Studies In Genesis

Studies In The Book of Genesis


Introduction To Genesis

I. Genesis is Typically Not The Original Name Of The First Book of The Bible.

A. The original name of the book in the Hebrew language was "Bereshiyth".

1. This term literally meant "In the beginning" or "The beginning"

a. Only when the text was placed in the Greek language was it renamed Genesis as it was in the Septuagint.

2. As the name indicates, this book is a text that reveals the beginings or generations of beginnings.

a. As such it is a book that reveals the fundamental beginnings that are revealed in scripture such as:

1. The beginning of the universe

2. The beginning of angelic beings

3. The human race

4. The races

5. The Israeli Nation

6. The Israeli Covenant

7. The nature and beginning of sin in mankind

8. The beginning of the prophetic theme of redemption

II. Genesis is considered to be constructed of eleven documents that made up the whole of the book.

A. Genesis was not considered to be a scientific text although it discloses scientific facts.

1. It was written to exhibit the fact that God is real and that He is the creator of:

a. The universe

b. Space

c. Time.

B. The first verse becomes the thesis plot of Genesis and begins to unravel the record of the true and living God and His relationship with mankind.

1. Genesis is so called because it contains the origin or the generations of all things such as:

a. The heavens

b. The earth

c. The stars

d. Angelic beings

e. Animals

f. Mankind

g. The various nations

2. Genesis begins with the dateless eternity and will cover several span of times, ages, and dispensations.

a. Locked within the beginning of the book are very imporatnt events such as:

1 Creation of Heaven andEarth

2. The creation of Angelic Beings

3. The sin of Lucifer and his fall from Heaven

4. The Enticement of the fallen Angels

5. The war between the Heavens (Shamayim)

6. The Heavens forever severed

7. Reconstruction of the heavens and the earth

C. These events are generally accepted to have occured in time just before the creative (reconstructive) passages in Genesis the 1st and 2nd chapters.

1. Genesis as a book is still very controversial and many scholars debate the authenticity of many of the events that occur in the text.

a. Even Mosaic authorship of the book is questioned and rejected.

2. There are some who maintain a "Higher Criticism" point of view of the scripture in general.

a. This view has led to the ideal of the "Documentary Hyposthesis"

1. The Documentary Hypothesis is based upon the rejection of Mosaic authorship based upon the use of various names used for God.

2. The Hyposthesis says that there were about 4 writers of Genesis, in actuality of the Pentateuch in general.

b. The hyposthesis says that 4 authors were responsible for writing Genesis.

Note: Where the term Jehovah is used it is believed that there were Yahwist writers, where the term Elohiym there were the Elohist writers, The Priestly writers were responsible for those passages that referred to El Shadai, and where the Deuteronmist history which was to take place after the death of Moses the Deuteronomist were responsible for writing.

Generally this is not the consensus of all scholars nor of all believers. For the most part the book of Genesis is believed to be written by Moses.

By Bishop Dr. Derrick A. Reeves

Copyright © 2008 by Derrick A. Reeves