Genesis: An Overview
An overview of Genesis examining authorship, dating, structure, and theological significance as the prologue to Scripture.
Setting, Occasion, Author, and Dating
Who wrote Genesis, when, to whom, and why? A simple answer is that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, beginning with Genesis, during Israel’s Exodus journey. Moses wrote Genesis as a prologue to the whole Pentateuch, and it continued to serve as the prologue to the entire canon. Genesis answers the question, “How did we get here?” It explains from the beginning where they (and we) came from, where we’re going, and why we find ourselves in our present situation.
A more complex answer to the question of authorship and dating recognizes that, while Moses was the primary and most substantial author, there are several evident textual clues (e.g., Deuteronomy 34:4-12, and several passages stating “as it is to this day”) that a later editor’s hand was involved in the final form.[1] The extent of that editor’s contribution is debated, but in no way does the presence of an editor undermine the inspiration, inerrancy, or authority of the Pentateuch.
Moses, carried along by the Holy Spirit, compiled Genesis from established oral tradition, divine revelation, and possibly preexisting written sources documenting the events that occurred before his birth[2]. He wrote it to Israel to frame their present plight of suffering in a cursed creation, to document the promises from God to the nation in terms of the land they were about to enter, and to explain the relationship between God and His people, and their importance in God’s plan to bless the world.
This is the view held nearly unanimously by Jews and Christians until the 18th century,[3] and supported by internal evidence of the scripture and several early extra-biblical historical sources.[4] This view came increasingly under fire over the past few centuries[5] from secular critical scholarship, which holds an a priori commitment to a naturalistic, evolutionary, atheistic approach to the development of religion in general and to religious texts in particular, the traditional view still prevails among believers who hold to the inspiration and authority of Scripture.
Message and Structure
Genesis is the prologue to the entire Bible, introducing mankind’s origin and purpose in creation, our primary problem (rebellion against our creator God), and God’s promise and plan to rescue mankind from its rebellion through a savior.
One way to structure Genesis is in two parts: primeval history and patriarchal history.[6] The primeval history is covered in Genesis 1:1-11:26, where Moses briefly rushes through two thousand years of human history to show the purpose of creation, and how and why God created and called a covenant people. Patriarchal history is covered in 11:27-50:26, which slows the pace of the narrative down exponentially, covering only four generations: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. This tells the story of how the people of Israel, God’s chosen nation to bring blessing on the whole world, came into being.
The major sections of the book are punctuated by the *tôledôt *(Hebrew for “the generations of…”, or “here is what became of…”) headings.[7] There are eleven: the heavens and the earth (Gen 2:4), Adam (5:1), Noah (6:9), Sons of Noah (10:1), Shem (11:10), Terah (11:27), Ishmael (25:12), Isaac (25:19), Esau/Edom (36:1 & 36:9), and Jacob (37:2).
Another way to structure the text is a three-part outline: purpose, problem, and promise.[8] It begins with the creation narrative of Genesis 1:1-2:3, where God creates everything and calls it very good: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.” (Genesis 1:31, CSB). He commissions mankind to experience the blessing of rulership and stewardship over the creation: “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:28, CSB).
Next, in 2:4-4:26, we see Adam and Eve’s rejection of this blessed existence in favor of claiming self-sovereignty and self-determination, buying the lie of the Serpent. As a result, God curses the ground, the Serpent, Adam, and Eve. Yet he also unveils His plan to rescue humanity from the consequences of their rebellion.
Finally, in chapter 5 through the end of the book, we see God’s working out of this promise time and time again through the stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Hinting at the ways he will bring his salvation fully through Jesus Christ. God promises a (singular, Galatians 3:16) offspring of the woman (Genesis 3:15), who will defeat The Serpent, and of Abraham (Genesis 12:7, 13:15-16, 17:7-8, and 22:18), who will inherit the blessing for His people. Through the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), we get a typological glimpse of this rescuer, betrayed and killed by his brothers, unjustly accused, rising to the highest throne, and bringing about the salvation of the world, resulting in worship from his brothers.
Relevance and Applicability to Christians Today
In this introductory book, God gives us an amazing glimpse of mankind’s origin, purpose, and destiny. We were created to rule creation on behalf of God, spreading the image of His glory across the whole globe. It shows our root-level rebellion against God and His design, revealing our need for rescue. Finally, it shows His plan to bring about that rescue and restore blessing through Jesus, the offspring of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head.[9] And this is the primary relevance for Christians today.
While not giving us a comprehensive and scientific account of the mechanics of creation, Genesis reveals to us that God created everything that exists, out of nothing, with a word. For reasons fully understood by Him alone, God intends for us to understand this creation as having taken place over the course of a week. In this creation account, we learn that God powerfully filled the void and ordered the chaos to create a land perfectly suited for human thriving. He did this so that He could walk with mankind in perfect relationship, and they could rule the earth on His behalf, experiencing blessing and representing God to all creation.[10] In this creation account, God also shows His design for masculinity and femininity, two genders, cooperating to fully show His image, and joining together in marriage to produce offspring to fill the earth with that image.
Next, Genesis introduces the circumstances that led to our present fallen state and our need for a rescuer. In believing the lie of the Serpent over their Creator, Adam and Eve introduced sin, and through sin, death, to the creation. Ever since, we have been a race of rebellion, each of us falling into that same pattern of sin. Because of our rebellion, mankind was removed from the Garden of Eden and the life of blessing and walking with God, and instead we now live in a land that fights back at us with thorns and thistles.
Finally, Genesis previews the good news of how God plans to reconcile us to himself. In Genesis, we see God covering the guilt and shame of Adam and Eve’s sin with the first animal sacrifice. We see the promise of a deliver who will crush the serpent’s head. And we see a pattern start to unfold through the stories of Noah and Joseph of God saving His people through a chosen rescuer.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
DeRouchie, Jason. “Lecture on Genesis.” Video lecture, M-BS2110 Old Testament Survey 1. Midwestern Seminary, July 25, 2023.
Merrill, Eugene H., Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti. The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011.
Notes
1. 1. Eugene H. Merrill, Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti, *The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament* (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011), 167.
8. 8. Dr. Jason DeRouchie, *“Lecture on Genesis” *video lecture, M-BS2110 Old Testament Survey 1, Midwestern Seminary, July 25, 2023, 00:01:00.