David Cox's Library of Religious Works Main Page
21 Pentateuch:
21.01 Genesis
21.01.00 Introductory Material 21.01.09 Noah's Ark and Flood 21.01.01 Chapter Content 21.01.10 Tower of Babel 21.01.02 Messages 21.01.11 Abraham and Sarah 21.01.03 Difficulties and Difficult Passages 21.01.12 Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Esau 21.01.04 Teaching Helps 21.01.13 Twelve Tribes of Israel 21.01.05 Questions for Bible Study 21.01.06 Adam, Eve, Garden, Fall 21.01.97 Recommended Commentaries 21.01.07 God in Genesis 21.01.98 Teaching Outlines 21.01.08 OT Salvation through Faith 21.01.99 Sermons See also 39.05 Evolution-Creationism Keil & Delitzsch - Commentary on Genesis (b) 2.2 MB (607 pages).
Kimble - Biblical Theology on Genesis 678K (b) (158 pages)
Pink - Gleanings in Genesis Commentary 846K (b) (224 pages)Deffinbaugh - Commentary on Genesis 6.7MB (b) (401 pages).
Gray, James - Concise Bible Commentary on Old Testament (b)#Genesis
21.01.00 Introductory Material on Genesis <top of page>
James Van Dine - Analysis of Genesis 31 pgs offsite
for Creation see 39.05 Evolution-Creationism
Date:
Name of the Book: "Genesis"
"The name means beginning, origin, or creation. The leading thought, therefore, is creation, and we should study it with a view to finding out everything, the beginning of which is record in it. Certainly we have the record of:
(1) The beginning of the world which God created.
(2) The beginning of man as the creature of God.
(3) The beginning of sin, which entered the world through the disobedience of man.
(4) The beginning of redemption, seen alike in the promises and types of the book and in the chosen family.
(5) The beginning of condemnation, seen in the destruction and punishment of individuals, cities, and the world."1
Author: Moses
Purpose and Religious Importance
"The chief purpose of the book is to write a religious history, showing how, after man had fallen into sin, God began to give him a religion and to unfold to him a plan of salvation. The germ of all the truth that is unfolded in the whole Scripture is found in Genesis, and to know this book well is to know God's plan for blessing sinful man. Above all, we learn about the nature and work of God, who is revealed as Creator, Preserver, Law-Giver, Judge, and Merciful Sovereign. The religious interest dominates the whole book, as well as the whole Bible, and is uppermost even in the creation story. This religious purpose is seen in the fact that all but the chosen race are constantly dropped. It first gives the genealogy of Cain, then drops him and follows the line of Seth; first Ishmael is dropped and Isaac followed. Esau is given first and dropped while the story goes on to follow the line of Jacob."1
Importance of Genesis to Science
"Genesis is not a book of science and makes no attempt to explain many things that are the subject of investigation in the fields of geology, zoology, biology, botany, astronomy, archaeology, and anthropology. In fact, 'Science does not come by revelation, but by observation, investigation, combination, conclusion.' and hence Genesis leaves the unlimited fields of science free for investigation and discovery. But it does set out several facts which indicate the general plan of the universe and furnish a basis for scientific research. Among the more important things indicated are that:
(1) There was a beginning of things.
(2) Things did not come by chance.
(3) There is a Creator who continues to take interest in and controls the universe.
(4) There was orderly progress in creation from the less and more simple to the greater and more complex.
(5) Everything else was brought into existence for man, who is the crowning work of creation."1
General Importance
"The importance of the book can not be overestimated. It alone tells us of the events that transpired before Moses. Without Genesis the Bible would be incomplete. We would know nothing of the origin of the universe and of man and sin; nothing of the flood and of the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph --nothing of the beginning of the Hebrew race or of how God began to reveal Himself to man. Without it we could not understand the rest of the Bible, every part of which refers to the facts given here. It covers more than half of the time of all the Old Testament, and in it are the germs of all the truth unfolded in the rest of the Scriptures."1
21.01.01 Chapter Content <top of page>
I. Creation Chapters 1-2
A. Creation in general Chapter 1
B. Creation of man in particular Chapter 2
II. Fall of Man Chapter 3
A. Temptation 3:1-5
B. Fall 3:6-8
C. Lord's Appearance 3:9-13
D. Curse 3:14-21
E. Exclusion from the Garden 3:22-24
III. Flood Chapter 4-9
A. Growth of sin through Cain 4:1-24
B. Genealogy of Noah 4:25-5:End
C. Building of the Ark Chapter 6
D. Occupying the Ark Chapter 7
E. Departure from the Ark Chapter 8
F. Covenant with Noah Chapter 9
IV. Nations Chapters 10-11
A. Basis of Nations, Noah's sons Chapter 10 How?
B. Occasion of forming the nations 11:1-9 Why?
C. Genealogy of Abraham and Shem 11:10-32
V. Abraham 12:1-25:18
A. Call and promise Chapter 12
B. Abraham and Lot Chapter 13-14
C. Covenant Chapter 15:1-18:15
D. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah 18:16-19:End
E. Lives at Gerar Chapter 20
F. Birth of Isaac Chapter 21
G. Sacrifice of Isaac Chapter 22
H. Death of Sarah Chapter 23
I. Marriage of Isaac Chapter 24
J. Death of Abraham and Ishmael Chapter 25:1-18
21.01.02 Messages <top of page>
"(1) The near relation which man has to God, by whose and in whose image he was created, and who loves and cares for him and uses him in His world plans.
(2) The intimate relation of men. Society is necessary but may be either a blessing or a curse, depending upon those with whom we have alliance.
(3) The fundamental value of faith in the life and destiny of men.
(a) It is the basis upon which God blesses us and accomplishes His purposes in us.
(b) It is the means or instrument by which man is saved and accomplishes His tasks.
(c) Without it, all in life is failure."1
21.01.03 Difficulties and Difficult Passages <top of page>
See below for major events and difficulties connected with them.
21.01.04 Teaching Helps <top of page>
21.01.05 Questions for Discussion and Study Groups <top of page>
21.01.06 Adam, Eve, Garden, Fall <top of page>
21.01.07 God in Genesis <top of page>
21.01.08 OT Salvation by Grace through Faith <top of page>
21.01.09 Noah's Ark and the Flood <top of page>
21.01.10 Tower of Babel <top of page>
21.01.11 Abraham, Sarah <top of page>
21.01.12 Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Esau <top of page>
21.01.13 12 Tribes of Israel <top of page>
21.01.97 Recommended Commentaries <top of page>
21.01.98 Teaching Outlines <top of page>
21.01.99 Sermons <top of page>
1 J. B. Tidwell - "The Bible Book by Book", (Wm B. Eerdmans Publishings Co: Grand Rapids, Michigan 1914). (See section on Genesis.)