1. Vern Poythress Westminster Theological Seminary
Genesis 1-3
Vern S. Poythress photo of a KJV.
Unless otherwise indicated, all English Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Vern Poythress
Westminster Theological Seminary

2. A. Challenges of Gen. 1-3 Framework for all of history2
A. Challenges of Gen. 1-3 *
Framework for all of history
Framework for redemption
Possible conflicts with scientific claims
From an unfamiliar cultural setting
Sparse
Presuppositional influence
Big challenge!
The pointing man is from MS Office clipart gallery.

3. B. Presuppositions God Miracles Bible is the infallible word of God 2*
God
Miracles
Bible is the infallible word of God

4. Subordinate Presuppositions2
Subordinate Presuppositions *
Bible has phenomenal language
Bible is distinct from Ancient Near East
Ancient Near East is not easy

5. C. Genre of Genesis

6. What Is Genre? Style and form At the time Belonging to a culture2
What Is Genre?
Style and form
At the time
Belonging to a culture
Bigger or smaller pieces of text
Understand!
The basic goal is for you to become more skilled in understanding, interpreting, and applying the Bible.
Vern S. Poythress photo of KJV.
The pointing man is from MS Office clipart gallery.

7. Bigger and Smaller Genesis Generations of Jacob (37:2-50:26)
Last days of Jacob (48:1-50:26)
Last days of Jacob (48:1-50:26)
Speech of Jacob (49:2-27)
All of life, and every course in the Seminary curriculum, should promote the basic, comprehensive goal.
Prophecy about Zebulun (49:13)

8. Basic Genre
Narrative
Prose
Many Episodes
Nonfiction

9. Nonfiction Claiming to be about the real world versus1
an imaginary world
versus

10. Evidence of Nonfiction*
Genre like Numbers and 1-2 Samuel
Realistic depiction
Tie with later history (Exod. to 2 Kings)
Later biblical references assume real people
Luke 3:23-38
1 Cor. 15:22

11. Real Death to Race
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
– 1 Cor. 15:22

12. Genesis Is about Real World
Claim Validated
God speaking 1
Claiming to be about
the real world 2
Genesis Is about Real World

13. D. Genre of Genesis 1-3

14. Genealogical History Gen. 1 (Prologue)
Gen. 2:4 "These are the generations of …"
Gen. 5:1 "This is the book of the generations of Adam."
Gen. 6:9 "These are the generations of Noah."
...

15. Gen. 1-3 Guidance from Genesis as a whole Gen. 1-3 Is about Real World

16. E. Genesis 1-3 and Providence

17. Genesis 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
He dawns on them like the morning light. – 2 Sam. 23:4

18. Genesis 1:6
And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 1
And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." – 1 Kings 18:44

19. Genesis 1:9
And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." 1
And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, …. – Isaiah 8:7-8

20. Genesis 1:11 And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, …."
to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass? – Job 38:27

21. F. Themes in Genesis 1-3 Creation Light Land Blessing Fruitfulness*
Creation
Light
Land
Blessing
Fruitfulness
Final rest
Fall and sin
Promise of redemption