Genesis Introduction

Question 1

Term: Torah

Answer 1

Hebrew - Law, Direction, Introduction

Question 2

Term: Talmud

Answer 2

Oral Tradition - five-fifths of the law

Question 3

Term: Greek

Answer 3

Pentateuch - 5 rolls/scrolls

Question 4

Title in the Greek OT (LXX)

Answer 4

Initial Subject

Question 5

Titles in the Hebrew

Answer 5

Initial Words of each book “In the beginning”

Question 6

Higher Criticism

Answer 6

Treats the source of the text - who said it, when, where, and why it was written

Question 7

Lower Criticism

Answer 7

Attempts to determine what the original text said

Question 8

Documentary Hypothesis (Wellhausen)

Answer 8

Says that the Pentateuch is the work of an editor

J (Jehovah or Yahweh), E (Elohim), D (Deuteronomist), P (Priestly)

Question 9

Literary Difficulties of Documentary Hypothesis

Answer 9

Variation in divine names, parallel passages, differences in vocabulary & style

Question 10

Historical Difficulties of Documentary Hypothesis

Answer 10

Anachronisms - person or thing chronologically out of place, geographical perspective

Question 11

Philosophical Difficulties of Documentary Hypothesis

Answer 11

Progressive evolution of religion demands the theory, denies supernatural revelation, predictive prophecy and miracles

Question 12

Recent Critical Views on the Pentateuch

Answer 12

Oral Tradition: Concerned with oral & pre-literary history
Form Criticism: Concerned with the kind of literature and the situation
Redaction Criticism: Emphasizes the role of the editor or redactor
Structural/Canonical Analysis: Studies the structure of the finished text rather than the history of the text

Question 13

Mosaic Authorship

Answer 13

Testimony of OT and NT.
Pentateuch contains eyewitness details, reflects ancient customs.
Moses - educated, informed, motivated.
Testimony of Archaeology.
Tradition of Judaism and the Early Church

Question 14

Reasons for studying Genesis

Answer 14

1. Provides the foundation for the rest of the Bible.
2. Account of the work and purpose of God in creation.
3. Roots of Christianity and Judaism.
4. Introduces the history of human redemption.
5. Quoted by Jesus and NT writers.
6. Closely correlated with Revelation.

Question 15

Geographical Setting of Genesis

Answer 15

Gen. 1-11: Fertile Crescent (Eden -> Haran)
Gen. 12-36: Canaan (Haran -> Canaan)
Gen. 37-50: Egypt (Canaan -> Egypt)

Question 16

Literary Structure (Toledoth)

Answer 16

Prologue (1:1-2:3)

1. Generations of Heavens and Earth (2:4-4:26)
2. Generations of Adam (5:1-6:8)
3. Generations of Noah (6:9-9:29)
4. Generations of the Sons of Noah (10:1-11:9)
5. Generations of Shem (11:10-26)
6. Generations of Terah (11:27-25:11)
7. Generations of Ishmael (25:12-18)
8. Generations of Isaac (25:19-35:29)
9. Generations of Esau (36:1-37:1)
10. Generations of Jacob (37:2-50:26)

Question 17

Logical Structure

Answer 17

Part 1: Pre-Patriarchial Period (1-11)
1. Creation of the World (1-2)
2. Corruption of the World (Fall) (3-6)
3. Destruction of the World (6-8)
4. Reconstruction of the World (8-11)
Part 2: The Patriarchial Period (12-50)
1. The Life of Abraham (12-25)
2. The Life of Isaac (25-26)
3. The Life of Jacob (27-36)
4. The Life of Joseph (37-50)

Question 18

Historicity of Genesis

Answer 18

1. The book claims to be historical (genealogical, unity of the book, prose style of the book).
2. Archaeological evidence supports the historicity of the book.
3. NT presents the book as historical.