In the Beginning …..

jculler1972

May 7

Our weekday Bible class recently began a study of Genesis, and I thought I would share some of the introductory material we received.

*The word Genesis means beginnings.

*Genesis is the back story of the birth of Christ. It is here that we learn how sin entered the world, and why the saving work of Jesus is necessary.

*Genesis is a book about the origins of:

Physical existence
Sin
Punishment
Restoration

Who wrote the book of Genesis? The short answer is we don't know. The Jewish tradition attributes it to Moses, but there is nothing in the Bible to confirm this. At one time, scholars believed there were four authors:

The Yahwist (who uses Yahweh as the term for God)
The Elohist (who uses Elohim as the term for God)
The Deuteronomic author (focused on the law)
The Priestly author (focused on the formal relations between God and mankind)

This view has fallen into disrepute, and is also only a supposition based on the differing styles found in the book.

It may be interesting to debate or to speculate about this question, but the important thing to remember is that however the book came to be written down or compiled, it is the inspired Word of God.

The first eleven chapters of Genesis deal with very ancient or primeval people. The following chapters contain the patriarchal history -- the story of how the problems of the chosen people of God are solved. There is an emphasis on the divine promise of restoration.

For more about Genesis see these posts:

What Stands Out –the Book of Genesis

Created to be Creative

2=1

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