The book of
Genesis can be summed up into one word: origins. By examining Genesis; one can
come to this conclusion because there are many origins or beginnings in Genesis
such as[1]:
·
the origin of the earth (1-2:3),
·
the origin of man and all humanity (2:4-2:25;
4:1-15; 10:1-32 and others),
·
the origin of evil (as it is concerned with man—3:1-7),
·
the origin of salvation or redemptive revelation
(3:15; 22:17-18 connected with Gal. 3:8 and Gen. 49:10),
·
the origin of the doctrine of justification
(15:6 in light of Rom. 4:23-25),
·
the origin of the sovereign election of God (in
regards to God seeking out Adam and Eve after they sinned; God’s choosing of Isaac and not Ishmael and His choosing of Jacob
and not Esau),
·
the origin of promises and curses (3:14-19, 12:1-3,
etc.),
·
the origin of God’s separation of a certain
nation/people group (3:15, 12:1-3),
·
the origin God’s covenants with His people
(8:20-9:17)
·
and the origin of divine judgment (Gen. 3 in
light of 2 Peter 3:3-10).
Therefore, origins is a good
theme that runs throughout all of Genesis to provide cohesiveness, unity and
continuity. There are many proposed themes found in commentaries that are hard to nail down ONE theme for Genesis. However, the one I proposed is by far from perfect, nor the only and absolute correct and only one that could be true. This is only a suggestion that I proposed.
Again, the structure of Genesis is broken up many ways by commentators today; however, most agree with the two sections I propose and or with the 10 toledoth found in Genesis. Therefore, Genesis’ structure can be divided
into two main parts; first, chapters 1-11 known as Primeval History and
chapters 12-50 the Patriarchal History. This is the easiest way to separate
this book into two simple parts.
These two parts are unified together with the toledoth (translated as "the generations of" so and so) structures throughout both sections (2:4;
5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 37:2). Also, the mention of Abraham at the end of chapter 11 and beginning of 12 provides a solid,
cohesive link between the two outline sections (11:27-11:32 and Genesis 12ff.). Abraham serves as a hinge on which these two sections are linked together and function together.
Therefore, the following outline is proposed for Genesis. This could be much more detailed; one can continue to look up if they'd like to in order to find a more detailed outline. The parenthesis mark the chapters and verse to which the events listed before take place
1.
Primeval History (1-11)
a.
The Creation (1-2)
b.
The Fall (3-11)
i.
The Cause of the Fall (3)
ii.
The Effects of the Fall (4-11)
1.
Cain and Abel (4)
2.
Adam’s Descendants to Noah (5)
3.
Noah and the Flood (6-8:19)
4.
God’s Covenant with Noah (8:20-9:17)
5.
Noah’s Descendants (9:18-10:32)
6.
The Tower of Babel: The Spreading of Nations
(11:1-9)
7.
Shem’s Descendants (11:10-11:26)
8.
Terah’s Descendants (11:27-32)
2.
Patriarchal History (12-50)
a.
Abraham (11:26-25:11)
b.
Isaac (21-35:29)
c.
Jacob (Chapters 25:19-36)
d.
Joseph (Chapters 37-50:26)
[1] James Montgomery Boice names
some of these that I've listed in his commentary Genesis: Creation and Fall Volume 1
(chapters 1-11). Also, Unger’s Bible Handbook (pg 36) mentions some of
these I listed; therefore I combined some of the listed ones and included some of my own as well.
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