Genesis, the book of beginnings, is the book to which every believer and the entire Christian church turns again and again to see how things were "from the beginning".

In this series of outlines we will only be able to deal with certain parts of the first eleven chapters of this book. This study should provide some stimulating and profitable discussion wherever these outlines are used.

The first three chapters of Genesis have been under attack for many years and this attack has been extended to the first eleven chapters in more recent years. These chapters are basic to our faith and we will never be able to understand the rest of Scripture without the proper view of this part.

Many assume that Moses could not have written this book. He lived many years later than the time of the events recorded in this book. However, the Jews very early ascribed this book, as well as the next four to Moses. Until the middle of the 18th century almost everyone ascribed these five books to Moses. The New Testament does the same. Does it make any difference whether Moses or someone else wrote them? Here we are faced with the question: What is your view of Scripture? If the Scriptures ascribe certain books to a particular author, may scholars come to a different conclusion and still claim they hold to an infallible Bible?

That there are problems here, no one would deny. However, we do not believe that the problems are so great that one would be asked to believe the im­possible. Oral transmission of historical events was both strong and accurate in the early ages. Besides, men lived so many years in this early period that there were not even many generations from Adam to Abraham. The revelation of the creation itself could have been given by God directly to Moses. Later in time prophets also received revelations of things which they had not witnessed. Of all the many creation accounts among the various early peoples none measures up to the account given us in Genesis. Genesis' uniqueness points to the Divine origin as well as purpose of the whole book.

How are we to view the book of Genesis — is it history or is it something else? Today many view the first chapters of Genesis as poetry, or as sym­bolism or even as allegorical. Now, it is true that the Bible contains all these forms of writing but it is then usually made very clear that each is intended to be poetic or symbolic or allegorical. We find no such indications in Genesis. It comes in the form of history — and — if the historicity of these chapters is denied there will be resulting problems with the historical events in the life of Christ which took place to restore man to the original position for which he was created!

Some people believe that it does not make too much difference how we view Genesis because it does not deal with our salvation. We must keep John 3:16, but who cares whether the days of creation were long periods of time or not; whether there was a man by the name of Adam; whether there was ac­tually a serpent in the garden; or whether the fall of man occurred in exactly the way in which it is reported in chapter three? But, if we so treat these chapters why may someone else not treat other chapters in the same way? Whose standard of judgment are we to use? Be careful with the Scriptures or you will soon have a Bible which is no longer received as infallible!

The importance of the book of Genesis to help every believer understand all the rest of Scripture cannot be overemphasized. In it we learn of the origin of all things. In no other place can this information be found. Here we get an answer to the ques­tion: Where did I come from? The beginning of sin is here revealed. The origin of marriage, of languages, of covenants and of God's people are revealed in this book — beside many other things.

In the early chapters of Genesis we are given tremendous riches. We approach it reverently, for God is here speaking to us.

Have you ever thought that the Bible begins in a strange way? Would we not have expected to hear first Who God is? Yet, that is not the way in which the Bible begins. God is already there! The Bible never seeks to give us a "definition" of God. He who comes to God must believe that He is, says the writer to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible, therefore, does not seek to prove the existence of God! Men have tried to do this through the ages and many still try to do so today. This is foolish because, though you may "prove" to the satisfaction of cer­tain people that there is a "higher power", no one will ever be able to prove the existence of the God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! If this cannot be proved, men have, at best, proved the ex­istence of an "idol"! It is important that we realize this. Too much time and effort has been spent in philosophy on the "proofs" for the existence of God. Too many people today derive great satisfaction from the mental exercise of "proving" that there must be some great "intelligence" which is responsi­ble for the universe and all it contains. But, a great "intelligence" is not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Man should not seek to prove the existence of God — God doesn't! Man is called to believe, and, if he doesn't believe, no amount of "proof" will con­vince him.

The opening words of the Bible are not devoted to a proof of God's own existence, nor to a description of Who He is, but to an account of the creation of the universe in which we live. It thus speaks to every man in the very first statement. It has always been a question for man how and when this universe came into being. Was there an original mass? Was the earth the product of some other heavenly body? No, God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible uses the term "create" only in reference to God. We use the term in reference to man at times but the Bi­ble doesn't. His creation was not out of existing mat­ter, but He spoke and it was! This goes far beyond our understanding. God is totally above and beyond His creation. He alone existed from eternity. The creation was ex nihilo, out of nothing, as the church has always confessed. He "decided" to create the universe and there was no other compulsion. He did not need the universe for He is sufficient unto Himself. The whole creation was to glorify Him.

All this was done "in the beginning". When was that "beginning"? It is assumed by many that that must have been millions of years ago. Bishop Usher concluded that it was approximately six thousand years ago. The first view needs a great deal of time for the "development" of all things as we know them today and cannot accept the fact that God can make all things in a moment of time. The second view has received far more support over the years than it deserves. The bishop simply counted all the ages which are recorded of various individuals and so ar­rived at his conclusion. The simple truth is that we do not know the precise age of the universe.

When the Bible speaks of "the beginning" it uses terminology which is very general. It is the beginn­ing of that which we now see. God has no beginning, but everything else does.

By the term "heavens and earth" is, no doubt, meant — the universe. There are questions which come to one's mind when this expression is used. Were the angels also created "in the beginning"? The angels are created beings and not only their creation, but even the fall in the angelic world had already taken place before man fell into sin, as recorded in chapter three.

There are, of course, many questions to which no answers are given. We would also expect that God would make all things perfect and later in the first chapter we read that God saw what He had made and "it was good". The heavens were perhaps very good from the beginning. The earth was, however, "waste and void". Darkness was upon this, seeming­ly, formless mass. He did not choose to create everything in its finished form "in the beginning". He is going to reveal His artistry in the "days" which follow. "He has given the earth to man" and will reveal to man how He has given him an abode which is a Paradise!

The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. By this Spirit is meant the Holy Spirit of God Whom we come to know so much better in the time of the New Testament. There we learn to know the Spirit as the One who regenerates the heart of man and applies the work of Christ. However, we must never forget that He is the Spirit of all life. "Thy Spirit, O Lord, makes life to abound; the earth is renewed and fruitful the ground". This is the Spirit which is moving upon the waters. This is the Spirit Who will give life to plant and animal and man.

Some would already see here the beginning of the doctrine of the Trinity. However, we must not read such things into the Scriptures where they are not taught. Later it is made clear enough that God ex­ists in three persons in one being. The Spirit is here simply mentioned and neither trinity nor unity is here in the foreground.

So God (the name used for God here is one which inspires fear and reverence) called the universe into being. It is stated so simply that a child can under­stand. It is such an important matter which everyone must be able to understand. This Almighty God before Whom all creatures quake (Elohim) later reveals Himself as the Father of His people! We may, of course, never lose sight of His Fatherhood, but neither may we lose sight of His majesty! We must keep the proper balance — the Bible does!

Questions for Discussion:⤒🔗

1. What does it mean to you that the Bible is infalli­ble? What significance does it have for the interpretation of Scripture?

2. Why can't we prove the existence of God? Why can't God be defined?

3. Can we maintain the historicity of the cross, the life of Christ, the outpouring of the Spirit, etc., if we deny the historicity of the first chapters of Genesis?

4. When do you think the angels were created? Do you think man was in Paradise for a long time? Give reasons for your answers.

5. Does the "waste and void" of Genesis 1:2 detract from the perfection of the work of the Creator?