Introduction to Genesis, story of God's love and the response of man since the beginning of everything from light to darkness and the aspirations and journey of mankind in this world as it cares for himself, for his fellow men and women and to the ultimate creator.

1. INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS

2. 1. Introduction (Genesis 1:1-2:3) — the
Creator.
• Consists of the Hexaemeron; it teaches the power
and goodness of God as manifested in the creation of
the world, and also the dependence of creatures on
the dominion of the Creator.
• Hexaemeron - 6 days of Creation

3. • The Catholic Church allows for a variety of interpretations, as long as
the doctrines of
1. creation ex nihilo
2. human monogenism
3. original sin
4. Imago Dei
are maintained.

4. 2. General History (2:4-11:26)
•Man did not acknowledge his dependence
on God. Hence, leaving the disobedient to
their own devices, God chose one
special family or one individual as the
depositary of His Revelation.

5. a. History of Heaven and Earth (2:4-4:26)
•Here we have the story of the fall of our first
parents, ii, 5-iii, 24; of the fratricide of Cain,
iv, 1-16; the posterity of Cain and its
elimination, iv, 17-26.

6. b. History of Adam (5:1-6:8)
•The writer enumerates the Sethites,
another line of Adam's
descendants, v, 1-32, but shows
that they too became so corrupt
that only one among them found
favour before God, vi, 1-8.

7. c. History of Noah (6:9-9:29)
•Neither the Deluge which destroyed the
whole human race excepting Noah's family, vi,
11-viii, 19, nor God's covenant with Noah and his
sons, viii, 20-ix, 17, brought about the
amendment of the human family, and only one
of Noah's sons was chosen as the bearer of the
Divine blessings, ix, 18-29.

8. d. History of the Sons of Noah (10:1-11:9)
•The posterity of the non-chosen
sons, x, 1-32, brought a new
punishment on the human race by
its pride, xi, 1-9.

9. e. History of Sem (11:10-26)
•The posterity of Sem is enumerated
down to Thare the father of
Abraham, in whose seed all the
nations of the earth shall
be blessed.

10. 3. Special History (11:27-50:26)
•Here the inspired writer describes the special
Providence watching over Abraham and his
offspring which developed in Egypt into a large
nation. At the same time, he eliminates the sons
of Abraham who were not children
of God's promise. This teaches the Israelites that
carnal descent from Abraham does not suffice to
make them true sons of Abraham.

11. a.History of Thare (11:27-25:11)
•This section tells of the call of Abraham,
his transmigration into Chanaan, his
covenant with God, and His promises.

12. b. History of Ismael (25:12-28)
•This section eliminates the tribes
springing from Ismael.

13. c. History of Isaac (25:19-35:29)
• Here we have the history of Isaac's sons,
Esau and Jacob.

14. d. History of Esau (36:1-37:1)
•The sacred writer gives a list of Esau's
posterity; it does not belong to the number
of the Chosen People.

15. f. History of Jacob (37:2-50:26)
•This final portion of Genesis tells of the fate of
Jacob's family down to the death of the Patriarch
and of Joseph.

16. Genesis
•Creation Story – beginning of the world
as held by Judaim, Islam and Christians
•The Election of the people of God – The
Story of Abraham and his descendants