Trans World Radio - India

 GENESIS“ The Seed Plot of the Bible”

WRITER: Moses

NAME: Genesis

The name Genesis is taken from the Septuagint. The Septuagint(LXX) is a Greek translation made of the Old Testament in Alexandria at the order of Ptolemy Philadelphus about 285-247 B.C. Josephus tells us that this translation was made by 72 priests (henceits name) in 72 days. Six priests were from each of the 12 tribes. Christ and Paul quoted from this translation of the Old Testament. Itis older than any of the Hebrew texts extant today.

Genesis is the book of beginnings and the families — the beginningof creation, man, woman, sabbath, marriage, family, work, sin,murder, sacrifice, races, languages, culture, civilization and redemption. Genesis means “origin,” “source,” “birth.” The meaning closest tothat of the original is “birth.” It is derived from the Greek verb gennao,which means “to beget” or “give birth to.” Genesis is the bookof beginnings and sources, but more particularly it is the book of births— this is often overlooked. It is the book of generations. Accordingto this understanding of Genesis, it falls into two natural divisions:

1. Gen. 2:4 — The Book of the Birth of Heaven and the Earth(from Septuagint)

2. Gen. 5:1 — The Book of the Birth of MenSimply stated, the Book of Genesis is the record of the “familytree” of the Jews. It is the genealogy of heaven, earth, and man. Even the new birth is suggested in Genesis 3:15, where is the firstmention of a Redeemer.

OUTLINE (According to genealogies):

Gen. 1:1 — 2:6 Book of generations of heavens and earth — divine poem of creation — God’s creative work

Gen. 2:7 — 6:8 Book of generations of Adam (men, anthropoi) — Adam was created, but children born to him

Gen. 6:9 — 9:29 Generations of Noah

Gen. 10:1 — 11:9 Generations of sons of Noah

Gen. 11:10-26 Generations of sons of Shem (Gentiles)

Gen. 11:27 — 25:11 Generations of Terah

Gen. 25:12-18 Generations of Ishmael

Gen. 25:19 — 35:29 Generations of Isaac (why Abraham left out, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called” cf. Gen. 21:12; Heb. 11:8, 9; Rom. 9:7)

Gen. 36:1 — 37:1 Generations of Esau

Gen. 37:2 — 50:26 Generations of Jacob (genealogy of rejected line given first, chosen line last, cf. 1 Cor. 15:46 for principle in giving genealogies)

KEY: Generations

PURPOSE:

To give us the families — Gen. 12:3; 22:18; 28:13, 14;Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:6, 9, 16.The first 11 chapters cover a minimum of 2000 years. It could easilybe a thousand times longer. From chapter 12 to chapter 50 the timeis 350 years. This should arrest our attention.

11 chapters cover 2000 years, plus.

39 chapters cover only 350 years.

Certainly the record slows down at chapter 12. Better stated, the first11 chapters constitute an introduction to the remainder of the bookand the Bible. This chart may prove helpful.

COMMENTS:

Abraham is more important to God than the universe. It is being onlyfair to an author to place the emphasis where he places it. In the New Testament God indicates emphasis in the same way. The four Gospels record the main events in the life of Jesus Christ. Examine the following facts:

There are 89 chapters in the 4 Gospels:

4 chapters cover the first 30 years of His life,

85 chapters cover the last 3 years of His life,

27 chapters cover the last 8 days of His life.

Which is more important to the writers, judging from the space givento each — the first 30 years or the last 8 days? Four chapters coverthe first 30 years and 27 chapters cover the last 8 days. When youturn to the Epistles, you discover why the emphasis is on the death,burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4).These facts constitute the gospel; your salvation rests upon them. Doyou believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and that He wasraised for your justification? This is essential.

One of the harshest and most frequently heard criticisms of theBible concerns the creation account. It is pointed out that othernations of antiquity had such a story. This is true, but a comparisonof the Genesis record with one of the best of a secular nation, theBabylonian tablets of creation, will show the superiority of theGenesis record. Here all is contrast:

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