Answers for a study in the book of Genesis: Introduction and Hermeneutics

“Answers for a study in the book of Genesis” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

2022 A Case for Genesis – The Hermeneutics

1.  Review of Class Topic:

With your table group, discuss today’s presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Answers here will vary…

The Hermeneutics of Genesis:

Using a good study Bible, answer the following questions to the best of your ability (we will go over them in our discussion groups at class):

2.  Who was the author and what do we know about him? What other books did he write?

Moses is the author of the Torah (Hebrew); also known as the Pentateuch in Greek: The first five books of the Bible’s Old Testament.

Moses’ Birth: ca. 1526 BC

The Exodus occurred: ca. 1446 BC

Reasoning:

Jewish and Christian tradition has Moses being the author of Genesis along with the other books of the Torah: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Even though liberal theology and skeptics of the faith will propose other authorship, the evidence is strong enough for Moses (possibly Joshua at the end of Deuteronomy) and the Levitical Scribes of his day recording and preserving these documents.

In addition, God inspired all of the Biblical writers and even wrote Himself on the tablets of the testimony.

 Biblical evidence:

“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”

–Exodus 31:18

“Now the Lord said to Moses, “Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered. So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.””

–Exodus 34:1-2

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”  

–Exodus 34:27

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua””  Exodus 17:14a (NASB)

“Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.” 

-Exodus 24:3-4

Also refer to Moses’ authorship in Numbers 33:1-2, Deuteronomy 31:9, Joshua 1:8, and 2 Kings 21:8

From the New Testament

 Paul tells us:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  

–2 Timothy 3:16-17

And, Peter tells us:  “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that , no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  

–2 Peter 1:19-21

Most important: Jesus spoke about Moses’ authorship

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.  I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”  

-John 5:31-47

3.  Who was the audience and what do we know about them? What was going on at the time (of the audience)?

Audience: The Israelite people during the time of the Exodus. This was the first generation that came out of Egyptian slavery. They had experienced God’s hand in Egypt with the plagues, ending with the Passover and Exodus. They also experienced the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. However, this is the same generation who would also doubt God and go against his Word, resulting in their 40-year wandering in the desert before the second generation would be allowed to enter the Promised Land under Joshua.

God gave Moses the Law and all that is in the Torah at Mt. Sinai during the 40-year period of time of wandering in the desert.

Moses wrote these words to the Israelites:

“These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” 

-Deuteronomy 6:1-9

4.  What is the genre (Literary style) of this book? When was this book written and what time period of time does it cover?

Genre: Genesis (and the Torah in general) is mainly an historical narrative of humanity’s origin that funnels into a purposeful narrative of the development of the Nation of Israel.

Dating:  The book was written during the Exodus desert wanderings (ca. 1446-1406) and covers the period of time from Creation to just before the entry into the Promised Land (ca.1406).

5.  What is the purpose for the writing of this book?

The purpose of this first book of the Bible is to begin the story of God and his continuing relationship with His creation. Moses writes this book, under God’s direction, so that the Israelites would know God, remember their history and purpose, and understand God’s Covenant Promise and Plan that began at Genesis 3:15 and was established through Abraham and His descendants. The beginning of the Nation of Israel is the main focus from chapter 12 on, and highlights the people, places and events that ultimately establishes this Nation as God’s representative to world; and ultimately as the Nation that the Savior, Jesus, would come from.

6.  What are some of the main themes found in the book of Genesis for context?

• Chapters 1-11: Creation; Fall; Flood; Tower of Babel
  • God commissions humans to be His representatives on earth, taking care of it and governing the other creatures.
  • The Fall brings about consequences for all mankind and the entire created order as Satan steals rulership from humankind.
  • God announces Eve’s offspring with free humanity from Satan’s control.
  • The escalating corruption of human behavior results in God’s punishment through a worldwide flood.
  • The new world is established after the flood, yet the corruption will again rear its head through the building of the Tower of Babel, and once again God has to intervene (this scenario of human rebellion against God will continue throughout the Biblical narrative).
• Chapters 12-50: The Patriarchs and the development of the Nation of Israel through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s twelve sons who become the twelve tribes of Israel

7.  Discuss: Why do you think it is important to understand the historical context in which the books of the Bible are written? What are some ways that we can do this?

Answers may vary but should include…

• Understanding the historical context of the original audience and setting will help us understand God’s intention through the Biblical author to the people of that day, then we can make life application to our day (and not the other way around).
• We often put the lens of our current culture and society over the Bible and thus misinterpret and misapply what is being taught in ancient settings in light of modern settings; therefore it is important to follow the hermeneutical method in order and not to simply look for self-application, otherwise we will miss the big picture of the Bible and God’s intention for our understand about life and eternity.

8.  Going Deeper (if you’re up for a challenge): What is the difference between descriptive passages and prescriptive passages in the Bible, and why would that be important to understand when studying? How does this relate to interpretation and application?

This idea of descriptive vs. prescriptive is important when we study the Bible. The Bible is mainly an historical narrative that is descriptive of events, people and places, but it does have prescriptive commands given by God in the Old Testament for the people of Israel (not for us), and prescriptive commands given by Jesus (who is God) in the New Testament that are for us.

Recognizing when something is descriptive versus prescriptive will help us with proper interpretation of the Bible. Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible, its themes and overarching narrative will give us a framework with which to work from. Interpretation of what is in the narrative (who wrote, who it was written to, and why) will then help us to properly apply what is said to our lives today.

Note: References used are taken from the Life Application and ESV study Bibles and the Essential Bible Companion by John H. Walton, Mark L. Strauss and Ted Cooper Jr.