Bible Basics for very Beginners: Understanding the book of Genesis (Textbook and Workbook)

 

Koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyngpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer for Avondale College

Australia

25 November 2009

 

One of the first principles for someone starting to study the Bible, is to get an overall view of what is involved. It is a good start. It cannot replace the original and one has to read the whole text. With such a summary as this, it is basic enough to jumpstart into the process of reading the whole book of Genesis. The dates are very literal and as accurate as possible respecting the consonantal text of the Masoretic Tradition (Hebrew).

 

 Some notes one Genesis:

1.    Moses wrote Genesis to Deuteronomy and also the book of Job and Psalm 90. He may have also collected some other Psalms that were republished under David or other names.

2.    Moses books as filled with Egyptian loanwords for the hapax legomena, that means, words that appear only one or two times in the whole Bible.

3.    Moses wrote Genesis while he was hiding from Thutmosis III, who was the rival pharaoh in 1460 BCE. Thutmosis III grew up as the illigitimate son of Hatshepsut’s husband, and a boy that she hated in contrast to Moses, whom she probably favored.

4.    When we say primeval history, it is not to say it is myth, legend, stories or fables. It is history and based on real events.

5.    The science in Genesis 1-2 is real and if one can read the original, especially Genesis 1:7 (see another article on ben in Hebrew in egw.org under VAN WYK NOTES) then Moses was very scientific and careful when he described what he may have seen in vision or what God has revealed to Adam and others about the Creation and what he wanted to preserve as close to reality as possible.

6.    Overlapping of the great names in the list is a reality. Abraham was young when Noah was still alive. He may have had contact with him.

7.     The amazing thing about God’s love is, He reveals Himself  in each generation to someone since He wants a remnant to carry forward His legacy.

8.    The surprising aspect is the evidence of falling from grace that occurred time and again and every time the wonderful grace of God stepped in with a rescue plan.

9.    That is why Genesis is not just pure history, it is salvation history for the remnant revealing God’s love and patience and grace to them and to everyone studying the book.

Understanding the book of Genesis Textbook final.jpgUnderstanding the book of Genesis Workbook final 002.jpg