A Quick Overview

The Book of Genesis serves as the foundational text of the Bible, providing a narrative that sets the stage for the entire scriptural story. It is divided into two primary sections: the primeval history (chapters 1-11) and the patriarchal narratives (chapters 12-50).

The primeval history encompasses the:

• Creation Narrative
• The accounts of Adam and Eve
• Noah and the flood
• The Tower of Babel

All introducing key themes such as creation, sin, and divine judgment.

The patriarchal narratives focus on the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, illustrating the covenant relationship between God and humanity and highlighting the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan through specific individuals and families.

Creation narratives in Genesis are crucial for understanding the nature of God and humanity’s place in the world. Genesis opens with the majestic account of creation, affirming God as the sovereign creator who brings order from chaos. The repeated declaration that creation is “good” underscores the intrinsic value of the created world. The creation of humanity in God’s image establishes a unique relationship between God and people, marking humanity as caretakers of creation. This foundational truth informs the Christian understanding of human dignity and responsibility, setting the stage for theological discussions on stewardship and environmental ethics.

The theme of covenant is central to Genesis, demonstrating God’s commitment to humanity and His unfolding plan for salvation. The Abrahamic covenant, initiated in Genesis 12, establishes a chosen people through whom God intends to bless all nations.

This covenantal framework is pivotal for understanding later biblical texts and the development of Israel as a nation. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reveal God’s faithfulness and serve as a precursor to the New Covenant established through Christ. Recognizing these covenants helps adult Christians appreciate the continuity of God’s redemptive work throughout scripture.

The Fall, as depicted in Genesis 3, carries profound theological implications. It introduces sin into the world, fundamentally altering the relationship between God and humanity. The consequences of the Fall—alienation from God, broken relationships, and the onset of mortality—are themes that resonate throughout the biblical narrative. Understanding the nature of sin as presented in Genesis helps adult Christians grapple with the human condition and the need for redemption. This narrative also sets the stage for the hope found in the promise of a Savior, emphasizing the importance of grace in the face of human failure.

Genealogies in Genesis serve not only as historical records but also as theological statements. They connect the characters of Genesis to the overarching narrative of God’s plan and highlight the importance of lineage in the fulfillment of divine promises. The genealogies provide insight into God’s providence in guiding history and His purpose in choosing specific individuals to further His plan. Furthermore, the moral lessons illustrated through key characters, such as Abraham’s faith, Jacob’s struggles, and Joseph’s resilience, offer adult Christians valuable insights into living a life of faith. These narratives, set against the backdrop of specific geographic locations, enhance the understanding of God’s working in history, ultimately influencing the faith journey of believers today.

In this outline of Genesis, you will discover the author of the book and the approximate date it was written.  You will also find answers and insights to many of the most popular questions when it comes to:

• Creation
• The Fall of Man
• The Penalties of Sin
• Cain and Abel
• Noah’s Ark and the Flood

… and much, much more!

Author: Moses
Written: 1450 BC – 1400 BC
Number of Chapters: 50
Genesis: From the Greek, Meaning “Beginning”

God’s 7 Days of Creation:

• Day 1: Light (Day) and Darkness (Night).
• Day 2: Firmament of Open Sky
• Day 3: Dry Ground, Plants and Trees
• Day 4: Two Great Lights – Sun, Moon and Stars
• Day 5: Creatures of the Sea and Birds of the Air
• Day 6: Land Animals and Man in His Own Image
• Day 7: God Rested

But… the splendor and the mystery of Creation goes even deeper.  For, when we get to the Gospel of John, he reveals the sacred mystery of Creation when proclaiming:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”  (John 1:1-3)

The author of Genesis is very quick to tell the world whom it was that created the earth, when proclaiming, “In the beginning ‘God…'”

However, not only did God create the heavens and the earth, but He did so in a most unimaginable way, when “God said…”

Penalty for Serpent: (Genesis 3:14-15 NIV Bible Translation)

• God said, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Note: Jesus the Messiah is the Woman’s Offspring who will crush the head of the serpent (Satan). Genesis 3:15 is the first Old Testament Prophecy of the Messiah.

Penalty for Woman: (Genesis 3:16 NIV Bible Translation)

• God said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Penalty for Man: (Genesis 3:17-19 NIV Bible Translation)

• God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Godly Line of Seth

• Adam
• Seth
• Enosh
• Kenan
• Mahalalel
• Jared
• Enoch
• Methuselah
• Lamech
• Noah

Godless Line of Cain

• Adam
• Cain
• Enoch
• Irad
• Mehujael
• Methushael
• Lamech
• Jabal, Jubal, Tubal-Cain

From (Wilbur Fields, Old Testament History – An Overview of Sacred History & Truth, p. 55)

• 7 Days:  Noah, his family and the animals were in the Ark for 7 days before the flood waters came
• 40 Days:  Beginning on the 17th day of the 2nd month, rain began falling for 40 days
• 110 Days:  The flood waters continued for an additional 110 days
• 74 Days:  On the 1st day of the 10th month (74 days after the flood waters ceased) the Ark rested upon Mount Ararat
• 40 Days:  The raven was sent out on the 40 day interval
• 7 Days:  The dove was sent out 7 days later
• 7 Days:  The dove was sent out again 7 days later
• 7 Days:  The dove was sent out again 7 days later, but did not return
• 29 Days:  After the dove did not return, it was an additional 29 days before the ground dried
• 57 Days:  On the 27th day of the 2nd month, they departed from the Ark 57 days after the land had dried
• 378 Days:  Noah, his family, and the animals were on the Ark for a total of 378 days (1 Year and 13 Days)