Transcript Document

Before The Beginning
Introduction To Genesis
Cloyce Sutton
1
NT
OT
David Watts, Sr.
2
The Value Of The OT
Rom. 15:4: For whatever things were written
before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the
Scriptures
hope. Not Right
What’s might
Righthave What’s
2 Tim. 3:16–17: 16 All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for
How To Get Right
every good work.
How To Stay Right
Kevin Kay
3
Comparing The Two
Old Testament
New Testament
Foreshadowing
Fulfillment
Promise
Performance
Problem
Solution
Commencement
Consummation
Kevin Kay
6
OT
NT
A Savior
Is Coming
A Savior
Has Come
8
NT
OT
Gen
David Watts, Sr.
9
J. Sidlow Baxter
“...besides being introductory, Genesis is
explanatory. The other writings of the Bible are
inseparably bound up with it inasmuch as it gives
us the origin and initial explanation of all that
follows. …. Here we have in germ all that is later
developed. It has been truly said that ‘the roots of
all subsequent revelation are planted deep in
Genesis, and whoever would truly comprehend
that revelation must begin here.’” (Explore The Book,
n.p.)
Kevin Kay
10
Genesis:
The Book of Beginnings
Heavens & Earth
Civilization & Culture
Plants & Animals
Government
Man & Woman
Races & Nations
Marriage & Home
Hebrew Race
Language
Revelation
Sin
Messianic Prophecy
Religion & Worship
Etc.
Kevin Kay
11
Genesis & Revelation
Genesis
Revelation
How it all began
How it all will end
Paradise Lost
Paradise Regained
Man’s dispossession thru sin
Man’s repossession thru
forgiveness
Sin’s curse imposed
Sin’s curse removed
Tree of life disinherited
Tree of life re-inherited
Beginning of sorrow & death
End of sorrow & death
Garden defiled by sin
City undefiled
Evil triumph of Satan
Ultimate triumph of Christ
David Watts, Sr.
12
Important Questions
“Who am I?”
“Where did I come from?”
“Why am I here?”
“Where am I going?”
Kevin Kay
13
Derek Kidner
“There can scarcely be another part of
Scripture over which so many battles,
theological, scientific, historical and literary,
have been fought, or so many strong
opinions cherished. This very fact is a sign of
the greatness and power of the book, and of
the narrow limits of both our factual knowledge
and our spiritual grasp.” (Genesis: An Introduction &
Commentary, 9)
Cloyce Sutton
14
Presentation Overview
 Title, Torah & Canonicity (1-4)
 Authorship (5-12)
 Date & Historicity (12-29)
 Structure, Outline & Literary Features
(29-37)
 Reading & Interpreting Genesis (37-41)
Cloyce Sutton
15
Titles
Hebrew: Bereshit = “in the beginning”
Greek: genesis = origin, source, race, creation
Latin:
– Liber Genesis = “The Book of Genesis”
– Liber Genesis, Hebraice Bereshit = “The Book of
Genesis, [known] in Hebrew [as] Bereshit”
– Incipit Liber Bresith id est Genesis = “Here begins
the book Bresith which is Genesis”
Cloyce Sutton
16
Titles
Medieval:
– “First Book”
– “Book of the Creation of the World”
– “Book of the Righteous”
– “Book of Formation” (Hamilton, NICOT, 1:1-2)
Cloyce Sutton
17
The Tanakh
Torah
(Law)
Nebi’im
(Prophets)
Gen.; Ex.; Lev.; Num.; Deut.
Former Prophets: Josh.; Jdg.; Sam.; Kings
Latter Prophets: Isa.; Ezek.; Jer.; Twelve
Poetical Books: Psa.; Prov.; Job
Ketubim
(Writings)
Five Rolls: Song; Ruth; Lam.; Esth.; Eccl
Historical Books: Dan.; Ezra-Neh.; Chron.
Kevin Kay
18
Torah
“The word torah in its widest sense
means ‘guidance, instruction, discipline,’ and
only in its most narrow sense ‘law.’ The
Torah is the definitive ‘guide-book’ of ancient
Israel, and it guides in the form of both
narrative and law so that the two become
inseparable and indispensible.” (Mann The Book of
the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch, 7; Alter, The Five
Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary, x)
Cloyce Sutton
19
English OT Arrangement
Law:
Gen.; Ex.; Lev.; Num.; Deut.
History:
Josh.; Jud.; Ruth; 1 & 2 Sam.; 1 & 2
Ki.; 1 & 2 Chr.; Ezra; Neh.; Esth.
Poetry:
Job; Psa.; Prov.; Eccl.; Song.
Major: Isa.; Jer. Lam. Ezek.; Dan.
Prophecy:
Minor: Hos.; Joel; Amos; Obad.;
Jon.; Mic.; Nah.; Hab.; Zeph.; Hag.
Zech.; Mal.
Kevin Kay
20
Authorship of Pentateuch
Mosaic: Written by Moses
A mosaic: Portions written by different authors
and redacted (“The Documentary Hypothesis”)
“J” [Jehovistic/Yahwist] (ca. 850 BC)
“E” [Elohist] (ca. 850-750 BC)
“D” [Deuteronomist] (ca. 620 BC)
“P” [Priestly] (ca. 550-450 BC)
Kevin Kay
21
Southern Traditions
Northern Traditions
J
850 BC
E
750 BC
J-E
650 BC
Josiah’s Reform
Book
D
621 BC
J-E-D
550 BC
Exilic Priestly
Material
P
450 BC
J-E-D-P
400 BC
Cloyce Sutton
22
Objections To
Mosaic Authorship
Torah is anonymous
No explicit reference to Moses as author
Moses referred to in 3rd person
– Writer never uses “I” or “we” (cf. Nehemiah & Luke)
Anacronisms
Moses’ humility (Num. 12:3)
Moses’ death (Dt. 34)
Cloyce Sutton
23
Assumptions Of DH
Israelite culture evolved over time
Writing developed much later than Moses
Different names for God
Duplicate stories
Anachronisms
Composite stories
Different vocabulary or literary styles
Cloyce Sutton
24
“Like Father Like Son”
Abraham
Isaac
12:10
Famine in the land
26:1
12:10-11
Sojourn in Egypt
cf. 26:2
20:1
Sojourn in Gerar
26:1
12:11, 14
Beautiful wife
26:7
12:11-13
20:2
“She is my sister”
26:7
Kevin Kay
25
“Like Father Like Son”
Abraham
Isaac
Rebuke for
12:17-20
26:8-11
deception
20:9-13
13:1-2
Subsequent blessing 26:12-14
20:14-16
21:25-31
Disputes over wells
26:17-22
13:5-7
Quarrel between
herdsmen
26:20-22
Kevin Kay
26
“Like Father Like Son”
Abraham
Isaac
13:14-17 Renewal of promises 26:23-24
12:7
13:3-4
An altar for worship
26:25
21:22-34
A covenant with
Abimelech
26:26-33
Kevin Kay
27
Anachronisms
Camels (Gen. 12:16)
“Ur of the Chaldeans” (Gen. 11:28, 31; 15:7)
“Dan” (Gen. 14:14; cf. Jdg. 8:27-29)
Edomite kings “before any king reigned over
the children of Israel” (Gen. 36:31)
“Then in the land” (Gen. 12:6; 13:7)
“To this day” (Gen. 19:38; 22:14; 32:32;
47:26)
“Land of Rameses” (Gen. 47:11)
Cloyce Sutton
28
Composite Stories
Noah’s flood (Gen. 7-8)
Jacob’s flight (Gen. 28)
Sale of Joseph (Gen. 37)
Jacob’s son’s 1st trip to Egypt (Gen. 47)
Cloyce Sutton
29
Critique Of DH Assumptions
Cultures sometimes decline or stagnate.
Some aspects of Israelite worship settled early
Writing developed long before Moses
Different names for deity used in other ANE
texts – rhetorical effect
Duplicate stories more differences than
similarities – “Type scenes”
Cloyce Sutton
30
Early Marks Of Civilization
(Gen. 4:16-22)
Urbanization (v. 17)
Domestication (v. 20)
Music (v. 21)
Metallurgy (v. 22)
Kevin Kay
31
Civilization Developed Early
P. J. Wiseman: "No more surprising fact has
been discovered by recent excavations than the
suddenness with which civilization appeared in
the world. This discovery is the very opposite of
that anticipated. It was expected that the more
ancient the period, the more primitive would
excavators find it to be, until traces of civilization
ceased altogether and aboriginal man appeared.
Neither in Babylonia nor Egypt, the lands of the
oldest known habitations of man, has this been the
case.“ (“New Discoveries In Babylonia About Genesis,” p. 28)
Kevin Kay
32
Early Writing
Joseph Free & Howard Vos: “The Code of
Hammurabi was written several hundred years
before the time of Moses (c. 1500-1400
B.C.)….This code, from the period 2000-1700
B.C., contains advanced laws similar to those in
the Mosaic laws….In view of this archaeological
evidence, the destructive critic can no longer insist
that the laws of Moses are too advanced for his
time.” (Archaeology and Bible History, 1992, 103, 55, via Lyons &
Smith, “Mosaic Authorship of the Pentateuch – Tried And True, Reason
& Revelation, Jan. 2003, 23:1:2)
Kevin Kay
33
“Type-Scenes”
Rivalry between wife & co-wife or concubine
Patriarch driven by famine to southern region
Birth of a child to barren woman
Finding one’s future spouse at a well
Epiphany in a field
Initiatory trial
Danger in the desert
Discovering a well in unlikely place
Last words of dying hero
Cloyce Sutton
34
Critique Of DH Assumptions
Anachronisms
Early promises (Gen. 17:16; 35:11)
Inspiration (Ex. 25:22; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet.
1:20-21; cf. Dt. 17:14-15)
Composite stories
Different vocabulary or literary styles
Cloyce Sutton
35
Composite Stories
Highly subjective explanation
No single account tells the whole story. Each
account leaves inexplicable gaps
– “J”: Ark without its construction
– “P”: Noah & family entering ark
– “J”: God shut Noah in
– “J”: Sending out bird
Cloyce Sutton
36
Mosaic Authorship
Account of Amalek’s defeat (Ex. 17:14)
Words of the Lord (Ex. 24:3-4)
Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:27-28)
Israel’s journeys in wilderness (Num. 33:1ff)
Kevin Kay
37
Mosaic Authorship
Law (Dt. 31:9; cf. Josh. 8:32; 2 Chr. 34:14)
Song of Moses (Dt. 31:22)
Deuteronomy (Neh. 13:1; cf. Dt. 23:3-4; 2 Chr.
25:4; cf. Dt. 24:16)
Exodus (Mk. 12:26; cf. Ex. 3:6)
Kevin Kay
38
Mosaic Authorship
Pent.
NT
Ex. 3:6
I am God of Abraham,
Isaac, & Jacob
Mk. 12:26; Lk.
20:37
Ex. 20:12
Honor father & mother
Mk. 7:10
Ex. 21:17
He who curses father & mother
Mk. 7:10
Lev. 12:2-8
Day of purification
Lk. 2:22
Lev. 18:5
If a man does, he shall life
Rom. 10:5
Lev. 20:9
He who curses father & mother
Mk. 7:10
Lev. 20:10
Adulterers put to death
Jn. 8:5
Dt. 5:16
Honor father & mother
Mk. 7:10
Kevin Kay
39
Mosaic Authorship
Pent.
NT
Dt. 18:15,
18-19
Prophet like me
Acts 3:22-23;
7:37
Dt. 19:15
Mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses
Heb. 10:28
Dt. 22:22-24
Adulterers put to death
Jn. 8:5
Dt. 24:1-4
Divorce & remarriage
Mt. 19:7; Mk. 10:4
Dt. 25:4
Don’t muzzle ox
1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim.
5:18
Dt. 25:5-10
Levirate marriage law
Mt. 22:24; Mk.
12:19; Lk. 20:28
Dt. 32:21
“I will provoke you to jealousy”
Rom. 10:19
Kevin Kay
40
Mosaic Authorship
“Law of Moses” (Lk. 2:22; 24:44; Jn. 7:23; Acts
13:39; 15:5; 28:23; 1 Cor. 9:9)
“Book of Moses” (Mk. 12:26)
“Custom of Moses” (Acts 15:1)
“Moses’ law” (Heb. 10:28)
Kevin Kay
41
Mosaic Authorship
Mk 12:26: But concerning the dead, that they
rise, have you not read in the book of Moses,
in the burning bush passage, how God spoke
to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
Lk. 20:37: But even Moses showed in the
burning bush passage that the dead are
raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob.’
Kevin Kay
42
Mosaic Authorship
Lk 16:29-31: 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They
have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but
if one goes to them from the dead, they will
repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not
hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
2 Cor. 3:15: But even to this day, when Moses
is read, a veil lies on their heart.
Kevin Kay
43
Mosaic Authorship
Lk. 24:27: And beginning at Moses and all the
Prophets, He expounded to them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Lk. 24:44: Then He said to them, “These are
the words which I spoke to you while I was still
with you, that all things must be fulfilled which
were written in the Law of Moses and the
Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
Kevin Kay
44
Mosaic Authorship
Jn. 1:45: Philip found Nathanael and said to
him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in
the law, and also the prophets, wrote — Jesus
of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Jn. 5:46-47: 46 For if you believed Moses, you
would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But
if you do not believe his writings, how will you
believe My words?”
Kevin Kay
45
Mosaic Authorship
Acts 15:21: For Moses has had throughout
many generations those who preach him in
every city, being read in the synagogues every
Sabbath.”
Acts 26:22: Therefore, having obtained help
from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to
small and great, saying no other things than
those which the prophets and Moses said
would come—
Kevin Kay
46
Mosaic Authorship
Acts 28:23: So when they had appointed him a
day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom
he explained and solemnly testified of the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning
Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the
Prophets, from morning till evening.
Kevin Kay
47
“Scriptures” For Josephus
(ca. AD 37-100)
“8. (38) For we have not an innumerable multitude of
books among us, disagreeing from and contradicting
one another [as the Greeks have], but only twentytwo books, which contain the records of all the past
times; which are justly believed to be divine; (39) and
of them five belong to Moses, which contain his
laws and the traditions of the origin of mankind till his
death. This interval of time was little short of three
thousand years; (40) but as to the time from the death
of Moses till the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia,
48
“Scriptures” For Josephus
(ca. AD 37-100)
who reigned after Xerxes, the prophets, who were
after Moses, wrote down what was done in their times
in thirteen books. The remaining four books contain
hymns to God, and precepts for the conduct of
human life. (41) It is true, our history hath been
written since Artaxerxes very particularly, but hath
not been esteemed of the like authority with the
former by our forefathers, because there hath not
been an exact succession of prophets since that
time; (42) and how firmly we have given credit to
Kevin Kay
49
“Scriptures” For Josephus
(ca. AD 37-100)
those books of our own nation, is evident by what we
do; for during so many ages as have already passed,
no one has been so bold as either to add anything to
them, to take anything from them, or to make any
change in them; but it becomes natural to all Jews,
immediately and from their very birth, to esteem
those books to contain divine doctrines, and to
persist in them, and, if occasion be, willingly to die for
them….” (Emphasis added, Against Apion, I:7-8)
Kevin Kay
50
Explanations
Some scribal glosses
Use of sources (cf. Gen. 5:1)
Portions written by someone else (cf. Dt. 34)
Inspiration
Kevin Kay
51
Date Of Writing
Time of Moses:
– 15th cen. BC (ca. 1446)
– 13th cen. BC (ca. 1230)
Four Common Views:
– Early Exodus & Long Sojourn
– Early Exodus & Short Sojourn
– Late Exodus
– Reconstructionist
Cloyce Sutton
52
Length of Egyptian Bondage
Ex. 12:40: Now the sojourn of the children of
Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred
and thirty years.
1 Ki. 6:1: And it came to pass in the four
and Canaan”
(Sam.;
hundred “Egypt
and eightieth
year after
theLXX)
children
of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in
the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel,
in the month of Ziv, which is the second month,
that he began to build the house of the LORD.
Kevin Kay
53
Length of Egyptian Bondage
Jdg. 11:26: While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and
its villages, in Aroer and its villages, and in all
the cities along the banks of the Arnon, for
three hundred years, why did you not recover
them within that time?
Kevin Kay
54
Genealogies in Genesis
Gen. 4:16-24: Cain’s descendants
Gen. 5: Adam’s descendants
Gen. 10: Table of Nations
Gen. 11: Shem’s descendants
Cloyce Sutton
55
Genealogies & Chronology
Incomplete genealogies
Ambiguous relationships
Variations in ancient versions
Symmetry suggests mnemonic purpose
Odd overlaps
External archaeological data
Cloyce Sutton
56
MT
Samaritan Pent
LXX
Josephus
Son’s
Birth
Death
Son’s
Birth
Death
Son’s
Birth
Death
Son’s
Birth
Death
Adam
130
930
130
930
230
930
230
930
Seth
105
912
105
912
205
912
205
912
Enosh
90
905
90
905
190
905
190
905
Kenan
70
910
70
910
170
910
170
910
Mahalalel
65
895
65
895
165
895
165
895
Jared
162
962
62
847
162
962
162
962
Enoch
65
365
65
365
165
365
165
365
Methuselah
187
969
67
720
167
969
187
969
Lamech
182
777
53
653
188
753
182
777
Noah
500
950
500
950
500
950
500
57950
MT
Samaritan Pent
LXX
Josephus
Son’s
Birth
Add’l Yrs
Son’s
Birth
Add’l Yrs
Son’s
Birth
Add’l Yrs
Son’s Birth
Shem
100
500
100
500
100
500
—
Arpachshad
35
403
135
303
135
430
135
Cainan
—
—
—
—
130
330
—
Shelah
30
403
130
303
130
330
130
Eber
34
430
134
270
134
370
134
Peleg
30
209
130
109
130
209
130
Reu
32
207
132
107
132
207
130
Serug
30
200
130
100
130
200
132
Nahor
29
119
79
69
179
129
120
Terah
70
135
70
75
70
135
58
70
Genealogies Omit Names
Mt. 1:8
1 Chr. 3:11f
Ezra 7:3-4
1 Chr. 6:6ff
Joram
Joram
Zerahiah
Zerahiah
Ahaziah
Meraioth
Meraioth
Joash
Amariah
Amaziah
Ahitub
Uzziah
Azariah
Zadok
Mt. 1:11
1 Chr. 3:14f
Ahimaaz
Josiah
Josiah
Azariah
Jehoiakim
Johanan
Jeconiah
Jeconiah
Kevin Kay
Azariah
Azariah
Amariah
Amariah
59
Evidence Of
Intentional Omissions
3 groups of 14 names (Mt. 1:17)
– “David” = DWD = 4 + 6 + 4 = 14
– 14 = 2 x 7
– Helpful mnemonic device
“Son” = Descendant (Mt. 1:1)
Kevin Kay
60
Gaps In Genealogies
2 Ki. 9:2: 2Now when you arrive at that place,
look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat,
the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise
up from among his associates, and take him to
an inner room.
2 Ki. 9:20: 20So the watchman reported,
saying, “He went up to them and is not coming
back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu
the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”
David Eakin
61
Gaps In Genealogies
Ezra 7:3-4
1 Chr. 6:6-10
Zerahiah
Meraioth
Zerahiah
Meraioth
Amariah
Ahitub
Zadok
Ahimaaz
Azariah
Johanan
Azariah
Amariah
Omitted by Ezra
Azariah
Amariah
David Eakin
62
Gaps In Genealogies
Matthew 1:8, 11
1 Chr. 3:11-12, 14-16
Two Points
Joram
Joram
Ahaziah
• The Known
Gaps Would
Omitted Genealogical
by
Joash
Matthew
Not Account
For Millions
Of Years
Amaziah
Uzziah
• We
UzziahIn
(Azariah)
Know These Gaps Exist
Some
Genealogies Because They Do Not
Josiah
Josiah
Exist In Others
Jechoniah
Omitted by
Matthew
Jehoiakim (Eliakim)
Jehoiachin (Jeconiah)
Kevin Kay
63
Gaps In Genealogies???
Arthur C. Custance : “We are told again and
again that some of these genealogies contain
gaps: but what is never pointed out by those who
lay the emphasis on gaps, is that they only know of
the existence of these gaps because the Bible
elsewhere fills them in. How otherwise could one
know of them? But if they are filled in, they are
not gaps at all! Thus in the final analysis the
argument is completely without foundation."
(Genealogies of the Bible, 1967, p. 3)
Don Patton
64
Adam To Abraham
(Gen. 5 & 11)
7th from Adam (Jude 14)
Adam
Seth
Enosh
Any Gaps Would
Not Affect
Cainan
Chronology
Mahalaleel
Jared
Any Gaps Must Come
Enoch
After Enoch
Methuselah
Lamech
Millions of Years In 13 Generations
Noah
Shem
Arphaxad
Salah
Eber
Peleg
Reu
Serug
Nahor
Terah
Abram
291,125 Years Between Each Generation
Don Patton
65
Gaps & Chronology
James B. Jordan: “Gaps in genealogies, however, do
not prove gaps in chronologies. The known gaps all
occur in non-chronological genealogies. Moreover, even if
there were gaps in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11,
this would not affect the chronological information therein
recorded, for even if Enosh were the great-grandson of Seth,
it would still be the case that Seth was 105 years old when
Enosh was born, according to a simple reading of the text.
Thus, genealogy and chronology are distinct problems with
distinct characteristics. They ought not to be confused.” (“The
Biblical Chronology Question,” Creation Social Sciences and
Humanities Quarterly, Winter, 1979/1980, p. 12)
66
Kevin Kay
67
Kevin Kay
68
Historicity Of Genesis
Jesus’ genealogy to Adam (Lk. 3:23-38)
Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12ff; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45)
Consequences of first sin (1 Tim. 2:12ff; 2 Cor.
11:3)
Curse on ground (Rom. 8:19ff)
Curse on serpent (Rev. 12:17; Rom. 16:20)
Cain’s sin (1 Jn. 3:11-12; Jude 11)
Cloyce Sutton
69
Historicity Of Genesis
Sarah as model wife (1 Pet. 3:1-6)
First marriage (Mt. 19:3-10)
Role of women tied to creation (1 Cor. 11:7-12)
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph = models of faith (Heb. 11:1-22)
Noah & baptism & judgment (1 Pet. 3:20-21;
Mt. 24:37-39)
Enoch & godliness (Jude 14-15)
Cloyce Sutton
70
Historicity Of Genesis
Jacob & Esau & election (Rom. 9:10-13)
Esau & godless impenitence (Heb. 12:15-17)
Melchizedek & Christ’s priesthood (Heb. 5:510; 6:20; 7:1ff)
Abraham & justification by faith (Rom. 4:1ff)
Promises to Abraham & redemption (Gal. 3:1ff;
4:21ff)
Cloyce Sutton
71
Jesus Endorsed Genesis
Creation (Mk. 13:19)
Adam & Eve (Mt. 19:4-8; Mk. 10:6-8)
Abel (Mt. 23:35; Lk. 11:51)
Noah and the flood (Mt. 24:37-39; Lk. 17:2627)
Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob (Mt. 8:11)
Sodom & Gomorrah (Lk. 17:28-30)
Lot’s wife (Lk. 17:32)
Kevin Kay
72
NT Writers Endorsed
Genesis
God’s rest on the 7th day (Heb. 4:4)
The first man Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Adam & Eve (Eph. 5:31; 1 Tim. 2:13)
The Fall (Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Cor.
11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14)
Cain & Abel (Heb. 11:4; 12:24; 1 Jn. 3:12;
Jude 11)
Enoch (Heb. 11:5)
Kevin Kay
73
NT Writers Endorsed
Genesis
The flood (Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:19-20; 2 Pet.
2:4-5; 3:3-6)
Call of Abraham (Acts 7:2-4; Heb. 11:8)
Promises to Abraham (Acts 3:25-26; Gal. 3:8)
Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1-10)
Sodom & Gomorrah (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 6-7)
Lot’s deliverance (2 Pet. 2:7)
Kevin Kay
74
NT Writers Endorsed
Genesis
Birth of Isaac (Acts 7:8; Rom. 9:9; Heb. 11:1112)
Hagar & Ishmael (Gal. 4:21-31)
Offer of Isaac (Heb. 11:17-19; Jas. 2:21)
Jacob & Esau (Rom. 9:12-13)
Joseph (Acts 7:9-14)
Kevin Kay
75
Genesis & NT Teaching
Permanence of marriage (Mt. 19:3-6)
Prohibition of cursing (Jas. 3:9)
Role of women (1 Tim. 2:12-15)
Salvation thru baptism (1 Pet. 3:20-21)
Promises about Second Coming (Mt. 24:37ff)
Promise of resurrection (1 Cor. 15:21-22)
Coming condemnation of ungodly (Jude 14f)
End of world (2 Pet. 3:3-7)
David Watts, Sr.
80
Antiquity & Internal Evidence
Divine names used only in Genesis
Patriarchal names used only in Genesis
Place names found only in Genesis
“Angelology”
Unique practices only in Genesis
Would-be anachronisms
Cloyce Sutton
81
Patriarchal Family Life
Adoption of an heir verified
Barren woman using surrogate verified
Adoption of son-in-law as legal heir verified
Long-distance marriage arrangements verified
Sale of birthrights confirmed
Deathbed blessings verified
Cloyce Sutton
82
Patriarchal
Business & Law
Slave prices verified
Treaty or contract forms verified
Cloyce Sutton
83
Egypt in Genesis
Settlement in Goshen valid only in the
period represented in Genesis
Accurate Egyptian terminology
Accurate portrait of Egyptian ideals,
culture, lifestyle
Cloyce Sutton
84
Historicity Of Genesis
Walter Kaiser: “Gn 1-11, according to my own
rough count, contains sixty-four geographical
names, eighty-eight personal names, forty-eight
generic names and twenty-one identifiable cultural
items….Each one of these items has the potential
for exposing the text to error, for the names of the
material of that day as well as the names of the
individuals must be appropriate to the times and
places in which these items are located….
Cloyce Sutton
85
Historicity Of Genesis
Gn 1-11 clearly does not fit into the categories
of myth, legend, parable, allegory, fairy tale,
typology or saga…. Gn 1-11 is totally reliable and
trustworthy when judged by the written claims of
the author and judged according to the literary
conventions of the day in which that author wrote.”
(The Old Testament Documents: Are They Reliable & Relevant?, 8283)
Cloyce Sutton
86
If We Reject Genesis….
We Must Reject The Bible
Kevin Kay
87
Structural Keys
“Toledot” statements
Geography
Seed Promise
Covenant
Emphasis
Cloyce Sutton
88
“Generations” Of Genesis
Heavens & Earth
(2:4ff)
Terah (11:27ff)
Ishmael (25:12ff)
Adam (5:1ff)
Isaac (25:19ff)
Noah (6:9ff)
Esau (36:1ff, 9ff)
Sons Of Noah
(10:1ff)
Jacob (37:2ff)
Shem (11:10ff)
Kevin Kay
89
“Generations” Of Genesis
Provide an overall structure to the book
Connect the individual stories
Mark turning points or major transitions
Emphasize & reiterate the theme of the
promised seed
Cloyce Sutton
90
Cloyce Sutton
91
Seed Promise
To serpent (Gen. 3:15)
To Abraham (Gen. 12:1ff; 13:14-17; 15:1-20;
17:1-21; 22:1-19)
To Isaac (Gen. 26:1-5, 23f)
To Jacob (Gen. 28:13-17; 32:24-32; 35:1, 912; 46:1-4)
Cloyce Sutton
92
An Outline Of Genesis
Primeval History
The Patriarchs
(Gen. 1-11)
(Gen. 12-50)
Creation (Gen. 1-2)
Abraham (Gen. 12-25)
The Fall (Gen. 3)
Isaac (Gen. 25-28)
Cain & Abel (Gen. 4)
Jacob (Gen. 28-35)
The Flood (Gen. 6-9)
Joseph (Gen. 37- 50)
Tower of Babel (Gen.
11)
Kevin Kay
93
Primeval History
(Gen. 1-11)
(1650 years)
(Gen. 1-2)
(Gen. 3)
(650 years)
(Gen. 4)
Kevin Kay
(Gen. 6-9)
(Gen. 11)
94
The Patriarchs
(Gen. 12-50)
(215 years)
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Gen. 12-25
Gen. 25-28
Gen. 28-35
Gen. 37-50
Kevin Kay
95
Reading Biblical Narrative
Top Level: God’s universal plan to redeem man
(creation, sin, redemption, incarnation, sacrifice)
Middle Level: Story of Israel (call of Abraham,
seed promise, land promise, patriarchs, Egyptian
enslavement, Exodus, Sinai, Monarchy, Exile, etc.)
Bottom Level: Individual stories (100s of people
throughout Biblical history)
Cloyce Sutton
96
Elements of the Story
Scene
Setting
Plot
Dialogue
Point of view
Key words
Characterization
Structure
Climax
Setting
Problem
Resolution
Cloyce Sutton
Conclusion
97
Reading Biblical Narrative
Not stories about people but about what God
did to and through those people
Not allegories or stories filled with hidden
meanings
OT narratives do not always teach directly
Each episode does not necessarily have a
moral all its own
Cloyce Sutton
98
Interpretive Issues
“Day” in Gen. 1
Function of the genealogies (Gen. 5 & 11)
“Sons of God” (Gen. 6)
Extent of flood (Gen. 6-8)
Ungodly behavior of heroes
Relation to other portions of Scripture
Cloyce Sutton
99
Interpretative Principles
OT narrative does not usually teach a doctrine
(cf. Gen. 1:27; 2:24 & Mt. 19:3-6; Ex. 3:6 & Mt.
22:31-32)
OT narrative usually illustrates a doctrine taught
elsewhere
Narratives record what happened, not
necessarily what should have happened
Cloyce Sutton
100
Interpretative Principles
People in narratives do not always behave the
way they should
Sometimes the narrative does not tell us if
something is good or bad
Narratives are always selective and incomplete
Narratives are not written to answer all our
questions
Ultimately, God is the hero of every story
Cloyce Sutton
101
Genesis 3:15
You [Satan]
(Rev. 12:9; 20:2)
E
The woman [Eve]
(2 Cor. 11:3)
N
Your seed
[Wicked] (Jn. 8:44; 1
Jn. 3:8, 10)
You shall bruise
His heel [The
crucifixion] (Lk. 22:53;
Jn. 14:30)
M
Her seed
[Righteous] (1 Jn.
3:10)
I
T
He shall bruise your
head [The crucifixion &
Y
resurrection] (Jn. 12:2733; Col. 2:13-15; Heb.
2:14-15)
Kevin Kay
102
Messianic Prophecies
Gen. 3:15: “And I will put enmity Between you
and the woman, And between your seed and
her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And
you shall bruise His heel.”
Gen. 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you; And in
you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.”
Kevin Kay
103
Messianic Prophecies
Gen. 22:18: “In your seed all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed, because you
have obeyed My voice.”
Gen. 49:10: “The scepter shall not depart from
Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the
obedience of the people.”
Kevin Kay
104