Notes on Gen 1:1

The sad reality is we probably don’t give enough study to the book of Genesis, and it arguably contains much of our basic understanding of whom God is and his heart of love for us as his children.  I'm convinced the opening chapters of Genesis are not optional.  They establish the vital foundation for everything we believe as Christians.  Sadly, it is a foundation that is being systematically undermined by the very institutions that should be most vigorously defending it.  More and more Christian educational institutions, apologists, and theologians are abandoning faith in the literal truth of Genesis 1-3.  All the more reason we begin this much-needed study of the book of Genesis.  So, let’s start by summarizing the book and noting some unique and interesting facts about the book itself.

TITLE:

• First off, the English title of Genesis comes from the Greek translation meaning “origins”; whereas, the Hebrew title is derived from the Bible’s very first word, translated “in the beginning.”  
• Genesis serves to introduce the Pentateuch (these are the first 5 books of the OT) and the entire Bible. 
• The influence of Genesis in Scripture is demonstrated by its being quoted over 35 times in the NT and hundreds of allusions appearing in both Testaments. The story line of salvation which begins in Gen. 3 is not completed until Rev. 21, 22 where the eternal kingdom of redeemed believers is gloriously pictured.  

AUTHOR & DATE:

• While the author does not identify himself in Genesis, and the fact that Genesis ends almost 3 centuries before Moses was born, both the OT and the NT ascribe the authorship to Moses.
• Chronologically speaking, Genesis was written after the Exodus (ca. 1445 B.C.), but before Moses’ death (ca. 1405 B.C.).  
• While it is difficult to pinpoint precisely the historical moment for which this book was written, Israel first heard Genesis sometime prior to crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land (ca. 1405 B.C.).

BACKGROUND & SETTING:

• The initial setting for Genesis is eternity past.  God then, by divine Word, spoke all creation into existence, furnished it, and finally breathed life into a lump of dirt which He fashioned in His image to become Adam.
• Genesis has 3 distinct, sequential geographical settings: 1) Mesopotamia (chaps. 1–11); 2) the Promised Land (chaps. 12–36); and 3) Egypt (chaps. 37–50). The time frames of these 3 segments are: 1) Creation to ca. 2090 B.C.; 2) 2090–1897 B.C.; and 3) 1897–1804 B.C.
• An interesting note; the first three chapters of Genesis cover over a third of the Bible’s history.  That’s a lot of time packed into three chapters of the Bible. 

HISTORICAL & THEOLOGICAL THEMES:

• In Genesis, God has revealed Himself and a worldview to Israel which contrasted, at times sharply, with the worldview of Israel’s neighbors.
• Moses makes no attempt to defend the existence of God or to present a systematic discussion of His person and works.  Rather, Israel’s God distinguishes Himself clearly from the alleged gods of Israel’s neighbors.
• Also, theological foundations are revealed which include God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, mankind, sin & redemption, covenants (promise), Satan & angels, kingdom, revelation, Israel as a chosen people, judgment, and blessing.
• Genesis can be easily divided into two main sections.  
• The first part, Genesis 1–11 (primeval history), reveals the origins of the universe (i.e., the beginnings of time and space) and many of the firsts in human experience, such as marriage, family, the Fall, sin, redemption, judgment, and nations. 
• The second part, Genesis 12–50 (patriarchal history) God begins to personally deal with man and with His chosen people.  God explains to Israel how they came into existence as a family whose ancestry could be traced to Eber (hence the “Hebrews”; Gen. 10:24, 25) and even more remotely to Shem, the son of Noah (hence the “Semites”; Gen. 10:21). God’s people came to understand not only their ancestry and family history, but also the origins of their institutions, customs, languages, and different cultures, especially basic human experiences such as sin and death. 
• One final theme of both theological and historical significance which sets Genesis apart from other books of Scripture, is that the first book of Scripture corresponds closely with the final book. 
• In the book of Revelation, the paradise which was lost in Genesis will be regained. The apostle John clearly presented the events recorded in his book as future resolutions to the problems which began as a result of the curse in Gen. 3.  His focus is upon the effects of the Fall in the undoing of creation and the manner in which God rids His creation of the curse effect.  
• In John’s own words, “And there shall be no more curse” (Rev. 22:3). 
• Not surprisingly, in the final chapter of God’s Word, believers will find themselves back in the Garden of Eden, which is the eternal paradise of God, eating from the tree of life (Rev. 22:1–14).  At that time, they will partake, wearing robes washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 22:14).

With this quick background, we will begin our study with the first two verses of God’s Word, in which is packed the essential truth of God’s creation of all that has life.  

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
• There are two purposes for this statement
• Identify God as Creator
• Explain the origin of the world
• This does not imply that nothing existed before this, but rather shows the beginning of time as we understand it

• In the beginning
• It’s the Hebrew word “BERESHIT” (Ba-ray-shith)
• Better translated “In the FIRST”
• This word does not denote a specific period of time, but rather, it stands for the starting point of God’s creation
• The root is “ROSH” meaning head, summit or chief
• It is used in compound words such Rosh Hashanah (head of the year), Rosh Chodesh (head of the month), Rosh Pinah (head of the corner, cornerstone).  The shoresh appears in words such as rishon (first), reshit (beginning), and bereshit (in the beginning)

• God
• God (Elohim) is eternal, existing before the universe, and is omnipotent, having created the universe. Therefore, nothing is impossible with God, and He alone gives meaning to everything. 
• No attempt is made in this verse to prove God; it was recorded in the beginning when no one doubted God.
• ELOHIM is used 32 times in Genesis 1
• It is plural in form
• Many other words could have been used
• El = One True God (el would have meant god – little “g”)
• El Echad = The One God (Mal 2:10)
• El Elyon = God Most High (Gen 14:18-20)
• El Emet = The God of Truth (Psalm 31:5)
• El Hanne’eman = The Faithful God (Deut 7:9)
• El Roi = God Who Sees (Gen 16:13-14)
• El Shaddai = God Almighty or the All Sufficient One (Gen 17:2-3)
• El Tsaddik = The Righteous God (Isa 45:21)
• YHWH = God’s Holy Covenant name (Ex 3:13-14)
• God is letting us know, from the very first line of His Word, that there is a plurality to His nature
• Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all present in Genesis 1:1-2

That's right!  We only made it through four verses tonight, (Don't judge us!!) but it was a great time together.  I think we all got a lot out of it tonight and I hope these notes help fill you in on what we covered tonight.  

Here's a "challenge" for us as we go about this week: 

1. Get a copy of the Bible with no commentary in it.  One of the greatest opportunities this gives us is to fully rely on the revelation God gives us in our quiet time with Him.  Sure, these Biblical scholars give us great insight into the Word of God, but nothing will compare to the insight that God gives us in our own hearts and minds as we study the Word!
2. Read Genesis, Chapter 1 this week and journal about what God is revealing to you each day.  These are not only beneficial to our personal study, but they will likely be of great benefit to our meeting times as well.

(Thanks for the great challenge Debbie!!!)

That's all for now.  Have a great week ladies and gentlemen!