Genesis:An Introduction

The word Genesis comes from the Greek word 'to begin."  It is the beginning of our story and our communion with God.  It is first book in the Christian Bible/Old Testament, and Hebrew Pentateuch. It's key theme is 'beginnings': The Beginning of the World, Creation of Man, the founding of the Hebrew Nation.

I think a lot of people look at the Old Testament God as a wrathful God, and not as personable as Christ. However it is important to remember that the Trinity is one God and the God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament. However if you really examine the Old Testament readings you'll find a God full of love, forgiveness and compassion. From the very first verses of Genesis we can see that God had a plan and he knew from the beginning that He was going to use the events described in the Bible as a main instrument in the Redemption of Man. The Bible is a tool in which to access God's word, but we must also remember it is through a personal relationship with God, we can only truly understand the true meaning of the Word.

Tradition states that Moses wrote Genesis, and however the scripture contained in Genesis was no doubt used long before Moses as Abraham, or Noah,or Enoch, or Adam began to pass down historical information through generations. God dictated to Moses what needed to be written down, and I personally believe that the events detailed have a specific meaning and purpose in the greater understanding of faith. God has a distinct lesson and purpose in detailing certain events.

The Book of Genesis spans 2000 years and divided into two major parts and several historical subsections.

Chapters 1-11 focus on the creation of the world and it's earliest human families, and their interaction with God.  

Chapters 12-50 tells the story of the ancestors of the people of Israel and focuses on the Hebrew people as God's chosen people.

So 1-11 - early History of the whole world, and 12-50 early History of people of Israel...

Genesis can be summarized by four major events: the creation (chapters 1-2), the fall (chapters 3-5), the flood (chapters 6-9), and the confusion of languages of the tower of Babel. The last division of Genesis, chapters 12-50, can be remembered by its four main characters: Abraham (12:1-25:18), Isaac (25:19-26:35), Jacob (27-36), and Joseph (37-50). 

Here is an outline of how Genesis is subdivided:

"Creation Hymn" 1:1-2:3: The Creation Hymn details the majestic creation of the universe. It is important to remember that the Bible begins with God. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." It does not start with philosophic arguments for His existence.

"The Generations of Heavens and Earth" (2:4-4:26)

"The Book of the Generations of Adam." (5:1-6:8)

"The Generations of Noah." (6:9-9:28)

"The Generations of the Sons of Noah." (10:1-11:9)

"The Generations of Shem" (11:10-26)

"The Generations of Terah": (11:27-25:11)

"The Generations of Ishmael" (25-12-18)

"The Generations of Issac" (25:19-35:29)

"The Generations of Esau" (36:1-43)

"The Generations of Jacob." (37:2-50:26)

We will focus in on each of the important events in this premiere book of the Bible in the coming weeks.