January 14, 2018

Genesis

An Overview of the Book of Pentateuch Our Approach Jan. 14 – Genesis Jan. 21 – Genesis/Exodus Jan. 28 – Exodus Feb. 4 – Leviticus Feb.11 – Numbers Feb. 18 - Deuteronomy

The Pentateuch Name for the first 5 books of the Bible. The Pentateuch (Greek pentateuchos, five-volume book) The Law The Torah 

Genesis “In the beginning” The name Genesis comes from the Vulgate which is a transliteration of the Greek “origin”. The Hebrew Bible starts with “bə-rê-šîṯ”.

Moses Author – Moses The Bible attributes the authorship of the Pentateuch to Moses in both the Old and New Testaments. Today evangelicals affirm “fundamental Mosaic authorship”.

Moses Joshua 1:7-8 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.

Moses Joshua 23:6 “Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left 7 and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you.

Moses 2 Chronicles 34:14 The Recovery of the Book of the Law 14 When they brought out the silver that had been deposited in the Lord’s temple, the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the Lord written by the hand of Moses.

Moses Luke 24 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them …the Scriptures. 44 everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled. John 5:46-47: For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?”

Moses 2 Kings 14:6 Matthew 19:8 2 Chronicles 25:4 Matthew 22:24 Acts 3:22 Ezra 6:18 Acts 15:21; 26:22 Nehemiah 8:1 Rom. 10:5, 19 Nehemiah 13:1 2 Cor. 3:14-15 Luke 24:25-27; 44 Matthew 8:4

Did Moses use sources?

Moses Many cultures in the ANE had stories that interpreted creation, a flood, the development of civilization, etc. The Code of Hammurabi was an ANE code of law that resembles the Book of the Covenant in Ex. 20:22 – 23:19. Textual critics, beginning in the 1600’s with the philosopher Spinoza tried to identify other sources and/or the historical development of the OT.

the “documentary hypothesis” Four ‘sources’ J - typically referred to God as Jehovah E - typically referred to God as Elohim D – identified mostly in Deuteronomy, Legislates monotheism P – the priestly source - Assumes monotheism

Sources Genesis Sources/ Oral tradition MOSES + Inspiration = Written text Preservation Inspired Editing Post-Mosaica Genesis Witness/ Experience

Genesis “The Pentateuch was not written as modern books are. It is a collection and arrangement of ancient written sources, many of which appear to have been fragmentary and already old by the time of Moses. Indeed, Moses may have had to translate some of them into Hebrew. The Pentateuch represents a literary strategy in which the author strives to teach a theological message…” - The Meaning of the Pentateuch, John H. Sailhammer, pg. 28.

Meaning - Purpose Which comes first? What was Moses trying to say?

Meaning - Purpose Before we can talk about understanding what a text means to us today, we have to discern the author’s original meaning. “Moses wrote the book of Genesis to teach his readers that leaving Egypt and possessing Canaan was God’s design for Israel.” He Gave Us Stories, Richard L. Pratt, pg. 281

overview Genesis can be divided or outlined in multiple ways. The “Toledoth” Formula

The “Toledoth” Formula 1. Prologue Creation of the heavens and earth 1:1-2:3 2. Genesis 2:4 These are the records of the heavens and the earth 2:4-4:26 3. Genesis 5:1 …the family records of Adam 5:1-6:8 4. Genesis 6:9 These are the family records of Noah 6:9-9:29 5. Genesis 10:1 These are the family records of Noah’s sons 1:1-11:9 6. Genesis 11:10 These are the family records of Shem 11:10-26 7. Genesis 11:27 These are the family records of Terah 11:27-25:11 8. Genesis 25:12 These are the family records of Abraham’s son Ishmael 25:12-18 9. Genesis 25:19 These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham 25:19 -35:29 10. Genesis 36:1 These are the family records of Esau (that is, Edom) 36:1-37:1 11. Genesis 37:2 These are the family records of Jacob 37:2-50:26

Narrative Structure Genesis can also be divided based on its content. The Primeval History (1:1-11:9) The Early Patriarchal Period (11:10-37:1) The Joseph History (37:2-50:26)

Narrative Structure The Primeval History (1:1-11:9) A – the creation story (1:1 – 6:8) A’ – the Flood story (6:9-11:9)  

Christ in Genesis We see the following pattern in Genesis in response to the repeated cycles of sin: Sin Judgement speech Token of grace judgment