Genesis – The Book of Beginnings 1

Genesis: Intro, themes, and overview.

Genesis is the book of beginnings, and it lives up to its name. Genesis contains in seed form everything that follows in the Bible. As we consider this foundational and sweeping book, keep in mind three items which set the landscape:

(1) the storyline of creation, fall, and redemption;

(2) the theme of the kingdom of God; and

(3) the theme of the love of God.

Everything in Genesis—indeed everything in the Bible—revolves around these three items. Let’s briefly consider them and how they interrelate before we jump into the book.

Creation, fall, and redemption are the three phases of human history. They are also the biblical answers to the three fundamental question of life:  Where did we come from? Why do bad things happen? Where do we find hope? Everyone answers those questions consciously or unconsciously, and how we answer them determines how we see the world and how we live our lives.

The kingdom of God is intertwined with creation, fall, and redemption. The kingdom is what God created mankind and the earth to be—God’s people living in God’s realm under God’s rule and blessing. The story of God’s kingdom follows the storyline of creation, fall, and redemption:

(1)  Creation — the kingdom begun.

(2)  Fall — the kingdom ruined.

(3)  Redemption — the kingdom restored.

The love of God is the “why” of every good thing. Without the love of God, there would be no creation, no kingdom, no redemption. We see a different facet of God’s love with each phase of human history:

(1)  Creation — the kingdom begun — God’s giving love.

(2)  Fall — the kingdom ruined — God’s preserving love.

(3)  Redemption — the Kingdom restored — God’s saving love.

Here is an overview of Genesis showing how these themes correspond to the chapters of the book:

(1)  Ch. 1-2 — Creation — the kingdom begun — God’s giving love.

(2)  Ch. 3-11 — Fall —the kingdom ruined — God’s preserving love.

(3)  Ch. 12-50 — Redemption — the kingdom restored — God’s saving love.