Introduction to Genesis

Name

The Hebrew title of the book is the first phrase berēʾšt̠ translated “in the beginning.” The English title of “Genesis” comes from the Hebrew word t̠ôled̠ôt̠, which means “these are the generations of” and is translated geneseōs in Greek.

Author

The book of Genesis does not explicitly say that Moses is the author. However, scholars have traditionally held that Moses is the author of Genesis and the other four books of the Pentateuch.

Exodus is incomplete without the background provided in Genesis. The first word in the Hebrew of Exodus is “and” indicating it is connected to what came before, and that is Genesis.

The earliest writings of the Jews, the Talmud, ascribes the authorship of Genesis to Moses. The entire Torah (the Pentateuch), which was originally only one long book, was always considered by the Jews to have been written by Moses.

Genre

Law

Literary Form

Prose Narrative

Time Frame

Most scholars assign a date to the writing of Genesis to somewhere between 1450 and 1406 B.C.

Moses wrote Genesis at some time when he was close to the Israelites and had access to their records. Therefore Moses wrote Genesis either while he was still living in Pharaoh’s court or during the wilderness journey.

If it were written while he was in Pharaoh’s court, it would be before 1487 B.C. If it were written during the wilderness wanderings, it would be between 1447-1407 B.C.

Emphasis

The emphasis of the book of Genesis is on God; His creation of the world, His creation of man, man’s fall, and God’s grace.

Note:  The Hebrew word t̠ôled̠ôt̠, which means “these are the generations of” introduces the individual generational record sections of the book. Some translations read, “These are the family records of.”

 Outline

Many of the outlines of Genesis simply follow the flow of the generations of families. I like the outline developed by J. Vernon McGee that combines major themes of Genesis along with the generational structure:*

Entrance of Sin on Earth, Chapters 1-11

1. Creation, Genesis 1-2
   1. Heaven & Earth
   2. Earth Became Waste and Void
   3. Re-creation
2. Fall, Genesis 3-4
   1. Roof of sin
   2. Fruit of sin
3. Flood (Deluge), Genesis 5-9
   1. Book of Generations of Adam — Through Seth
   2. Antediluvian Civilization — Cause of Flood and Construction of Ark
   3. Judgment of Flood
   4. Postdiluvian Civilization — After the Flood
   5. Postdiluvian Life — New Beginning
4. Tower of Babel and Confusion of Tongues
   1. Ethnology — Sons of Noah
   2. Tower of Babel

Preparation for the Coming of the Redeemer of All Mankind, Chapters 12-50

1. Abraham (Faith)
2. Development of faith by seven appearances of God
   1. God’s Call and Promise to Abram
   2. Abram Returns to Land from Egypt
   3. The First War
   4. God Reveals Himself More Completely to Abram —
   5. Unbelief of Sarai and Abram —
   6. God Makes Covenant with Abraham (Abram Becomes Abraham)
   7. God Reveals the Coming Destruction of Sodom to Abraham
   8. God Destroys Cities of the Plain
   9. Abraham Repeats Sin at Gerar
   10. Birth of Isaac
   11. God Commands Abraham to Offer Isaac
   12. Death of Sarah
3. Isaac (the Beloved Son)
   1. Abraham Sends Servant for Bride for Isaac
   2. Death of Abraham
   3. God Confirms Covenant to Isaac
4. Jacob
   1. Jacob and Rebekah Connive
   2. Jacob Leaves Home
   3. Jacob Arrives in Haran
   4. Birth of Sons to Jacob
   5. Jacob Flees from Haran
   6. Crisis in Life of Jacob: At Peniel, a Man Wrestles with Him
   7. Jacob Meets Esau
   8. Scandal in Jacob’s Family: Dinah Defiled
   9. Jacob Returns to Bethel
   10. Family of Esau Which Becomes Nation of Edom
5. Joseph (Suffering and Glory)
   1. Jacob Dwells in Canaan
   2. Sin and Shame of Judah
   3. Humiliation in Egypt
   4. Exaltation in Egypt,
   5. Death and Burial of Jacob and Joseph

• Adapted from Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee.