Why Study Genesis?
Why Study Genesis?
When I was at seminary some thirty years ago, I took a class by Dr. Greg Beale called “The Old Testament in the New.” It was not only a great class, but I came away with a renewed vision for the importance of the Old Testament for our understanding of the New Testament. The book edited by Dr. Beale on this important topic has a series of essays on the use of the Old Testament in the New.[1] One article in the book estimates that there are close to 300 references to the Old Testament in the New Testament in 352 verses. The author notes further that when clear allusions to the Old Testament are taken into consideration, more than 10 percent of the New Testament is made up of either a direct quote or an allusion to the Old Testament.[2]
What about Genesis? Another scholar in the same volume notes that 29 chapters from Genesis are cited by New Testament authors, and that some passages from Genesis are cited twice, others three or four times.[3]
When we consider the people from Genesis mentioned in the New Testament, our list could include Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Terah, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Hagar, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob/Israel, Esau, Melchizedek, Joseph, Judah, and we could add to the list the names in Luke’s genealogy. This impressive list suggests that Genesis was an important book for the authors of New Testament.
When we consider theological themes in Genesis that are unpacked in the New Testament, we could include creation, the image of God, the fall, Adam’s disobedience, sin and death, God’s flood judgement and his salvation of Noah, the call of Abraham, the Abrahamic promises, the Abrahamic covenant, God’s blessing to the nations, God’s justification of Abraham by faith, the role of circumcision, children of Abraham, God’s election of Jacob, and the list could continue!
My point is this: Genesis is not simply an antiquated book narrating ancient stories of a bygone era, but what God is doing in Genesis has ongoing significance for the life of the church. God’s plan of redemption begins in Genesis, and this is where all the key characters and promises of God are first introduced. This is our story.
This means that understanding key characters in Genesis and God’s promises will help us put the Bible together theologically.
This is why I’m excited about my new course on Genesis. I not only love the book (and there are some delightful characters in Genesis!), but my experience teaching it over two decades is that understanding Genesis helps people understand the whole Bible.
If you are interested in learning more about Genesis and tracing central theological themes across the Bible, then I hope you will register for my course. I pray that this course might be a blessing to you and will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
Dr. Carol Kaminski
[1] The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts: Essays on the Use of the Old Testament in the New (ed. G. K. Beale; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994).
[2] R. Nicole, “The New Testament Use of the Old Testament,” pp. 13-14.
[3]A.C. Sundberg, “Response Against C.H. Dodd’s View: On Testimonies,” p. 186.