The document provides an overview of the structure and themes of Genesis. It is divided into two parts: the History of Mankind from Genesis 1-11 and the History of the Jews from Genesis 12-50. There are 10 generations or accounts that make up the book, with each section telling the story of a man and his descendants. Key points include how Genesis shows man's inadequacy without God across natural, human, and spiritual relationships. It also highlights Jesus as foreshadowed in several characters and events within Genesis including Joseph, Isaac, Melchizedek, and the serpent prophecy.

1. INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS I
Structure & Themes
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS II
Science and Civilisation

2. Hebrew History
~2000 BC ~1500 BC ~1000 BC ~500 BC400 year
gap
God is
silent
Egypt
India
China
Elections
Abraham
PATRIACHS
Exodus
Moses
PROPHETS
Empire
David
PRINCES
Exile
Isaiah
PRIESTS
Gen1-11:Creation,Fall,FloodBabel
400 year
gap
God is
silent
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Buddha
Confucius
Alexander
the Great
Julius
Caeser
NT:Birth,Death,ResurrectinJESUS
MAN

3. Genesis : The Book of Beginnings
Beginning of
- the Heavens and the Earth Chap 1
- Man Chap 2
- Sin Chap 3
- Murder and Death Chap 4
- Marriage Chap 2
- Nations Chap 10
- Languages Chap 11
- Jewish History, Abraham Chap 12

4. Genesis : The First Book of the Pentateuch
(Jews call the Pentateuch Torah)
Books of the PENTATEUCH
1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
Moses is attributed to be the author of the Pentateuch

5. HIGH LEVEL STRUCTURE
History of Mankind
(Genesis 1-11:26)
History of the Jews
(Genesis 11:27-50:26)
 Superimpose on this high level outline are the sections defined by
“generations” (KJV) or “account” NIV
e.g. Gen 2:4
(KJV) These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they
were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
(NIV) This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
 Each section tells the story of a man and his descendants

6. History of Mankind
(Genesis 1-11:26)
History of the Jews
(Genesis 11:27-50:26)
PART 1 PART 2
Generations/Accounts of
1. Heavens and the earth 2:4-4:26
2. Adam 5:1 – 6:8
3. Noah 6:9 – 9:29
4. sons of Noah 10:9 – 11:9
5. Sons of Shem 11:10-26
Generations/Accounts of
6. Terah 11:27- 25:11
7. Ishmael 25:12-18
8. Isaac 25:19-35:29
9. Esau 36:1-37:1
10. Jacob 37:2-50:26
The number of accounts/generations – 10 is significant.
OT books are commonly structured in some numerical
way with numbers 3,7,10,12 for e.g.

7. The account and genealogy of those chosen
always comes after those that were rejected
e.g. Cain’s history before Seth (Gen 4:17; Gen 4:25-5:32)

Lamech
Jabal
Raise
livestock
Tubal
Music
Harp & Flute
(Adah) (Zillah)
Tubal-Cain
Bronze and
Iron tools
Murderer and
1st Polygamist
Cain  Enoch  Irad  Mahujael  Methushael
Built City
The Pride
of Man
WEALTH TALENT KNOWLEDGE

8. The account and genealogy of those chosen
always comes after those that were rejected
e.g. Cain’s history before Seth (Gen 4:17; Gen 4:25-5:32)
Seth  Enosh  Kenan  Mahalalel  Jared  Enoch
Walked with
God and God
took him away
Methuselah  Lamech  Noah
What is key feature in genealogy? “.. had other sons and daughters”
Seth’s generation fulfilled what God wanted for men – Gen 1:28
Cain’s generation worked to show independence from God
*easier for camelto enter the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter to kingdom of God Matt 19:23
Be fruitful and multiple

9. The account and genealogy of those chosen
always comes after those that were rejected
Other examples
 Japheth’s and Ham’s genealogy (10:1-20) before
Shem’s (10:21)
 Ishmael’s account (25:12) before Isaac’s account
(25:19 )
 Esau’s account (36:1) before Jacob’s (37:2)

10. How many days did God take to
create planet Earth?

11. Symmetry in sequence of creation
Day 4 Creation of different lights
in the sky - greater light,
lesser light and the stars
Day 5 Creation of creatures in the
“expanse” /”firmemant”
Day 6 Creation of creatures in the
land including Man.
Day 1 Creation of light
Separated light from darkness
Day 2 Creation of “space” to
(“expanse” / “firmemant”)
separate the waters above
and below the sky
Day 3 Separation of the water from
the land.
Creation of plants on land

12. Man’s Inadequacy without God
3 Main Relationships
 Natural Relationship (Chap 1,2)
- Our interaction with the natural world
 Human Relationships (chap 3-6)
- Our interaction with one another
 Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)
- Our interaction with God told through 5 men
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
Genesis tells how these relations fall apart when God
is out of the picture

13. Man’s Inadequacy without God
 Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)
- Our interaction with God told through 5 men
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
What are 3 things we seek
Righteousness
Peace
Joy
Unseen and unconscious
goals of life
"The kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)
Only God imparts real righteousness, peace and joy

14. Man’s Inadequacy without God
 Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)
- Our interaction with God told through 5 men
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
Noah Regeneration
Abraham Justification … by faith
Isaac Sonship
Jacob Sanctification
Joseph Glorification

15. Man’s Inadequacy without God
 Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)
- Our interaction with God told through 5 men
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
Noah Regeneration
Abraham Justification … by faith
Isaac Sonship
Jacob Sanctification
Joseph Glorification

16. Jesus in Genesis
 Joseph
– he is only character who has only strength and no weaknesses
in OT. Only other person in the Bible with similar characteristics
is …
 The ancestry of Jesus is traced back all the way to
Seth (Luke 1)
 Isaac
- was brought to Mt. Moriah to be offered ( Gen22:2).
Moriah is the same mountain Golgotha
- ~ 30 years when offered
- ram offered, caught with thorns (thicket) round his head.

17. Jesus in Genesis
 Melchizedek (Gen 22)
- A King and a Priest of God at the same time. Only example in OT
- Brought bread and wine for Abraham (v18)
- see Heb 7:11 . Jesus, a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
 He will crush the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15)
 Presence at creation
- “Let us make man …” Gen 1:26 cf John 1, Col 1: 15-17