Introduction to the Book of Genesis [Theology 101]

Overview of Genesis

• First book of the Old Testament
• First book of the Pentateuch (Torah)
• The Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Bible
• The name Genesis comes from the Greek translation of the word "generations"

Date and Authorship of Genesis

• Moses is the primary author, and he likely wrote Genesis along with the other books of the Pentateuch around 1400 BC.

Basic Outline of Genesis

Genesis 1–11

• Narrates the history of the world.

Genesis 12–50

• Narrates the history of Israel.

10 Occurences of Toledot in Genesis

1. Genesis 2:4 (Generations of the heaven and earth)

• Two creation accounts given.
• The main character is the creator God.
• Sin enters the world. (Gen 3)
• Cain kills Abel (Gen 4)

2. Genesis 5:1 (Generations of Adam)

• Adam and Eve's obedience to be fruitful and multiply to fill the earth. (Gen 1:28)

3. Genesis 6:9 (Generations of Noah)

• God commands Noah to build an ark to save his family and every type of animal since God is about the judge the world.
• After the flood, God promises never to destroy the earth by water again.
• God repeats his command to Noah to multiply and fill the earth (Gen 9:1)

4. Genesis 10:1 (Generations of the Sons of Noah)

• God re-creates humanity through Noah's son.
• Events of the Tower of Babel created a diversity of nations.

5. Genesis 11:10 (Generations of Shem)

• Generation ends with Terah

6. Genesis 11:26 (Generations of Terah)

• Transitions the narrative from the history of the world to the history of Israel
• God appears to Abraham and instructs him to depart from his homeland Ur to a new promised land (Gen 12:1)
• In addition to the land, God also promised Abraham an offspring and blessing to the entire world through Abraham.
• God fulfills his promise not through Hagar but through Sarah who gives birth to Isaac. (Gen 21)
• God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. (Gen 22)
• Sarah's death (Gen 23)
• Abraham's servant finds a wife for Isaac (Gen 24)

7. (Generations of Ishmael)

• God is faithful to his promises given to Ishmael (Gen 16:12)

8. Genesis 25:19 (Generations of Isaac)

• The narrative focuses on Jacob.
• Sibling rivalry of Jacob and Esau
• Jacob deceives his father Jacob to give him the blessing.
• Jacob flees to Haran and is deceived by Laban.
• Jacob marries both Leah and Rachel.
• God wrestles with Jacob and renamed Israel. (Gen 32)
• Jacob reconciles with Esau.

9. Genesis 36:1 (Generations of Esau)

• God's blessing for another nation besides Israel.
• Esau is the father of Edom, with whom Israel will have a difficult relationship.

10. Genesis 37:1 (Generations of Jacob)

Bible Studies on the Story of Joseph

1. Introduction to the Joseph Narrative in Genesis
2. Joseph the Dreamer (Genesis 37:2–11)
3. Joseph Sold to Slavery (Genesis 37:12–36)
4. Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38)
5. Joseph Tempted by Potiphar's Wife (Genesis 39)
6. God Remembers Joseph in Prison (Genesis 40)
7. Pharoah's Dreams Interpreted (Genesis 41:1–36)
8. Joseph Made Prime Minister (Genesis 41:37–57)
9. Jacob's Sons' First Trip to Egypt (Genesis 42)
10. Jacob Accepts Judah's Guarantee (Genesis 43:1–14)
11. Joseph Reunites with Benjamin (Genesis 43:15–34)
12. Joseph Plants His Silver Cup (Genesis 44:1–17)
13. Judah's Plea for Benjamin (Genesis 44:18–34)
14. Judah Becomes Surety for Benjamin (Genesis 44)
15. A Portrait of Forgiveness (Genesis 45:1–8)
16. It Is Enough (Genesis 45:9–28)
17. Prepared to Die (Genesis 46)
18. God Rescues Egypt (Genesis 47:1–26)
19. "God Will Be With You" (Genesis 47:27–48:22)
20. Lion of Judah: When All Is Said and Done (Genesis 49)
21. God Meant It For Good (Genesis 50)

Introduction to the Pentateuch

• Introduction to Genesis
• Introduction to Exodus
• Introduction to Leviticus
• Introduction to Numbers
• Introduction to Deuteronomy

Dr. Andrew Kim received his B.A. in Religious Studies from U.C. Berkeley, M.Div and Th.M from The Master's Seminary, and his Ph.D in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Multinational Kingdom in Isaiah and the creator of Theology 101, a YouTube channel committed to teaching Christian theology in everyday language.