Title: The Heb title of this book is taken from its opening
phrase, Bereshith ("In the beginning..."). The English name is taken from the
title given to this book in the Greek Septuagint translation. The Greek word
genesis can mean "birth," "genealogy," "history of origin," or "source." The
word "genesis" is also found in the opening phrase of the first book of the New
Testament, Matthew, where it means "genealogy" or "history of origin."
Summary: Genesis is the single most important book of
the Bible. It is the beginning and foundation of the Bible, on which everything
else is built. Everything revealed in the other books of the Bible has its
beginning in the book of Genesis. It is the first book of the Pentateuch, the
first five books of the Hebrew Bible. As both the Hebrew and Greek titles
suggest, the book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. Genesis and Revelation
stand as two end posts bridging the revelation of God to man; the first telling
how it all began, the second revealing in symbol how it all will finish. In
Genesis we see the beginnings of all that Revelation predicts as the
consummation of the Divine purpose in the earth.
For example:
Genesis speaks of a natural creation (Gen 1); Revelation of a spiritual
creation (Rev 3:14).
In Genesis the serpent speaks (Gen 3:1-5); in
Revelation it is restrained (Rev 20:2).
In Genesis, the curse is imposed
(Gen 3:17); in Revelation it is removed (Rev 22:3).
In Genesis, sorrow and
death make their appearance (Gen 3:16-19); in Revelation they are taken away
(Rev 21:4).
In Genesis, access to the tree of life is denied (Gen 3:24); in
Revelation, access to it is opened (22:7).
In Genesis, the first paradise
is closed to man (3:23); in Revelation it is opened to him (Rev 21:25).
DIVISIONS OF GENESIS
In addition to the natural separation into two periods of
time, the book of Genesis is also divided naturally into twelve sections. With
the exception of the first, these natural subject divisions are marked in the
Hebrew text by the word "toledoth" (lit, "generations," or "births"). In the
Septuagint, this word is translated with the Greek term "genesis". The KJV
translates the phrase in which "toledoth" appears as "the generations of..." and
the NIV uses the expression "the account of..." These divisions act something
like the subject headings used in some Bibles -- except in this case, they are
inspired! The divisions of Genesis are listed below:
Creation -- the beginning: Gen 1:1 - 2:3
The history of the heavens
and the earth: Gen 2:4 - 4:26
The book of the genealogy of Adam: Gen 5:1 -
6:8
The genealogy of Noah: Gen 6:9 - 9:29
The genealogy of the sons of
Noah: Gen 10:1 -11:9
The genealogy of Shem: Gen 11:10-26
The genealogy
of Terah (Abraham): Gen 11:27 - 25:11
The genealogy of Ishmael 25:12-18
The genealogy of Isaac: Gen 25:19 - 35:29
The genealogy of Esau: Gen
36:1-8
The genealogy of the sons of Esau: Gen 36:9-43
The genealogy of
Jacob: Gen 37:1 - 50:26
SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER FROM GENESIS
* God the great Creator of all: Gen 1:1
* God's First Promise to Man: Gen 3:15
* God called Abram: Gen 12:1
* God's Covenant with Abram/Abraham: Gen 12, 13, 15, 22
* How the nation of Israel came to be in Egypt: Gen 15, 37-50
DIVINE PORTRAITS OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF GENESIS
Adam illustrates human nature ; and what we are we have inherited from him
(1Co 15:47,48; Rom 5:12-19).
Cain illustrates the carnal mind, at enmity
with God and with a religion of its own (Gen 4:1-16; 1Jo 3:12; Jud
1:11).
Abel illustrates the spiritual mind, which discerns the value of shed
blood (Gen 4:4; Heb 9:22; 11:4).
Enoch illustrates communion with God that
leads to separation from the world, and typifies believers caught away from the
great tribulation (Gen 5:21-24; Heb 11:5,6; Jud 1:14,15).
Noah illustrates
regeneration -- being saved by the ark -- a symbol also of baptism (Heb 11:7;
1Pe 3:20,21).
Abraham illustrates faith, leading to strangership in this
world (Gen 12:1, etc; Heb 11:8-16; Gal 3:6-9).
Isaac illustrates sonship and
heirship (Gal 4:1-7,21-31).
Jacob illustrates service ; he served fourteen
years for both his wives, and six years for his cattle (Gen 31:38-42; Mat
25:21).
Joseph illustrates suffering and glory (Gen 39:20; 41:41-45; 2Ti
2:12).
Heb name of Book: Bereshith. Genesis in Greek = "the
beginnings". See Lesson, Pentateuch, Hebrew titles
Monotheism originally: Halley 62.
"The angels who did not keep their positions of authority":
2Pe 2:4; Jud 1:6; 1Co 6:3.
Theory of continuous generations beginning many 1,000s of
years ago (ie evolution) can be answered by demonstrating that progressive
increases would make present projected world population much greater than it
actually is.