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Teaching And Research By: M. E. Arbaugh |
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Introduction to Genesis
The
first five books of the Bible have been given the Greek title "Pentateuch"
which means "five rolls" or "five-parted book." This term
is not used in the English Bible, which uses the following terms: "The
book of the Law", "Book of the Law of God", "The
law", "The law of Moses" and "The
books of Moses." The Pentateuch is the foundation for all
the Word. These five books trace the origin of both the earth and mankind in
general. Then describes the call of God's chosen people. They relate God's
dealing with Israel, the channel through which all mankind might come to know
of the one Redeemer, Jesus the Christ. Each book gives one phase of God's
plan. Genesis explains the origin and beginnings of people in
general. Exodus,
deliverance or "way out" from bondage. Leviticus, worship
directed by the Levites. Levi was the third son of Jacob. Moses and Aaron
were descendants of Levi. Numbers,
organization and wilderness wanderings. Deuteronomy, the
second giving of the law in preparation for the entrance into Canaan. The
people entering were not present for the first giving by Moses.. Author: However, the Bible tradition and history
are in accord in ascribing the authorship to Moses. So, does anyone know who
the author was? The answer is that God was, but He used Moses as a tool to
deliver it to the world. The Bible declares Moses to be the author: 2. God declares Moses to be the author
Joshua 1:7 3. Fourteen other Old Testament books refer
to Moses in relation to the law. Each use of the phrase, "The law of
Moses" is a confirmation of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. 4. The Lord Jesus set His seal of approval,
not only upon the Pentateuch, but upon the bulk of the Old Testament, when He
said, "All things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me." Luke 24:44 5. Paul accepted the authorship of Moses.
Acts 28:23 6. From Jewish tradition and history we
have the statement of Josephus concerning the sacred books..."and of
them, five belong to Moses. They contain his laws, and the traditions of the
origin of mankind." Differences of opinion on how God did the
work of creation will not keep us out of the Kingdom of God. We need to hold
to the fact that it is God’s words we are reading and that they have meaning
for us today. Moses was not an eye witness to the events
recorded in Genesis. All these things took place before the birth of Moses.
According to Acts 7:38, the information was given to him as lively oracles
(knowledge spoken by the Holy One) to pass on to us. Details of the death of
Moses, recorded in the last chapter of Deuteronomy, could have been given to
him by prophecy. However, it is accepted that Joshua took up the record where
Moses left off. It is probable that the Pentateuch was written during the
wilderness wanderings, around 1500 B.C. Everything must have a foundation. If we
want to build a building, the foundation must first be dug, and cement
poured. Then the building begins to rise on the foundation. Without a firm
foundation, a building will not last. If we are to understand the New Testament
we must understand the firm foundation laid by the Old Testament. Ages ago
the Holy Spirit moved on men to write the Old Testament for our
enlightenment. Romans 15:4 tell us that things written in the former days
were for our instruction, so we might draw encouragement from them and thus
hold fast to our hope. When we understand what the Holy Spirit is saying in
the Old Testament, it cements and holds together our trust and faith in the
New Testament. Then we realize that Jesus and salvation were not after
thoughts. Before the foundation of the world was laid, the plan was there,
waiting for the perfect timing of God 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is profitable, for
doctrine, reproof, and training, so that the man or woman of God, maybe
equipped for every good work. Please note that this verse says, ALL
scripture. One scripture at a time may get you lost, even though the signs appear
to be right. We must know our final destination in order to stay on the right
road. All scripture includes the Old Testament,
the old is the foundation for the new. Genesis tells of the beginning of
everything except God Himself. 1. The world......1:1-25 Every truth is here in germ form. The
Pentateuch reveals the divine origin of man, his fall, and God's plan of
redemption. It exposes Satan as the enemy of God and deceiver of the human
race, it foretells his destruction and doom. Everything in the Old Testament
is a shadow or symbol of something in the New. The unveiling of Jesus
begins in Genesis. Jesus said, "...these (very Scriptures) testify of Me!" John 5:39 Jesus was God's reason for the eternal
word. In the Old Testament, people were to have
faith in that which was to come, so God gave them symbols that
explained the things to come. A symbol, also called a shadow or
type, is defined as: that which is drawn up along side of something to
explain or represent it. Example: If we see a cent mark, we know it means
money and that it means less than one dollar. We also expect a dollar sign to
mean one dollar or more. The Old Testament will provide for us a
wealth of spiritual and material blessings. Psalms 1:1-3 paraphrased by me: Blessed is the person who does not sit in the council of the ungodly. This blessed person’s delight is in the law of the Lord and he meditates in God’s law day and night. This blessed person shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water that bring forth fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither and whatever this blessed person does, will prosper. |
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Overcoming QUESTIONS?
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The first English version of the Bible was
translated in 1380 AD. The Gutenberg Bible was printed in 1450 AD. Remember that the Bible is literal in that
it either has happened or is going to happen. It is practical in that it can
be applied to our every day lives. Spiritual in that we can come to
know God thru His Word. The first three chapters of Genesis cover a
possible 13 billion or more years. The second three chapters cover about 1600
years. OUTLINE
FOR GENESIS 1. Creation - Chapters 1,2 SEVEN MEN ARE THE KEY CHARACTERS IN
GENESIS: 1. Adam EIGHT DISPENSATIONS IN THE WORD OF GOD (Periods of time in which free moral agents
are measured against a standard of conduct.) If you are interested in
numbers, seven is God’s number of completion or perfection and eight
represents a new beginning. 1. Angels - Before time The new beginning 8. Kingdom - Millennium |
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