{"id":3667,"date":"2011-10-12T01:00:09","date_gmt":"2011-10-12T09:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lighthousebc.com\/beacon\/?p=3667"},"modified":"2012-11-28T04:47:06","modified_gmt":"2012-11-28T12:47:06","slug":"bob-genesis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lighthousebc.com\/beacon\/2011\/10\/12\/bob-genesis\/","title":{"rendered":"BOB – Genesis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

by Stephen Rodgers<\/em><\/p>\n

GENESIS IN 10 WORDS OR LESS<\/strong><\/p>\n

“God creates the world and chooses a special people.”<\/p>\n

TITLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The English title “Genesis” comes from the Greek word (geneseos<\/em>) meaning “origins,” whereas the Hebrew title is derived from the Bible’s very first word (bereshith<\/em>), translated “in the beginning.” Either way, Genesis can rightly be thought of as the “book of beginnings.”<\/p>\n

As previously mentioned, it is sometimes referred to as the “First Book of Moses.”<\/p>\n

AUTHOR & AUDIENCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The author of Genesis is not explicitly stated, but both Jewish and Christian traditions attribute the five books of the Pentateuch primarily<\/em> to Moses, while acknowledging that minor revisions were posthumously added.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, both the OT (Ex 17:14; Num 33:2; Jos 8:31; 1Ki 2:3; 2Ki 14:6; Ezr 6:18; Neh 13:1; Dan 9:11,13; Mal 4:4) and the NT (Matt 8:4; Mk 12:26; Lk 16:29; 24:27, 44; Jn 5:46; 7:22; Ac 15:1; Ro 10:19; 1Co 9:9; 2Co 3:15) credit Moses as the author.<\/p>\n

For more information, see the “Author and Composition” section of the Pentateuch article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The original audience were the post-Exodus Israelites. \u00a0Considering that many of their traditions were likely lost or corrupted during their enslavement in Egypt, Genesis \u00a0functions as a text that “sets the record straight.”<\/p>\n

DATE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on whether one subscribes to an early (ca. 1,446 BC) or late (ca. 1,260 BC) date of the Exodus would determine the time during which Genesis was written<\/em> (after the Exodus but prior to Moses’ death). \u00a0(It should be noted that while good arguments have been put forth in favor of both dates, the majority of scholars surveyed for this series tended to favor an early date). In regards to the events<\/em> of Genesis, Genesis 12 \u00a0(Abraham) to Exodus 2 (the birth of Moses) covers 640-660 years. \u00a0In regards to the events of Genesis 1-11, there is not universal agreement among Christian scholars regarding the length of time it depicts, however it is generally understood to span a minimum of 2,000 years.<\/p>\n

BACKGROUND & SETTING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Genesis begins in eternity past (Gen 1:1), continuing with the events of Creation.<\/p>\n

Genesis has three distinct, sequential, geographical settings, which (assuming an early date of the Exodus) can be dated accordingly:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Mesopotamia (Gen 1-11: Creation to ca. 2,090 BC)<\/li>\n
  2. the Promised Land (Gen 12-36: ca. 2,090-1,897 BC)<\/li>\n
  3. Egypt (Gen 37-50: ca. 1,897-1,804 BC)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    HISTORICAL & THEOLOGICAL THEMES<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Somewhat ironically, while the literary feature of the “hero story” is\u00a0prominently\u00a0displayed in Genesis (see below), the central character is clearly and\u00a0unapologetically\u00a0God. The author makes no attempt to prove the existence of God, but simply assumes Him from the outset and proceeds to contrast Him with the alleged gods of the ANE.<\/p>\n