Intro Genesis 1

Things to do today:

1. To introduce REL 3730: objectives and

requirements.

2. To decide a common day for tutorial.

3. To deliver the first lecture in the remaining

time.

Intro Genesis 2

What is the Pentateuch (摩西五經 ) all about?

The Law consists of the books of

- Genesis ( 創世記 )- Exodus ( 出埃及記 )- Leviticus ( 利末記 )

- Numbers ( 民數記 )- Deuteronomy ( 申命記 )

Intro Genesis 3

Content of the Pentateuch (Torah)

• Genesis - Creation, origin of the peoples of the world,

history of the ancestors of the Israelites (Abraham, Isaac,

Jacob and Joseph).• Exodus - The Hebrew people oppressed in Egypt; the

liberation; the receiving of the law by Moses at Sinai.• Leviticus - Moses received the laws regulating sacrifice,

festivals, and priesthood.• Numbers - The exodus generation rebelled against God;

wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and died.• Deuteronomy - Moses repeated the law to the new

generation at the Moabite plain before his death.

Intro Genesis 4

The Structure of Genesis, I

• Ch. 1-11, the Primeval History

•1-3, creation

•4-5, Adam’ s children

•6-9, the flood story

•10-11, the people of the world

• Ch. 12-50, the History of the Hebrew Patriarchs

•12-26, Abraham and Isaac

•27-36, Jacob (and Esau)

•37-50, Joseph

Intro Genesis 5

The word toladot (後代 ) in Genesis

創 2:4 創造天地的來歷，在耶和華　神造天地的日子，乃是這樣，

創 5:1 亞當的後代記在下面。（當　神造人的日子，是照自己的樣式造的，

創 6:9 挪亞的後代記在下面。挪亞是個義人，在當時的世代是個完全人。挪亞與　神同行。

創 10:1 挪亞的兒子閃、含、雅弗的後代記在下面。洪水以後，他們都生了兒子。

創 10:32 這些都是挪亞三個兒子的宗族，各隨他們的支派立國。洪水以後，他們在地上分為邦國。

創 11:10 閃的後代記在下面。洪水以後二年，閃一百歲生了亞法撒。

創 11:27 他拉的後代記在下面。他拉生亞伯蘭、拿鶴、哈蘭；哈蘭生羅得。

Intro Genesis 6

continue ...

創 25:12 撒拉的使女埃及人夏甲給亞伯拉罕所生的兒子是以實瑪利。

創 25:13 以實瑪利兒子們的名字，按 他們的 家譜記在下面。以實瑪利的長子是尼拜約，又有基達、亞德別、米比衫、

創 25:19 亞伯拉罕的兒子以撒的後代記在下面。亞伯拉罕生以撒。

創 36:1 以掃就是以東，他的後代記在下面。

創 36:9 以掃是西珥山裏以東人的始祖，他的後代記在下面。

創 37:2 雅各的記略如下。約瑟十七歲與他哥哥們一同牧羊。他是個童子，與他父親的妾辟拉、悉帕的兒子們常在一處。約瑟將他哥哥們的惡行報給他們的父親。

Intro Genesis 7

The Structure of Genesis, II

• 1.1-2.3: creation and Sabbath

•Toledot - genealogies of Heaven and Earth (2:4a)

• 2.4b-3.24: Adam and Eve

•Toledot - genealogies (4.1-2)

• 4.3-16: Cain and Abel

•Toledot - genealogies (4.17-5.32)

• 6-9: the flood

•Toledot - genealogies (10)

• 11.1-9: Tower of Babel

•Toledot - genealogies (11.10-32)

Intro Genesis 8

continue ...

• 25: Ishmael

•Toledot - genealogies (25.12-17)

• 25: Isaac

•Toledot - genealogies (25.19-34)

• 36: Esau

•Toledot - genealogies (36.1-19)

• 37-50: Joseph and his brothers

•Toledot - genealogies (37.2)

• 11.1-9: Tower of Babel

•Toledot - genealogies (11.10-32)

Intro Genesis 9

The Meaning of the Structure

• The two-part structure: Primeval history + Patriarchal

history: •the separation of Israel from the rest of the world (1-11 +

12-37)•the election of one people from among many people•reflects Israel’ s self-understanding

• The toladot structure: •The tracing of the whole world to one man - Adam•concerned with the problem of origin of world and

people•toladot information represents a long gap in history - a

rhetorical device

Intro Genesis 10

Important themes in Genesis

• Creation and Sabbath: 1-2

• The lost of immortality: 3

• Sin and punishment:4, 6-9

• The whole world rebel against God: 10-11

• Election: 12

• Promise and fulfillment: 15

• The covenant: 17

• The promised land: 17

• Unity of the twelve tribes: 37-50

Intro Genesis 11

The purpose of Genesis in the Torah

• Answering questions of origin - the world, the people and

Israel

• Exodus - is a return to the land the patriarchs once

sojourned (17.8). Abraham had bought property in

Canaan (23.1-20). Both Abraham and Sarah were buried

in Canaan. => Israel’s legitimate claim to the land

• A preface to Exodus - why and how did the Hebrews /

Israelites first came to Egypt?

• Theological purpose: Abraham’s covenant with God (17)

is more ancient than the Sinai covenant or the Zion /

Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7)

Intro Genesis 12

Theological ideas derived from Genesis

• Important theological ideas like Sabbath, creation, election

(Eph. 1.4), covenant (Luke 22.20), promise and fulfillment

are derived from Genesis

• Paul’s theology of two Adams (Rom. 5.14; 1 Cor. 15.22)

• Eden – the Garden of God appears again in the last book of

the Bible (Rev. 22: 1-5)

• Abraham as the fore-runner of a faithful servant of God –

justification by faith came earlier than the Law, Paul’s

argument in his letter to the Galatians.