GENESIS

The word "genesis" means "beginning". The book of Genesis records God's first revelations to the Israelite community, beginning with an account of the creation of the world and everything in it. It lays the foundation on which our knowledge of God and his plan of salvation is built. This information is communicated with beauty and versatility using various literary forms including stories, genealogies, reports, poetry and metaphors.

Authorship

For centuries Jews and Christians have believed that Moses wrote Genesis as well as the other four books that together make up the Pentateuch. He lived many centuries after the events described, but wrote about them drawing on divine revelation as well as on stories that had been kept alive in the conversations and traditions of the Israelite community.

Interpretation

The book of Genesis can be interpreted from numerous perspectives. Some interpret it literally, while others look at it from a spiritual perspective. Some delve into it to find historical information; others use its material to help them understand the impact of religion on culture. Those interested in the society of ancient Israel use Genesis to study the relationships between families and tribes. Those interested in literature focus on its literary genres and on how these communicate the stories of the people. Others are fascinated by the ideas in the book, including the idea of God's choice of some people and the covenants he made with them. Others investigate the world view of the ancestors of Israel. Feminists refer to Genesis to promote gender equality, while environmentalists glean messages about protecting nature and the environment. Missiologists refer to the stories of the fall and the call of Abraham to explain the foundations of mission.

Each of these approaches has something to contribute. Thus this commentary draws on insights from a wide variety of sources, adding our South Asian perspective to theirs to enrich our efforts. But above all, this commentary is informed by the words of Moses, who reminded his fellow Israelites that these accounts of "former days, long before your time" were revealed so that they "might know that the Lord is God" (Deut 4:32-40). We must never forget that great truth as we embark on the study of Genesis.

We also need to remember that Genesis does not set out to provide answers to all the questions we have today. We are not told everything we might want to know about the creation; the genealogical lists are not as complete as we might like; the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph leave us wondering what else happened. But while God has not provided all the information we want, he has given us all we need to grasp the main truths that the sovereign God created the world and that he is working out his plan of salvation for humanity.

Theological Themes

Genesis is theological history in narrative form. It provides God's perspective on creation and the fall and traces the beginnings of his plan of redemption. It addresses so many themes that it would be impossible to explore them all in this commentary. In Genesis we gain insight into God's purposes as we explore creation and the care of the environment and become aware of sin and forgiveness, of election and covenant, and blessing and prosperity. The book also has much to teach about justice, judgement and grace. It explains how God's promises began to be fulfilled, explaining how he gave children to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so that their offspring could become a large community in the land he promised to give them. The rest of the Bible will show how his promise continues to be fulfilled as the covenant community becomes the instrument of salvation for humanity.

Genesis also covers practical issues such as work and slavery, the making of covenants, land ownership and the resolution of conflicts, resources for a growing population, the image of God and gender equality, the defence of kith and kin, and the administration of a nation.

Relevance to South Asia

Genesis still speaks to us today. We, like the Israelites of old, have to acknowledge anew that "the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below" and that "there is no other" (Deut 4:39). We also have to consider what Genesis has to say about our ethics. Are our attitudes towards creation, the environment, stewardship, labour, power,...