Introduction to BACKGROUND
Genesis is a Greek word that means “source,” “origin,” or “beginning.” It comes from the first phrase of 1:1: “In the beginning” (Bereshith in Hebrew). Genesis is the book of beginnings, from the creation of the universe through the patriarchal era of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and his sons, the founding fathers of the peo ple of Israel. Genesis also is the first book of the Penta teuch (the Law), the five books of Moses. Gen esis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers are a continuous narrative, reviewed by the book of Deuteronomy. Moses’ authorship is supported by the Talmud and New Testament Scriptures (see Matt 19:8; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:31; John 5:46–47).
MESSAGE
The book of Genesis provides a reason for the rest of the Bible: God’s plan to rescue the peo ple he created after the fall of Adam and Eve
GENESIS
(3:1–24). Because sin could not remain in the presence of a holy God, Adam and Eve and their descendants faced eternal separation from their Creator. The first hint of God’s plan to save people from sin by sending a Savior comes in 3:15, where God speaks to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Out of the nations of people who scatter after the Tower of Babel (11:1–9), God chooses one family—that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whose name becomes Israel—through which his plan of salvation would come to fruition.
TIME
While the narrative of Genesis extends from the beginning of the world to the death of Jo seph (circa 1805 b.c.), the book of Genesis was probably written between 1445 and 1406 b.c., while the people of Israel were camped in the wilderness.
OUTLINE I. Creation of a People A. God creates the universe and the people who populate it B. Evil begins and spreads C. The earth is judged, flooded, and renewed II. Creation of a Nation A. Family lines of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael B. Family lines of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau C. The sons of Jacob (Israel) 1. Joseph is sold into slavery 2. Judah sins 3. Joseph serves in Egypt 4. Joseph’s brothers in Egypt 5. Jacob settles his family in Egypt
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1:1–2:25 3:1–6:7 6:8–11:26 11:27–25:18 25:19–37:1 37:2–50:26 37:2–36 38:1–30 39:1–41:57 42:1–45:28 46:1–50:26
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