Genesis
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is the book of beginnings. In fact, the word "Genesis" means "beginnings". It can be thought of as the foundation book of the rest of the Bible. That's because most (if not all) of the themes throughout the Bible have their origin in this book. Additinally, it includes some of the richest narratives. Among them are the sovereignty of God, the creation of the cosmos, the nature of man as image-bearers of God, the entrance of sin and death, the promise of redemption, the covenant with Noah, the global spread of humanity, the calling of Abraham, and the establishment of biblical Israel - through which the redeemer of the world would come. These and more are a part of the framework integral to so many of the biblical narratives.
The book divides fairly well into two major sections. The first section, chapters 1–11, covers the primeval history, including creation, the fall, the first family, genealogies, Noah and the flood, the tower of Babel, and universal narratives that establish much of the human condition. The second division, chapters 12–50, covers the patriarchal narratives. It reveals the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and presents a clear portrait of how they fit into the the larger narrative of God's promises and faithfulness. As Genesis is so much about origins of things, its recurring use of the Hebrew phrase elleh toledot, meaning "these are the generations of," is especially note worthy. In fact, the phrase appears ten times and marks each major structural division.
Explore This Book
Authorship & Composition
Mosaic tradition, the Documentary Hypothesis, and what a complex compositional history means for how the book is read and received.
Read more →The Two Creation Narratives
Genesis opens with two distinct accounts of creation. They differ in style, emphasis, and theological purpose, and together say what neither says alone.
Read more →The Doublets
Stories that appear twice in varying form: what they are, why they matter to scholars, and what they reveal about the theological depth of the text.
Read more →Primeval History (Gen 1–11)
Creation, the fall, Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, and Babel: the universal narratives that establish the human problem the rest of Scripture addresses.
Read more →Patriarchal Narratives (Gen 12–50)
Abraham, the covenant, the Akedah, Jacob, and Joseph: the particular story of God's chosen family through whom all the families of the earth will be blessed.
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