INTRODUCTION
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It is also the first of the five books of the Jewish Hebrew Torah called the Pentateuch. It was written by Moses over 3400 years ago. Its theme is “beginnings”. The word Genesis means "origins". Genesis tells us how and when all things came into being; where and how the human race began; where and how sin entered into the world; to whom and how God first began to reveal himself. It is absolutely foundational to the understanding of human history as well as all the rest of the Bible. If the accounts of Genesis cannot stand the tests of science, history and theology, the entire rest of the Bible falls like a house of cards in a windstorm.
Genesis is the foundation stone of the Bible.
Over and over again, the New Testament refers back its accounts and
personalities. Romans, for instance, relies on the historicity of Adam and the fall found in
Genesis to lay the foundation for the doctrines of sin and salvation. Romans
also speaks of the life of Abraham and Sara found in the book of Genesis to
prove that salvation is by faith alone. In the Gospels, Jesus referred to Noah
and the flood as well as Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the cities of
I have interacted with the book of Genesis for over forty
years and I am absolutely certain of the veracity of its words. In my studies
of its accounts, peoples and places, I have found they have withstood the
scrutiny of archeology, science and anthropology. I am convinced that every
word of it is the inspired Word of God. As you have it in Psalm 119:150a...
"Thy word is true from the
beginning..."
Genesis is not a book that needs to be reconciled to the passing and ever-changing opinions and theories of man. On the contrary, man's fleeting, vacillating opinions and theories must be examined in light of Genesis to see if they will stand or fall. There is a great deal of highly controversial and disputed truths found in the book of Genesis. Here are a few:
1. ... That there is only one true and living God who created all things.
2. ... That
God created everything ex nilo (out of nothing) by simply speaking
everything into
existence.
3. ... That the Creation can be dated.
4. ...
That, contrary to popular opinion, our world is a young Earth revolving in a
young universe.
5. ... That
evolution is a lie.
6. ... That
Satan is real.
7. ... That
Adam and Eve were real people and their story and the garden in which they
lived is not a myth.
8. ... That the original ancient world was judged by God and perished
in
a worldwide flood.
9. ... That
God gave the Promised Land to Abraham and his Hebrew descendants for an
everlasting possession.
You may already disagree with one or more of the above truths from the book of
Genesis. All I ask is that you read the book and this commentary and consider
the facts. Then, decide. God is not a God who asks his followers to throw away
their brains. All that is written in Genesis will stand on its own merits in
the light of history, reason and sound science. Don’t make the mistake of
throwing out man's only true book of origins merely because present day
popular thinking, political correctness, scholastic humanistic indoctrination or even
pre-conceived religious ideology cries out for you to do so. As you have it in Colosians 1:8...
"Beware
lest anyone cheat you through philosophy
and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."
Ask God to show you the truth. Jesus said...
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free." John 8:32
Satan's strongest attacks are aimed at the book of Genesis. Destroy it and all the rest falls. However, he can't destroy the Word of God. In fact it is the Word of God that will eventually destroy him! Click below for an amusing but true depiction of this truth.
Click here for the Devil versus the Bible
