this (Genesis 37:5 cf. Matthew 24:30-31)

g. Judah sold him for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:26-28 cf. Matthew 26:15)

h. He was tempted and did not yield (Genesis 39 cf. Matthew 4:11)

i. He was accused wrongfully (Genesis 39:20 cf. Matthew 26:59-65)

j. He was put in a dungeon, a place of death, with two malefactors (Genesis 39:20 cf. Mark 15:27-28)

k. One malefactor died and the other lived (Genesis 40:21-22 cf. Luke 23:39-43)

l. Joseph was raised from the place of death by the king (Genesis 41:14 cf. Ephesians 1:19-20)

m. Joseph was given all power in Egypt (Genesis 41:42-44 cf. Matthew 28:18)

n. He was acknowledged to be the savior and ruler of the people (Genesis 41:45 cf. Philippians 2:10-11)

o. Everyone had to get his or her bread (life) through Joseph (Genesis 41:55-57 cf. Acts 4:12)

p. He gave honor to the king and delivered all things into his hands (Genesis 47:14-20 cf. I

Corinthians 15:24)

q. He knew the past history of his brothers (Genesis 43:33 cf. John 2:24-25)

r. He freely forgave his brothers when they humbled themselves before him (Genesis 44-45 cf. I John 1:9)

X. General Information

Genesis is part of the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible (the word “Pentateuch” means “five books”). The Jews called these five books “the Law”. It is the first book in the Bible. It has 50 chapters, 1,533 verses, and 38,267 words. 1,156 verses in Genesis begin with the word “and.” The shortest chapter is chapter 16; the longest is chapter 24. Genesis is quoted or referred to 60 times in the New Testament. (See Matthew 19:4-6; 24:37-39; Mark 7:4,10; 10:3-8; Luke 11:49-51; 17:26-29,32; John 1:51; 7:21-23; 8:44-56.)

XI. Outlines

I. The Beginning of Humanity Chapters 1-11

A. Creation Chapter 1

B. Adam Chapter 2-5

D. Noah Chapters 6-11

II. The Beginning of Israel Chapters 12-50

A. Abraham Chapters 12-25

B. Isaac Chapters 26-28

C. Jacob Chapters 28-36

D. Joseph Chapters 37-50

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The following outline is based upon the generations given in Genesis:

I. The heavens and the Earth 1:1-4:26

II. Adam 5:1-6:8

III. Noah 6:9-9:29

IV. Noah’s Sons 10:1-11:9

V. Shem 11:10-26

VI. Terah 11:27-25:11

VII. Ishmael 25:12-18

VIII. Isaac 25:19-35:29

IX. Esau 36:1-37:1

X. Jacob 37:2-50:26

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Another possible outline is: Genesis 1-11 covers about 2000 years.

I. Creation 1-2 Genesis 12-50 covers about 350 years.

II. Corruption 3-4

III. Catastrophe 5-10

IV. Confusion 11

V. Chosen Race 12-50

The following comparison comes from Bullinger’s Companion Bible with several changes and additions:

Genesis Revelation

The book of beginnings	The book of the end
The creation of heaven and earth (1:1)	A new heaven and a new earth (21:1)
Begins with God (1:1)	Ends with Jesus Christ (22:21)
Satan’s first rebellion	Satan’s final rebellion
First judgment	Final judgment
Sun, moon, and stars created to govern the earth (1:14-16)	Sun, moon, and stars related to judgment on the earth (8:12; 16:8)
Sun created to govern the day (1:16)	No need of the sun (21:23)
Begins with darkness (1:2)	Ends with light from God (22:5)
The darkness was called Night (1:5)	There shall be no night (22:5)
The waters were called Seas (1:10)	There is no more sea (21:1)
Creation of man (chapters 1-2)	Eternal state of man (chapters 21-22)
The first Adam and his bride (2:22-25)	The last Adam and His bride (19:7-9)
A river out of Eden (2:10)	A pure river of water (22:1)
Man made in God’s image (1:26)	The man of sin made in Satan’s image
The first gospel (3:15)	The everlasting gospel (14:6)
The entrance of sin (3:6)	The end of sin (chapters 21-22)
First encounter with Satan (3:1)	Last encounter with Satan (20:10)
Human government established on earth	Christ’s government on earth
Curse begins (3:14-17)	No more curse (22:3)
Death enters the world (2:17; 3:19)	No more death (21:4)
Judgment by water (7)	Judgment by fire (21:8)
Building of Babylon (11)	Destruction of Babylon (18)
Paradise lost (3:24)	Paradise regained (21-22)
Idolatry begins	Idolatry reaches its height and is judged
Man was kept away from the tree of life (3:24)	Man is given the right to the tree of life (22:14)
The beginning of sorrow (3)	The end of sorrow (21:4)
God scattered the nations (11:8-9)	Nations are gathered for judgment (20:8)
The beginning of the shedding of tears	No more tears (21:4)
Origin of Israel	Israel restored (21)
Beginning of man’s art, commerce, religion, science, etc.	Man’s art, commerce, religion, science, etc. reach their peak and are judged by God
A bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac (24)	A bride for Abraham’s Son (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 19:7-9)
Nimrod, a rebel and a king, was founder of Babylon (10:8-10)	The Beast, a great rebel and a king, revives Babylon
A flood by God destroyed an evil generation (6-9)	A flood from Satan sent to destroy the remnant of Israel (12:15-17)
The rainbow was instituted as a token of God’s covenant with the earth (9:13)	The rainbow is a token of God’s remembrance of His covenant (4:3)
The evil of Sodom and Egypt (13; 19)	Jerusalem likened to Sodom and Egypt (11:8)
Two angels sent from God (19)	Two witnesses from God (11)
The earthly city (11)	The heavenly city (21:2)
Death	Resurrection
Man’s failure	God’s triumph
God’s word attacked (3)	God’s word defended (22:18-19)