Genesis: Lesson 1. Book of Beginnings

Lesson One Genesis: the Book of Beginnings 

• The Old Testament, describing the time BC, Before (Jesus) Christ. 

• The New Testament, about the time of Jesus’ life and ministry and the early church. 

The Old Testament was first written in the Hebrew language (with smaller sections in the Aramaic language). The New Testament was written in Common Greek. 

Title of the book: Just like my word processor, the Hebrew Bible tends to name a book after its first words, so the first book of the Bible is “beresit” (“In the Beginning”). 

The English title “Genesis” is from the Greek language. The word “geneseos” can be translated as “origin, source, or beginning”. It has the same root as the English terms “generating” (producing, bringing forth) and “generation” (the process of producing, or the people that were born during a certain period of time). Structure of the book: Originally this book was not divided into chapters and verses. 

Originally, there was a Prologue (foreword), followed by ten “Toledots”. The Hebrew term “toledot” can be translated as “account”, but the meaning is more or less: “what became of…”. In fact, this is the word that was translated into “geneseos” and “Genesis”. 

The following table lists the original toledots in relation to our chapter-and-verse division:

Context of the book: The Jews call the Old Testament “Tanakh”: it is made of three terms that describe the three kinds of books that it contains: 

• TA Torah = Law; The first five books of Tanakh, also called “the books of Moses” or “Pentateuch”. 

• NA Naviim = Prophets; These refer to the many prophetic books and to some books (like Samuel-Kings) which we might think more like historical books 

• KH Kataviim = Writings; These are historical books or books of wisdom. Many of these were publicly read during the Jewish feasts. 

Interestingly, the first book of Moses describes the history before Moses. Moses may have been the editor of this material that had been passed on through the generations. Some have suggested that the record was kept in a written form: inscribed on clay tablets. 

Themes of the book: Different denominations and theologians have emphasized different themes for the Old Testament and the book of Genesis: 

• The Kingdom of God: the fall and restoration of God’s Rule over his creation 

• God’s Covenant(s) with his Creation, Abraham and Israel, the Church 

Genre: Genesis is written as Hebrew narrative (story telling). The common story line is: creation, fall, and redemption. First, we find out how God is making something good. Next, God’s good creation is messed up by human sin and selfishness. Finally, through God’s intervention (breaking & building), He makes a new beginning. As we will discover, Genesis is a story of many new beginnings! 

Why study Genesis, this biggest book in the Bible? It is important for us to be familiar with Genesis, so that we may know God. Only when we know God can we begin to understand who we are and what we were meant to be. 

1 We must know God as the Creator. When Paul addressed people who did not know God, he always took care to start with this fact! (Acts 14: 15, 17: 24). Contrary to other worldviews or common “stories”, the Bible states that “In the beginning, God!” The cosmos finds its origins and meaning in God. God’s power and authority are manifested in his creation work, and we find comfort in God’s continuous care for his creation. 

2 We must study Genesis to know who we are as humans: created in the image of God! Although we are part of God’s wonderful creation, we were made for a special purpose: to seek and serve our God! Whenever we live up to this purpose, we will flourish as humans the way we were meant to be. Whenever we seek to serve others or ourselves, we begin to lose our special status and become more like animals. 

3 We must know Genesis to understand the source of suffering and pain. Here we learn about God’s enemy (Satan) and the human rebellion which he started in order to destroy God’s good creation. It explains the need for God’s work of recreation. God Himself promised never to abandon his good creation, but rather to restore His Rule on earth. Through the human rebellion against God, all other relationships were negatively affected. Because humans turned against their good Creator-God, we now find brokenness in human lives, human relationships to others, and relationships in the natural world. 

4 If we understand Genesis, we realize that Jesus is the answer. It is in the cross that Heaven and earth are reconciled again. It is in Jesus’ death and resurrection that the Prince of the world is driven out and Jesus is given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is King of the Universe! Without knowing Genesis, we do not understand the very first verse of the Gospels: Jesus was the Son of Abraham! We do not understand the New Testament references to the Great Flood, to Sodom and Gomorrah, to Adam and Paradise! It is my prayer that in our study of Genesis we may get a better knowledge and appreciation of our God and Father and a better understanding of the words and works of Jesus Christ. He is the key to understand the ultimate questions of life, because in Him we find our origin, essence, and purpose of life!