Genesis Introduction

1. Genesis Introduction Union Church Bible Study

2. Genesis Introduction In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

3. Genesis Introduction Introduction to the study of Genesis is an introduction to the study of the Torah

4. Torah • The Torah is the Hebrew name for the first 5 books of the Bible: • Genesis • Exodus • Leviticus • Numbers • Deuteronomy

5. Torah Torah is from the Hebrew root word Yarah. It is an archery term to take aim A literaral translation would be “the true teachings of God” pointing us in the right direction, or the bulls eye. “To take aim” Truth The true teachings of God Torah doesn’t mean law.

6. Sin Torah vs. Chata Chata is another archery term and means to miss the mark, or to miss the bulls eye. It is translated in the scripture as sin. To sin is simply to miss the mark. Sin Missed Error

7. Tanakh Hebrews had three separately defined groups of scriptures: 1. Torah (that given to Moses on Mt. Sinai) 2. Nevi’im (meaning Prophets) 3. K’tuvim (meaning Writings) Today, what we Christians call the OT, Jews call The Tanakh. Tanakh is an invented word: it takes the T from Torah, the N from Nevi’im, and the K from K’tuvim adds a couple of vowel sounds and presto… …Tanakh.

8. Torah Many say the Torah or Law has been superseded by the New Testament, or that the Torah has been eclipsed by the cross. Sadly, in many congregations it is said that the Torah is dead. That is like saying the teachings of God are dead

9. Mark Twain “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Mark Twain May 1897

10. Mark Twain “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Mark Twain - May 1897 The report of the death of the Torah has been greatly exaggerated!

11. John 5:46-47 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? • “if you believed Moses” is an idiom meaning “if you believed the Torah” • Torah is Full of references to the coming Messiah • If we don’t start at the beginning, how can we comprehend anything?

12. Psalm of David • Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Psalm 40:7

13. Emmaus Road And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

14. Emmaus Road And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32

15. Book of Genesis There can scarcely be another part of Scripture over which so many battles, theological, scientific, historical and literary, have been fought, or so many strong opinions cherished. Derek Kidner

16. There are really only two ways to understand origins. 1. You’re here by chance! A person can see everything as the product of random chance, result of a cosmic accident, operating in an impersonal universe. 2. You’re here by design! A person can see everything as the result of a deliberate design by a Designer, the craftsman-like work of a Person.

17. Basic Questions Who am I ? Where did I come from ? Why am I here ? What am I suppose to do here ? Where am I going when I die ?

18. Basic Questions - Answers

19. Answers to Basic Questions Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

20. Answers to Basic Questions Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

21. Genesis The book has its name from the title it bears in the Septuagint, (Genesis 2:4), which signifies the book of the Generation; but it is called in Hebrew úéùàøáBeresith , “In the beginning,” from its initial word.

22. Genesis Who Wrote Genesis and the Pentateuch? Author: Moses The lawgiver and leader of Israel during the exodus and wilderness wanderings.

23. Genesis Documentary Hypothesis (Graf-Wellhousen Hypothesis) • Compiled by later editors? • J Jehovahist, Yahwist • E Elohist • D Deuteronomic source • P Priestly source • J1, J2, E1, E2, P1, P2, K, L, N, S….. Written without any compelling historical, linguistic, or textual evidence.

24. Genesis Nachmanides: It is likely that Moses wrote it on Mount Siani for there it was said to him, Come up to Me unto the mount, and be there; and I will give thee the tablets of stone and the Torah and the commandment which I have written, to teach them. Ex 24:12

25. Commentaries In this study we will refer to the following to aid in our understanding. 1. The Book of Enoch. We will use the Modern English Translation of the Ethiopian Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch is quoted in Jude 14 from Enoch 1:9. 2. The Book of Jasher, Jasher is quoted or referred to in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. 3. Ramban, Commentary on the Torah, This is a commentary on the Torah by Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, also known as Nachmanides.

26. Genesis 1:1 רֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃b In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Nachmanides 1194 - 1270

27. Genesis Contains Accounts of: • the creation of the world • its first inhabitants • the original innocence and fall of man • the rise of religion • the invention of arts • the general corruption and degeneracy of mankind • the universal deluge • the repeopling and division of the earth • the origin of nations and kingdoms • and a particular history of the patriarchs from • Adam down to the death of Joseph; including a • space, at the lowest computation, of 2369 years.

28. Genesis anticipates all false philosophies: • Atheism (Genesis says the world was created by God) • Pantheism (Genesis says God is transcendent and distinguishable) • Polytheism (Genesis says there is One God) • Materialism (Genesis says that matter had a beginning) • Humanism (Genesis says that God, not man, is the ultimate reality) • Evolutionism (Genesis says “God created”) • Uniformism (Genesis says God intervenes in His creation)

29. All major doctrines have • their roots in Genesis: • Sovereign election • Disciplinary • • Divine Incarnation • Salvation • • Rapture of the Church • Justification by faith • • Believer’s • Death and Resurrection • Security • Palestinian Covenant • • Separation chastisement • The Antichrist • • Priesthoods (Aaronic and Melchizedek)

30. Golden Rule of Biblical interpretation: Dr. David L. Cooper, Hebrew Scholar “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise” David L. Cooper, The God Of Israel (Las Angeles; Biblical Research Society, 1945) front page.

31. William Tyndale: “Thou shalt understand, therefore, that the Scripture hath but one sense, which is the literal sense. And that literal sense is the root and ground of all, and the anchor that never faileth, whereunto if thou cleave, thou canst never err or go out of the way. And if thou leave the literal sense, thou canst not but to go out of the way” (William Tyndale, quoted by Pentecost op. cit., p27) William Tyndale (1494-1536)

32. People in the Bible who read the Bible translate it literally In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. (Dan 9:2)

33. The Holy Spirit shall teach you all things (Jn 16:13). You don’t have to believe people, you can do your homework. (Acts 17:11). The Presuppositions: God means what He says and says what He means. The Bible is an integrated whole. Every detail is there by design (Mt 5:17,18). Nothing is trivial: All things for our learning (Rom 15:4). God is His own interpreter.

34. THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION The Law of First Mention may be said to be the principle that requires one to go to that portion of the Scriptures where a word or doctrine is mentioned for the first time and to study the first occurrence of the same in order to possibly get a fundamental inherent and significant meaning of that word or doctrine.

35. Why Study the Book of Genesis? • It is the Book of Beginnings • (Law of First Mention): • Creation • Murder • • Man • Sin • • Woman • Sacrifice • • Sabbath • Grace • • Marriage • Agriculture • • Home • City life • • Childhood • Races • • Trade • Languages • • Chosen people …etc.

36. Misquote of Ben Franklin “Jack of all trades, master of none” • “Jack of all trades, master of One.” • A cultured person is one who knows • Something about everything • Everything about something. • A Christian’s specialization • must be the Bible.

37. Three Levels of Bible Interpretation Primary Interpretation Practical Application Prophetic Implication

38. Jewish Rabbis Teach Four Levels of Interpretation Peshat The Simple Level Remez The Hint Level Drosh The Regal Level Sohd The Hidden Level

39. The Principal Discovery Job Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Joshua Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah Esther Psalms Proverbs, Ecclesiastes Isaiah Jeremiah, Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Minor Prophets Matthew Luke John, 1,2, 3 John, Revelation Mark, 1, 2 Peter 14 epistles James Jude ? Moses ? Samuel ? Ezra ? David + Solomon + Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel The 12 Matthew Luke John Peter Paul James Jude ~2000 years 40 + 66 books

40. Geometry of Eternity t Eternity Past Present Future

41. Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

42. Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

43. Hidden Codes in the Bible? It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but it is the honor of kings to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

44. Hidden Codes in the Bible? • The secrets of the • Torah are revealed ...in the skipping of the letters. Rabbi Moses Cordevaro, 16th century

45. Equidistant Letter Sequence? “Equidistant Letter Sequence?” Rips explained that each code is a case of adding every fourth letter to form a word. a d h R e t e c o d e Read the code

46. 49 Letters: 49 Letters: 49 Letters: Genesis `#r,a'h' taew> ~yIm;V'h; tae ~yhil{a/ ar'B' tyviareB. ynEP.-l[; tp,x,r;m. ~yhil{a/ x;Wrw> ~Aht. ynEP.-l[; %v,xow> Whbow" Whto ht'y>h' #r,a'h'w> `rAa-yhiy>w: rAa yhiy> ~yhil{a/ rm,aYOw: `~yIM'h; `%v,xoh; !ybeW rAah' !yBe ~yhil{a/ lDeb.Y:w: bAj-yKi rAah'-ta, ~yhil{a/ ar.Y:w: @ `dx'a, ~Ay rq,bo-yhiy>w: br,[,-yhiy>w: hl'y>l' ar'q' %v,xol;w> ~Ay rAal' ~yhil{a/ ar'q.Yiw h r w t = TORH

47. 49 Letters: 49 Letters: 49 Letters: Exodus • `WaB' AtybeW vyai bqo[]y: tae hm'y>r'c.mi ~yaiB'h; laer'f.yI ynEB. tAmv. hL,aew> • `hd'WhywI ywIle !A[m.vi !beWar. • `!miy"n>b.W !luWbz> rk'XF'yI • `rvea'w> dG" yliT'p.n:w> !D' • `~yIr'c.mib. hy"h' @seAyw> vp,n" ~y[ib.vi bqo[]y:-%r,y< yaec.yO vp,n<-lK' yhiy>w: • `aWhh; rADh; lkow> wyx'a,-lk'w> @seAy tm'Y"w: h r w t = TORH

48. Numbers hn"V'B; ynIVeh; vd,xol; dx'a,B. d[eAm lh,aoB. yn:ysi rB;d.miB. hv,mo-la, hw"hy> rBed;y>w: `rmoale ~yIr;c.mi #r,a,me ~t'acel. tynIVeh; tAmve rP;s.miB. ~t'boa] tybel. ~t'xoP.v.mil. laer'f.yI-ynEB. td;[]-lK' varo-ta, Waf `~t'l{G>l.gUl. rk'z"-lK' hT'a; ~t'aob.cil. ~t'ao Wdq.p.Ti laer'f.yIB. ab'c' aceyO-lK' hl'[.m;w" hn"v' ~yrif.[, !B,mi `!roh]a;w> t w r h = HROT

49. Deuteronomy `rmoale taZOh; hr'ATh;-ta, raeBe hv,mo lyaiAh ba'Am #r,a,B. !Der.Y:h; rb,[eB. `hZ<h; rh'B' tb,v, ~k,l'-br; rmoale brexoB. Wnyleae rB,Di Wnyhel{a/ hw"hy> bg<N<b;W hl'peV.b;W rh'b' hb'r'[]B' wyn"kev.-lK'-la,w> yrimoa/h' rh; WaboW ~k,l' W[s.W WnP. `tr'P.-rh;n> ldoG"h; rh'N"h;-d[; !Anb'L.h;w> ynI[]n:K.h; #r,a, ~Y"h; @Axb.W hw"hy> [B;v.nI rv,a] #r,a'h'-ta, Wvr.W WaBo #r,a'h'-ta, ~k,ynEp.li yTit;n" haer. `~h,yrex]a; ~['r.z:l.W ~h,l' ttel' bqo[]y:l.W qx'c.yIl. ~h'r'b.a;l. ~k,yteboa]l; t w r h = HROT

50. Torah Codes 49 (72) letter sequences: Genesis TORH Exodus TORH Leviticus ? Numbers HROT Deuteronomy HROT