Genesis Introduction

Union Church Bible Study

Genesis Introduction

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis Introduction

Introduction to the study of Genesis is an introduction

to the study of the Torah

Torah

The Torah is the Hebrew name for the first 5 books of the Bible:

1. Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Leviticus 4. Numbers 5. Deuteronomy

TorahTorah is from the Hebrew root word Yarah. It is an archery term to take aimA literaral translation would be “the true teachings of God” pointing us in the right direction, or the bulls eye.

Truth

The true teachings of God

“To take aim”

Torah doesn’t mean law.

Sin

Torah vs. ChataChata is another archery term and means to miss the mark, or to miss the bulls eye. It is translated in the scripture as sin.To sin is simply to miss the mark.

Sin

Error

Missed

TanakhHebrews had three separately defined groups of scriptures: 1. Torah (that given to Moses on Mt. Sinai) 2. Nevi’im (meaning Prophets) 3. K’tuvim (meaning Writings)

Today, what we Christians call the OT, Jews call The Tanakh. Tanakh is an invented word: it takes the T from Torah, the N from Nevi’im, and the K from K’tuvim adds a couple of vowel sounds and

presto… …Tanakh.

Torah

Many say the Torah or Law has been superseded by the New Testament, or that the Torah has been eclipsed by the cross.

Sadly, in many congregations it is said that the Torah is dead.

That is like saying the teachings of God are dead

Mark Twain

“The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

Mark Twain

May 1897

Mark Twain

“The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

Mark Twain - May 1897

The report of the death of the Torah has

been greatly exaggerated!

John 5:46-4746For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

• “if you believed Moses” is an idiom meaning “if you believed the Torah”

• Torah is Full of references to the coming Messiah

• If we don’t start at the beginning, how can we comprehend anything?

Psalm of David

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

Psalm 40:7

Emmaus Road

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:27

Emmaus Road

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32

Book of Genesis

There can scarcely be another part of Scripture over which so many battles, theological, scientific, historical and literary, have been fought, or so many strong opinions cherished.

Derek Kidner

There are really only two ways to understand origins.

1. You’re here by chance! A person can see everything as the product of random chance, result of a cosmic accident,

operating in an impersonal universe.

2. You’re here by design!A person can see everything as the result of a

deliberate design by a Designer, the craftsman-like work of a Person.

Basic Questions

Who am I ? Where did I come from ? Why am I here ? What am I suppose to do here ? Where am I going when I die ?

Basic Questions - Answers

Answers to Basic Questions

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:11

Answers to Basic Questions

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:11

Genesis

The book has its name from the title it bears in the Septuagint, (Genesis 2:4), which signifies the book of the Generation; but it is called in Hebrew Beresith , “In the beginning,” from its initial word.

Genesis

Who Wrote Genesis and the Pentateuch? 

Author: Moses

The lawgiver and leader of Israel during the exodus and wilderness wanderings.

GenesisDocumentary Hypothesis

(Graf-Wellhousen Hypothesis)

Compiled by later editors?- J Jehovahist, Yahwist- E Elohist- D Deuteronomic source- P Priestly source- J1, J2, E1, E2, P1, P2, K, L, N, S…..

Written without any compelling historical, linguistic, or textual evidence.

GenesisNachmanides: It is likely that Moses wrote it on Mount Siani for there it was said to him,

Come up to Me unto the mount, and be there; and I will give thee the tablets of stone and the Torah and the commandment which I have written, to teach them. Ex 24:12

CommentariesIn this study we will refer to the following to aid in our understanding.

1. The Book of Enoch. We will use the Modern English Translation of the Ethiopian Book of Enoch. The

Book of Enoch is quoted in Jude 14 from Enoch 1:9.

2. The Book of Jasher, Jasher is quoted or referred to in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18.

3. Ramban, Commentary on the Torah, This is a commentary on the Torah by Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, also known as Nachmanides.

Genesis 1:1

ת ֵא� ִים ְו� ַמ ָּׁש� ת ַה ים ֵא� ֹלַה� ֵא ֵא� ָר� ית ָּב� ֵאִׁש� ָר�ץ׃ ָאָר�  .bIn the beginning God created the heaven and the earthַה�

Nachmanides 1194 - 1270

Genesis Contains Accounts of:• the creation of the world • its first inhabitants• the original innocence and fall of man• the rise of religion• the invention of arts• the general corruption and degeneracy of mankind• the universal deluge• the repeopling and division of the earth• the origin of nations and kingdoms• and a particular history of the patriarchs from Adam down to the death of Joseph; including a space, at the lowest computation, of 2369 years.

Genesis anticipates all false philosophies:

• Atheism (Genesis says the world was created by God)

• Pantheism (Genesis says God is transcendent and distinguishable)

• Polytheism (Genesis says there is One God)

• Materialism (Genesis says that matter had a beginning)

• Humanism (Genesis says that God, not man, is the ultimate reality)

• Evolutionism (Genesis says “God created”)

• Uniformism (Genesis says God intervenes in His creation)

All major doctrines have their roots in Genesis:

• Sovereign election • Disciplinary

• Divine Incarnation • Salvation

• Rapture of the Church • Justification by faith

• Believer’s • Death and Resurrection • Security • Palestinian Covenant

• Separation chastisement • The Antichrist

• Priesthoods (Aaronic and Melchizedek)

Golden Rule of Biblical interpretation: Dr. David L. Cooper, Hebrew Scholar

 “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise”  

David L. Cooper, The God Of Israel (Las Angeles; Biblical Research Society, 1945) front page.

“Thou shalt understand, therefore, that the Scripture hath but one sense, which is the literal sense. And that literal sense is the root and ground of all, and the anchor that never faileth, whereunto if thou cleave, thou canst never err or go out of the way. And if thou leave the literal sense, thou canst not but to go out of the way”

 

William Tyndale:

(William Tyndale, quoted by Pentecost op. cit., p27)William Tyndale (1494-1536)

In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

People in the Bible who read the Bible translate it literally

(Dan 9:2)

God means what He says and says what He means.

The Bible is an integrated whole. Every detail is there by design (Mt 5:17,18).

Nothing is trivial: All things for our learning (Rom 15:4).

God is His own interpreter.

The Holy Spirit shall teach you all things (Jn 16:13).

You don’t have to believe people, you can do your homework. (Acts 17:11).

The Presuppositions:

     The Law of First Mention may be said to be the principle that requires one to go to that portion of the Scriptures where a word or doctrine is mentioned for the first time and to study the first occurrence of the same in order to possibly get a fundamental inherent and significant meaning of that word or doctrine.

THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION

Why Study the Book of Genesis?It is the Book of Beginnings

(Law of First Mention): • Creation • Murder • Man • Sin • Woman • Sacrifice • Sabbath • Grace • Marriage • Agriculture • Home • City life • Childhood • Races • Trade • Languages• Chosen people …etc.

“Jack of all trades, master of One.”A cultured person is one who knows

Something about everythingEverything about something.

A Christian’s specialization must be the Bible.

Misquote of Ben Franklin

“Jack of all trades, master of none”

Three Levels of Bible Interpretation

1. Primary Interpretation

2. Practical Application

3. Prophetic Implication

Jewish Rabbis Teach Four Levels of Interpretation

Peshat The Simple Level

Remez The Hint Level

Drosh The Regal Level

Sohd The Hidden Level

The Principal Discovery ?Moses ? Samuel ? Ezra ? David +Solomon +IsaiahJeremiahEzekielDanielThe 12MatthewLukeJohnPeterPaulJames Jude

JobGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,

DeuteronomyJoshuaJudges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, NehemiahEstherPsalmsProverbs, EcclesiastesIsaiahJeremiah, LamentationsEzekielDanielMinor ProphetsMatthewLukeJohn, 1,2, 3 John, RevelationMark, 1, 2 Peter14 epistlesJamesJude

66 books 40 + ~2000 years

Geometry of Eternity

t

Eternity

Past

Present

Future

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Hidden Codes in the Bible?

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but it is the honor of kings to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2

Hidden Codes in the Bible?

The secrets of the Torah are revealed ...in the skipping of the letters.

Rabbi Moses Cordevaro, 16th century

Rips explained that each code is a case of adding every fourth letter to form a word.

R e a d t he c o d

e

Read the code

“Equidistant Letter Sequence?”Equidistant Letter Sequence?

`#r,a'h' taew> ~yIm;V'h; tae ~yhil{a/ ar'B' tyviareB.

ynEP.-l[; tp,x,r;m. ~yhil{a/ x;Wrw> ~Aht. ynEP.-l[; %v,xow> Whbow" Whto ht'y>h'

#r,a'h'w> `rAa-yhiy>w: rAa yhiy> ~yhil{a/ rm,aYOw:

`~yIM'h; `%v,xoh; !ybeW rAah' !yBe ~yhil{a/ lDeb.Y:w:

bAj-yKi rAah'-ta, ~yhil{a/ ar.Y:w: @ `dx'a, ~Ay rq,bo-yhiy>w: br,[,-yhiy>w: hl'y>l' ar'q' %v,xol;w> ~Ay rAal' ~yhil{a/

ar'q.Yiw

Genesis

= TORHtwrh

49 Letters:

49 Letters:

49 Letters:

`WaB' AtybeW vyai bqo[]y: tae hm'y>r'c.mi ~yaiB'h; laer'f.yI ynEB. tAmv. hL,aew> `hd'WhywI ywIle !A[m.vi !beWar.

`!miy"n>b.W !luWbz> rk'XF'yI `rvea'w> dG" yliT'p.n:w> !D'

`~yIr'c.mib. hy"h' @seAyw> vp,n" ~y[ib.vi bqo[]y:-%r,y< yaec.yO vp,n<-lK' yhiy>w: `aWhh; rADh; lkow> wyx'a,-lk'w> @seAy tm'Y"w:

Exodus

= TORHtwrh

49 Letters:

49 Letters:

49 Letters:

Numbers

hn"V'B; ynIVeh; vd,xol; dx'a,B. d[eAm lh,aoB. yn:ysi rB;d.miB. hv,mo-la, hw"hy> rBed;y>w: `rmoale ~yIr;c.mi #r,a,me ~t'acel. tynIVeh;

tAmve rP;s.miB. ~t'boa] tybel. ~t'xoP.v.mil. laer'f.yI-ynEB. td;[]-lK' varo-ta, Waf `~t'l{G>l.gUl. rk'z"-lK'

hT'a; ~t'aob.cil. ~t'ao Wdq.p.Ti laer'f.yIB. ab'c' aceyO-lK' hl'[.m;w" hn"v' ~yrif.[, !B,mi`!roh]a;w>

hrwt = HROT

Deuteronomy

`rmoale taZOh; hr'ATh;-ta, raeBe hv,mo lyaiAh ba'Am #r,a,B. !Der.Y:h; rb,[eB.`hZ<h; rh'B' tb,v, ~k,l'-br; rmoale brexoB. Wnyleae rB,Di Wnyhel{a/ hw"hy>

bg<N<b;W hl'peV.b;W rh'b' hb'r'[]B' wyn"kev.-lK'-la,w> yrimoa/h' rh; WaboW ~k,l' W[s.W WnP.`tr'P.-rh;n> ldoG"h; rh'N"h;-d[; !Anb'L.h;w> ynI[]n:K.h; #r,a, ~Y"h; @Axb.W

hw"hy> [B;v.nI rv,a] #r,a'h'-ta, Wvr.W WaBo #r,a'h'-ta, ~k,ynEp.li yTit;n" haer.`~h,yrex]a; ~['r.z:l.W ~h,l' ttel' bqo[]y:l.W qx'c.yIl. ~h'r'b.a;l. ~k,yteboa]l;

hrwt = HROT

Torah Codes

49 (72) letter sequences:

Genesis TORH

Exodus TORH

Leviticus ?

Numbers HROT

Deuteronomy HROT

Leviticus

`rmoale d[eAm lh,aome wyl'ae hw"hy> rBed;y>w: hv,mo- la,ar'q.YIw:

Intervals of 7:

yhwh = YHWH

The Torah Always Points to YHWH

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

hrwtTORH

twrhHROT

twrhHROT

hwhy

YHWHYHWH

hrwtTORH

The Torah was written by Moses approximately 3,500 years ago. Many of the names that are encoded in the first chapter of Genesis were placed there long before each person was born. Thus far, I have found over six thousand encoded words in the first chapter, which includes about 2,000 Biblical names of persons who are mentioned in the plain reading of the Scriptures at various places in the Bible. Only the supernatural Mind of God could have foreseen the future generations, their names, and the time they would appear on the scene. Not only are many of their names encoded, but certain, undeniable facts about their lives and relationships with others of their time are meticulously embedded in the written Word.

Yacov and Yaphah Rambsel

Mark 15:9

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

John 19:15

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

John 19:19

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was,

JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Pilate’s Epitaph

HaYehudim v Melech HaNazarei Yeshua

John 19:21

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

The End ?

The Beginning!