A Survey of GenesisWisconsin First Jurisdiction Bible Institute

By Minister Richmond Paul Izard IIHeritage International Ministries COGICPastor Nathaniel J. Stampley, D. Min.

District Missionary Rochelle Landingham, ProctorPastor/Evangelist Lavern Davis, Proctor

With All Thy Getting, Get Understanding

Introducing the Old TestamentOur holy Bible consists of a canon of 66 books,39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament writings.English Bibles are translated from the Septuagint (oldest OT Greek translation produced c. 250 BC).There are notable differences between Hebrew, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox canon or Bibles.Yet, Genesis is the first law book in each canon.Book named from Hebrew word rt (Beginning).Greek term means Creation; Origin; Generation.

SidebarRoman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Bibles each have more volume of OT writings than our 39.The Hebrew canon has same text, but different book names, order and divisions than our 39.Division of Hebrew text (Tanakh):1) Torah, 2) Prophets, 3) WritingsOur division: 1) Torah (Law), 2) History, 3) Wisdom & Poetry, 4) Major Prophets, 5) Minor Prophets.

ProtestantRoman CatholicGreek OrthodoxHebrew39 Books39 Books, plusTobit, Judith, Additions to Esther,1, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon,Sirach, Baruch, (Daniel includes Susanna and Beland the Dragon).39 Books, plus all Roman Catholicdeuterocanonical;

Plus: 1 Esdras, 3, 4 Maccabees,Psalm 151,Prayer of Manasseh.Chronicles as 1 book; Kings as 1 book; Samuel as 1 book;

Jos, Jdg, Sam, Kingslisted within thedivision of Prophets (but not Daniel), etc.

Introduction to GenesisGenesis is a book of how's. This repository of60 plus narratives reveal answers to fundamentalphilosophical and theological concerns:How was the universe created?How did we get here?How do we know good and evil, right and wrong? How do we know that God exists?How do we get to know God and His plan for us?However, Genesis is much more than a book of how's.

Todays Focus

Who are the major Characters? What is the book about? (Outline and Summary) How do we get Understanding?When did events Occur, and when Compiled?Where is Settings, and where is Christ Revealed? Why? is this book written? (What is its Purpose?) Genesis, the book of Beginning is fundamental and requisite to understanding the remainder of theBible. Let us therefore observe the following:

Training GoalsAfter participating in today's discussion, each BibleInstitute student should be equipped to:1)Speak intelligently about the Book of Genesis, concerning questions of: Who, What, How, When, Where, and Why.2)Answer each of the 5 homework questions, posed by Pastor Lavern Davis in her 2010 handout, the Old Testament Survey of Genesis.3)Defend and champion the faith through increased knowledge and understanding of God's word.

Who: Prominent CharactersBible is an anthology (collection) of God's word and covenant, expressing His will concerning Himself and man. It proclaims a unified message of judgment and redemption as expressed by some forty men who the Holy Spirit divinely inspired to enlighten all of mankind. God is the protagonist and central character, explicitly referenced in every book except Esther.Prominent characters in Genesis include: God revealed as Elohim, I AM /Yahweh/Jehovah (Adonay)Adam/Eve, Noah, Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/Rebekah, Jacob/(Rachael, Leah), and Joseph (& his 11 brothers).Yet, the story is untold without Cain/Able/Seth; Hagar(Ishmael); Esau; Shem/Ham/Japheth; Lot; Melchizedek.

What: Text SummaryGenesis describes the beginning of the world, humanity, the Hebrew nation, and Gods covenants.The first part of Genesis describes Creation, the Fallof Man and the resulting Flood in the days of Noah. The remainder of the text is subdivided into parts twothrough four (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Joseph).This patriarchal section of the book focuses on theAbrahamic Covenant between God and Abraham.

What: Genesis OutlineWe can outline Genesis into four parts by groupingstories about the Adamic and Noahide covenants, and subdividing the remaining Patriarchal portion of the book which covers the Abrahamic covenant:Part 1 Creation, Fall and Flood (1-11)Part 2 Abraham (11-25)Part 3 Isaac and Jacob (25-36)Part 4 Joseph (37-50)

How: By Faith AloneAfter choosing and testing Abram, God counted Abram's faith as righteousness. Based on faith alone,God promised to save and bless the world throughthe seed of Abraham's and Israel's new birth names. The blessing passed to Abraham's son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob, whose name God changed toIsrael). Latter books reveal the messiah coming, surprisingly through the line of Judah (not Joseph). None of patriarchs were firstborn. Faith would ultimately be the basis of blessing in salvation, andbirthright would be established in being born again.

SidebarOur Bible also tracks those sacred covenants instituted between God and man.God established 3 of the 7 covenants in Genesis.

7 CovenantsConcerning1. AdamicAdam & Eve: Eden (Tree of Life) Privileges. Bread of Life2. NoahideNoah: Mt Ararat. (Rainbow) Seedtime & harvest. True Vine3. AbrahamicAbram: Canaan (Stars) Messiah. Lion of Tribe of Judah4. MosaicMoses: Mt Sinai. (Decalogue) Obedience to the Law. Grace5. AaronicAaron: Kadesh (Rod) Intercession. Christ as High Priest6. DavidicDavid: Shiloh (Temple) Messiah thru David. Son of David7. ChristianChrist: Jerusalem (Blood) Life through Blood. Lamb of God

When: Dating of EventsAccording to tradition:The Genesis story takes place between the unknown date of creation (presumed c. 4000 BC) and c. 1805 BCMoses authored the text c. 1450 BC 1400 BC

Historians and Bible scholars attempt to reconcile dates generally based upon biblical and apocryphal history and genealogy, recorded pagan history, and archeological finds.

SidebarSix passages in the Pentateuch explicitly cite Moses as the author of at least part of the work:Exodus 17:14; 24:4-8; 34:27; Numbers 33:1-2; Deuteronomy 31:9,24, 26; 31:22,24These passages testify that Gods revelation to the people of Israel came first through Moses.OT say the book of the law come from MosesJoshua 1:7-8; 2 Kings 14:6;2 Chronicles 34:14;Daniel 9:11-13).

Sidebar

Jesus and NT writers considered the Pentateuch, including Genesis, as coming from Moses:Luke 16:29,31; 24:27,44; John 1:17; 5:45-47; 7:19, 22-23; Acts 3:22; 13:39).

When: Compilation IssuesSource Criticism:Until the 19th Century, Moses authorship of the first five books, the Pentateuch, was commonly accepted by both Jew and Christians.

SidebarMost Bible scholars now believe that Genesis is compiled from various sources, accounting for:Doubling of certain stories.variations in use of Gods name as Yahweh and Elohim.Narrative of Moses own death.Scholars propose a four-source J,E,D,P Documentary Theory (or Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis), where a Redactor (R) edited the final version of 4 sources:Northern source, "J" attributed the eloquent Yahwist verses. Southern source, "E" attributed the semi-eloquent "Elohist" verses.Priestly source, "P," particularly concerned with law and ritual.A later Deuteronomic editor "D" who superimposed the religious view of the sixth century B.C.E. onto more primitive traditions.

SidebarMost Bible scholars now believe that Genesis is compiled from various sources, accounting for:Doubling of certain stories.variations in use of Gods name as Yahweh and Elohim.Narrative of Moses own death.Scholars propose a four-source J,E,D,P Documentary Theory (or Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis), where a Redactor (R) edited the final version of 4 sources:Northern source, "J" attributed the eloquent Yahwist verses, Southern source, "E" attributed the semi-eloquent "Elohist" verses :Priestly source, "P," particularly concerned with law and ritualA later Deuteronomic editor "D" who superimposed the religious view of the sixth century B.C.E. onto more primitive traditions.

Where: Territorial SettingThe Book of Genesis begins with the creation of the heavens an the earth.Adam and Eve are created in the Garden of Eden, by the mouth of the four river heads (thus in Mesopotamia, at the still existing Tigris and Euphrates (close to Persian Gulf). (Modern day Iraq)After the flood, the Ark rests on the top of Mt. Ararat. There the new civilization began. (Modern day Turkey)Abraham would travel from Ur of the Chaldeans (in southern Mesopotamia) to Heran (in northern Mesopotamia), to Palestine, and the Children of Israel would eventually enter into to Canaan and Egypt.

Map: World of Abraham

Map: Abrahams Journey

Why: Purpose of GenesisGod inspired Moses to write Genesis in order to:Demonstrate Gods sovereignty Demonstrate Gods love for His creation. Enlighten us about Gods covenants, promises and character.All that we might have a clearer understanding ofourselves, our God and our world.

Class Survey QuestionsExplain the order of Creation. (Gen. 1:3-31; 2:4-25)God created systematically, initially organizing and then fulfilling its purposeon its mirror day. We can understand the days in pairs: Days 1&4, 2&5, 3&6.

DaySeparate / filterEventAppoint / give purposeDay1Light and Dark (Day & Night)Sun & MoonUnveil Sun & MoonAs a system for time, season42Sky (i.e water vapors)OceansSeparate Water Above/BelowPopulate air water thereby fulfilling purpose(birds& fish)53Dry Land, Plants,SeaLand & WaterPopulate Land (land animals and man)67 Rest

SidebarExplain the order of Creation. (Gen. 1:3-2:3; 2:4-25)

My personal Revelation and Reconciliation of the two creation stories:As a result of biblical study, meditation and prayer, I am compelled to believe that the creation story described in the first chapter of Genesis is NOT a record of the same event described in the second chapter.Chapter 1 describes creation on a macro scale; it is about the creation of mankind, and not about Adam and Eve in particular. (Note that man and woman were clearly created after vegetation.)Chapter 2 describes concurrent creation on a micro level with particular emphasis on Eden and the generations of Adam, just as the Bible focuses primarily on the genealogy of Christ. (Note that Adam is clearly created before vegetation.)This explains those who Cain feared would kill him (Gen 4:14) as well as Cains wife (Gen. 4:17) and other marriages as opposed to incest.

Class Survey QuestionsWhat two positions did Melchizedek hold? (King of Salema city identified with Jerusalem, and Priest of the Most High, Gen. 14:18).Explain the Christ of Genesis.Messiah would be born of seed of woman (Gen 3:15; Lk 1:34-35)Messiah as descendant of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob (Gen 12:3,Gen 17:19, 28:14; Luke 3:23-34)Messiah as king from line of Judah (Gen 49:10; John 1:49)Typified in the person of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18)The life of Isaac, exemplifying the sacrificial son (Gen 22)The life of Joseph, exemplifying the rejected brother (Gen 37)

Class Survey QuestionsExplain the relationship of mans marriage to the church. As husband is married to and covers his wife, God is married to Israel, and likewise is Christ groom to the Church (His bride). This is a covenant relationship; what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.Who was Melchizedek, and how was he a type of Christ? He brought forth bread and wine (communion) (Gen 14:18; Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:19-20; Jn 6:54-56); He is a priest (Priest of the Most High), no ancestry, preceding, not after the order of Aaron (Exod 28). (Heb 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:11,17,21) What does his name means? (His name means Zedek [Yahweh] is my king or My king is righteous.

SummaryThis has been a brief but comprehensive survey of Genesis. I encourage you to continue this critical journey, by further exploring the answers to the who, what, how, when, where, and why of not only Genesis, the Pentateuch, and the Old Testament, but also the Bible in its entirety.Remember: With all of our getting, let us get an understanding so that we can better defend the faith by comprehending, championing and walking in obedience to our God-given covenants.

Next Steps of ActionIt would be nice to develop a repository of our PowerPoint presentations for sharing and further development/customization.I would love to hear from you. For further inquiry or discussion, email me at:

Email: Richmond@MegaMinistries.comPhone: 414-737-2167