Judaic tradition attributes the authorship of Genesis and the following four books to Moses. Together these books are called the Penteteuch. Jesus said, "If you believe in Moses, believe in me, because he wrote of me"(John 5:46). The Penteteuch itself presents Moses as someone who wrote extensively (see Exod. 17:14; 24:4; Deut.31:24). Acts 7:22 tells us that "Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians".

In the notes that accompany the text we see a certain number of words taken from Egyptian that appear in Genesis, an act that suggests that the author of the book had lived in Egypt, as was the case with Moses.

DATE: It is traditionally accepted that the exodus from Egypt occurred in the middle of the 15th century B.C. It is affirmed that in I Kings 6:1 that Solomon began to build the temple "480 years after the sons of Israel came out of Egypt". It is thought that this took place around 960 BC which places the exodus in the year 1440 B.C. Therefore, Moses wrote Genesis after 1440 B.C. during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

The "Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible adds, "The Book of Genesis gives no notice about its author. The early church, however, held to the conviction that Moses wrote the book, as did the Jerusalem Talmud and the first-century historian Josephus. In spite of the number of modern scholars who reject the Mosaic authorship of Genesis, the traditional view has much to commend it. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain frequent testimony to the Mosaic authorship of the entire Pentateuch (Lev. 1:1-2; Neh. 13:1; Matt. 8:4; Acts 26:22)."

"It would be difficult to find a person in Israel's life who was better prepared or qualified than Moses to write the history recorded in the Book of Genesis. A man who "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22), Moses was providentialy prepared to understand and integrate, under the inspiration of GOD, all the available records, manuscripts, and oral narratives. Moses may have written the book during the years of the wilderness wandering to prepare the new generation to enter the land of Canaan."

"As a prophet who enjoyed the unusual privilege of unhurried hours of communion with GOD on Mount Sinai, Moses was well equipped to record for all generations this magnificent account of GOD's dealings with the human race and the nation of Israel." The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, pps. 411 and 412

Structure of the Book: The Book of Genesis may conveniently be divided into four major parts: 1) the creation and the early days of mankind (Gen. 1:1-11:26); 2) the story of Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 12:1-25:18); 3) the story of Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:19-36:43); and 4) the story of Joseph and his brothers (Gen. 37:1-50:26).

The first major part of the Book of Genesis (chapters 1-11) contains five great events: 1) the history of creation and a description of life in the Garden of Eden before the Fall (Gen. 1:1-2:25); 2) the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: the temptation and fall of man (Gen. 3:1-24); 3) the story of Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-16); 4) the story of Noah and the Flood: the wickedness and judgment of man (Gen. 6:5-9:29); and 5) the story of the Tower of Babel: the proud presumption of man, the confusion of tongues, and the scattering of mankind upon the earth (Gen. 11:1-9). Each of these great events relates to the whole of humanity, and each is filled with significance that continues throughout Scripture.

The rest of the Book of Genesis (chapters 12-50) relates the narrative of the four great patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The theme of these chapters is GOD's sovereignty in calling out a Chosen People who would serve and worship Him.

CONTENTS: Genesis begins with the formation of the solar system, the preparation of the world to be inhabited, and the creation of life. The 8 acts of creation were completed in 6 days.

The following ten chapters explain the origin of many mysterious aspects of life: human sexuality, marriage, sin, infirmity, labor pains, death, the wrath of God, hostility between human beings and the dispersion of languages and races over the earth.

Beginning in chapter 12, Genesis relates the calling of Abraham and the inauguration of God's covenant with him; a glorious and eternal covenant that is renewed with Isaac and Jacob. Genesis is notable for its exquisite form of narration, especially the inspired tale of Joseph and the divine preservation and multiplication of God's people while in Egypt. It's a lesson about the divine calling, such as Paul remembered in Romans 9.

Genesis anticipates the New Testament in many ways: the personal God, the Trinity, the institution of marriage, the gravity of sin, divine justice, and the righteousness of faith. The Tree of Life, which was lost in Genesis, reappears in Revelation 22.

Genesis concludes with Jacob's blessing upon Judah, from whose tribe would come the Messiah: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be". Many centuries and struggles would occur before this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Historical Setting: Moses may have finished writing the book of Genesis not long before his death on Mount Nebo (Deut. 34). During this time the children of Israel, now led by Joshua, were camped east of the Jordan River, poised for the invasion of Canaan. In such a crucial historical context, the message of the Book of Genesis would have been of tremendous spiritual help to its first hearers. The creation of the world, the beginnings of sin and disobedience, the principle of judgment and deliverance, the scattering of the nations, the call and covenant GOD made with Abraham, the checkered careers of the first descendants of Abraham - all of these accounts would bear directly on the attitudes and faith of the new community.

The first readers, or hearers, of the Book of Genesis were the covenant community, the Chosen People of GOD. Like Abraham, they were on a journey - a great venture of faith into the unknown (Gen. 12:1-19). They needed to hear such words as were spoken to Isaac: "I am the GOD of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake" (Gen. 26:24).

Theological Contribution: The Book of Genesis is a primary source for several basic doctrines of the Bible. The book focuses on GOD primarily in two areas: He is the Creator of the universe, and He is the one who initiates covenants with His people. Genesis ties creation and covenant together in a stunning manner: the GOD who initiates covenants is the same GOD who has created the entire universe. The eternal GOD and almighty Creator enters into covenant with His people! (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1).

GOD's covenant with Abraham is the basic plot of the Scripture. GOD's work from that day forward was to accomplish His plan for the nations of the world through His people Israel, the descendants of Abraham. GOD's covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-21) contains a number of personal blessings on the father of the faith. But the climax of the text is in the words of worldwide import: "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3).

This promise is realized in the person of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16,19), through whom peoples of all nations and families may enter into the joy of knowing the GOD of Abraham. GOD's promise is realized also in the church, in those who believe in Christ, which the apostle Paul calls "the Israel of GOD" (Gal. 6:16). The true "seed", or descendants, of Abraham, Paul argued, are not Abraham's physical descendants but those who have the same faith as Abraham (Rom. 9:7-8; Gal. 3:29).

Genesis presents the creation of man as male and female in the image of GOD (Gen. 1:26-27; 5:3; 9:6), man's fall and ruin, his judgment, and his possible triumph in GOD's grace. In the context of man's judgment came the first whisper of the gospel message of the final triumph of Christ over Satan: "And I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel" (Gen. 3:15). This prophecy was fulfilled by the death of Jesus on the cross, a sacrifice that destroyed the works of the devil (I John 3:8).

The apostle Paul referred to the story of Adam's fall (Genesis 3) by comparing Adam to Christ (Rom. 5:12, 18). Christ is portrayed as a "second Adam" who, by His atonement, reverses the effects of the Fall. Some scholars see another type, or foreshadowing truth, of Calvary in the fact that GOD, in order to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve (symbolic of sin, guilt, and shame), killed an animal (thereby shedding blood) and made tunics of skin with which to clothe them (Gen. 3:21). For, as the writer of the Book of Hebrews says "Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]" (Heb. 9:22).

Special Consideration: Some scholars organize the literary structure of the Book of Genesis around the Hebrew word toledoth (literally, genealogy), which Moses seems to use ten times in Genesis to indicate major blocks of material. The NKJV translates toledoth as "this is the history of" (Gen. 2:4) and "this is the genealogy of" (Gen. 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 37:2).

The Book of Genesis takes the reader to the moment when the Creator spoke into being the sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxies, plants, moving creatures, and mankind. Those who seek to discredit the Book of Genesis by pointing to alleged discrepancies between religion and science are blind to the exalted spiritual content of this work. If a student expects to find in Genesis a scientific account of how the world came into existence, with all questions concerning primitive life answered in technical language, he will be disappointed. Genesis is not an attempt to answer such technical questions.

Genesis is marked by exquisite prose, such as chapter 22 (the account of the binding of Isaac) and chapters 37-50 (the Joseph narrative). Literary critics often point to Genesis 24, the story of a bride for Isaac, as a classic example of great narrative style. Genesis also has poetic sections such as the solemn curses by GOD (Gen. 3:14-19) and the prophetic blessing of Jacob (Gen. 49:3-27). Genesis 1, the history of creation, is written in a highly elevated prose with a poetic tone.

At times attention is focused on the men in the Book of Genesis. But women of major significance also appear in the Book: Eve is the mother of all living (Gen. 3:20); Sarah had a faith that was complimentary to Abraham's (Gen. 21:1-7); and Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah are the mothers of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Gen. 29:31-30:24; 35:23-26).

Genesis is also a book of firsts. Genesis records the first birth (Gen. 4:1), the first death (Gen. 4:8), the first musical instruments (Gen., 4:21, and the first rainbow (Gen. 9:12-17). Genesis is indeed the book of beginnings. As the children of Israel read this book in the wilderness, or after they crossed the Jordan River, they knew that their experiences with GOD were just beginning.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Genesis questions many conceptions of the secular world, for whom the studies of this book should accustom them to think differently. We should perceive the world and its history the way the ancient writers of the Bible reveal it to us.For example, the stories of chapters 1-3 should not be thought of as allegories, but as true history. The Word of God should always prevail over the word of man; We are not to judge the Word, but it judges us. Therefore, the ancient Hebrews should not be considered primitive simply because they viewed reality differently. It's possible that the rationality of the thinking Greek which referred at that time to the realities of their world, form part of our inheritance, but it's not always reasonable.

Genesis also offers other lessons: Abraham is our example of faith (Gen. 15:6, Gal. 3:7); the life of Joseph is an exquisite sermon for all those who suffer unjust treatment and represents a challenge to faithfulness in this age of indifferent tolerance.

Finally, we only truly understand human nature when we have the truth about "original sin". When Adam sinned, not only do we all sin, but we inherit a sinful nature (Gen. 8:21; Rom. 5:19, 7:18). Only a Savior can effectively take care of this inherited natural corruption.

CHRIST REVEALED: The preexisting Christ, the living Word, participated directly in Creation. "All things were made for him; and without him nothing which has been made, was made".(John 1:3). Genesis 3:15 anticipates the ministry of Christ by suggesting that the "seed of the woman", which will wound the head of the serpent (Satan), is Jesus Christ, the "seed" of Abraham mentioned by Paul in Galatians 3:16. Melchisedec is the mysterious king and priest of chapter 14. As Jesus is at the same time King and High Priest, the letter to the Hebrews correctly identifies them (Heb. 6:20)

The largest revelation of Christ in Genesis is found in the establishment of God's covenant with Abraham in chapters 15 and 17. God made glorious promises to Abraham and Jesus represents their ultimate consumation, a truth explained in great detail by Paul in Galatians. Much of the Bible is built upon the covenant offered to Abraham and its flowering in Jesus Christ.

The dramatic history that relates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, obeying God's mandate, exhibits an awesome similarity to the crucial account of the New Testament. "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,...and offer him there for a burnt offering" (Gen. 22:2) reminds us of God's willingness to sacrifice his son for the sins of the world.

Finally, Jacob's blessing upon Judah anticipates the coming of "Shiloh" who will be identified as the Messiah "and unto him shall be the gathering of the people."

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTION: "The Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). Thus we encounter the Spirit participating in the creation. The Holy Spirit also works in Joseph, something obvious to Pharoah: "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?" (41:38)

Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in Genesis apart from this, we see his work in the transporting of the animals onto Noah's ark from the four corners of the world. We also perceive his work through the lives of the patriarchs when he protected them and their families and showered them with blessings. All types of difficulties and incredible situations affect the chosen people, in order to frustrate, if it were possible, the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham; but the Holy Spirit provided a supernatural way out in each occasion.

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