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Genesis • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsWe want to establish the book of Genesis as a book written to God's covenant people to reveal who God is.
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Introduction to Genesis
Introduction to Genesis
In this introduction to the book, we want to establish a few things
Who wrote the book?
Who wrote the book?
What is the structure of the book?
How are we to read the book of Genesis?
Who wrote the book?
Who wrote the book?
Traditional View is that Moses is the author of this book as well the other four subsequent books which together from the Pentateuch.
Traditional View is that Moses is the author of this book as well the other four subsequent books which together from the Pentateuch.
This view has been disputed by others with one of the reasons being that Moses could not have written about his own death.
To say Moses is the author is not to say that he wrote everything by himself without reference to other sources. Moses put together this book drawing on witten and oral sources. This position allows us to stand by the traditional view as the other view come up with so much speculation in their explanations. Whether the matter of Moses’ authorship is fully resolved or not, it does not take away from the inspiration of the book and what we can learn from reading and learnign from the book itself!
What is the Structure of this book?
What is the Structure of this book?
There are various ways in which the book has been structured.
Genesis 1-11 Primeval History
Genesis 12-50- Patriarchal history
This can also be further diivided into 4 structures:
Creation ( Genesisn 1: 1-2:3)
Before the patriarchs: The need for a Covenant People( 2:4-11:26)
The patriarchs in Palestine: The establishment of the Covenant People ( 11:27-37:1)
The patriarchs in Egypt: The incubation of the Covenant People ( 37:2-50:26)
The other structure is around Toledod
This is structured as 10 or 11 and deals with Genealogies, Generations or the narratives of a person/people.
What is the Purpose of the Book? It reveals who God is. That God of the Israelites was not like one of the deities of the surrounding nations. He is the creator God. He is the God who made a covenant with Abraham.
What is the Purpose of the Book? It reveals who God is. That God of the Israelites was not like one of the deities of the surrounding nations. He is the creator God. He is the God who made a covenant with Abraham.
Creation: In the Beginning (1:1-2:3)
Creation: In the Beginning (1:1-2:3)
Before the Patriarch: The Need for a Covenant People
Before the Patriarch: The Need for a Covenant People
a. Toledot of heavens and erath (2:4-4:26)
b. Toledot of Adam ( 5:1-6:8)
c. Toledot of Noah( 6:9-9:29)
d. Toledot of Shem, Ham , and Japheth ( 10:1-11:9)
e. Toledot of Shem (11:10-26)
3. The Patriarchs in Palestine: The Establishment of a Covenant People
a. Toledot of Terah( 11:27-25:11)
b. Toledot of Ishmael (25:12-18)
c. Toledot of Isaac ( 25:19-35:29)
d. Toledot of Esau ( 36:1-8)
e. Toledot of Esau ( 36:9-37:1)
4. The Patriarchs in Egypt: Incubation for the Covenant People ( Toledot of Jacob: 37:2-50:26)
How Are We to Read This Book?
How Are We to Read This Book?
We need to bear in mind that the purpose of Genesis is not scientific. Science is a body of knowledge acquired by observation, experiment and induction. The purpose of Genesis is to reveal our nature as poeple created in God’s image and likeness and how sin has impacted our nature and God’s approach to redeem us from sin.
Genesis is not a history textbook. The author has an intention and selected his materail to suit his purpose.
The purpose of Genesis is to be found in its message not its style.