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genesis: The coming into being of something: the origin.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." And so begins God's love letter to those created in His image.
God is portrayed in Genesis 1-11 as:
~The all-powerful creator
~A God of order
~A God of goodness
~A God who desires fellowship
~A God who gives responsibility and freedom
~A God who cares
~A God who loves life and graciously gives it.
Above all, God is a God who persists in His purposes.
The first book of the Old Testament speaks of beginnings. It functions as the introduction to the Pentateuch and is foundational to the understanding of the rest of the Bible. Genesis explains how the people of Israel arose and were called to be God's people. The nation to which the Pentateuch is addressed is about to enter the promised land. There they will face the culture and religion of the inhabitants of Canaan. The polytheistic nature religion of the Canaanites is a great temptation to Israel, and the laws recorded in the Pentateuch are designed to prevent Israel from falling into the destructive patterns of life present in Canaan.
Genesis is designed to be read theologically. It is written to provide guidance to God's people about how to conduct their lives as they face the pressures of conformity to the culture and religion of Canaan. Its center of interest seems to be God's creational intentions for humanity and what He does in response to humanity's refusal to submit to those intentions and go his or her own way. God's desire is to bring humanity back to their created purpose and relationship with Him.
Click here for the Table of Contents.
About the Author...
Paul J. Kissling, Ph.D., is professor of Old Testament and Director of Research for TCM International's Institute near Vienna, Austria. He has served for over 25 years as a minister and elder in Christian Churches in Michigan, Illinois, and England. Paul received the bachelor's degree from Great Lakes Christian College, the M.Div. from Lincoln Christian Seminary, the Th.M. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield (England). Paul has taught and preached in more than 20 countries and is the author of several books and articles in both scholarly and popular publications.
About the Editor...
Terry Briley, Ph.D., is professor of Bible at Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee, since 1986 and serves as Dean of the College of Bible and Ministry. Terry Briley received the B.A. from David Lipscomb College (now Lipscomb University), then a M. Phil. and Ph.D. from Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Ohio. Iin addition to teaching at Lipscomb University, he is the Senior Minister at Natchez Trace Church of Christ and leads an annual summer mission trip to Brazil.
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