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The author of Genesis is currently unknown; but commonly attributed to
Moses. Scholars have estimated the date of its writing at around 1450-1410
BC; which is pretty recent in the grand scheme of Earth's geological history--
a mere 3,400 years ago. Since Moses penned Exodus (Mark 12:26) it's
conceivable that he also penned Genesis; but in reality, nobody really
knows.
Genesis may in fact be the result of several contributors beginning as far
back as Adam himself; who would certainly know more about the creation
than anybody, and who entertained no doubts whatsoever about the
existence of a supreme being since he knew the Creator himself like a next
door neighbor. That would explain why the book begins with an in-your-face
theistic account of the origin of the cosmos, rather than waste words with an
apologetic argument to convince agnostics that a God exists. I mean: if the
complexity of the cosmos-- it's shape and all of its forms of life, matter, and
energy --aren't enough to convince the agnostic; then the agnostic is pretty
much beyond reach.
As time went by, others like Seth and Noah would add their own experiences
to the record, and then Abraham his, Isaac his, Jacob his, and finally Judah
or one of his descendants completing the record with Joseph's burial.
Genesis is quoted more than sixty times in the New Testament; and Christ
himself authenticated its Divine inspiration by referring to it in his own
teachings. (e.g. Matt 19:4-6, Matt 24:37-39, Mk 10:4-9, Luke 11:49-51,
Luke 17:26-29 & 32, John 7:21-23, John 8:44 and John 8:56)
†. Gen 1:1a . . In the beginning God
The word for "God" is from the Hebrew 'elohiym (el-o-heem'). It's a plural
word and means, ordinarily: gods. 'Elohiym isn't really the creator's personal
name, but an abstract deistic term that pertains to all sorts of gods, along
with, and including, the supreme one.
The "beginning" is mentioned again at 1John 1:1 which I believe safe to
assume compliments John 1:1-2
†. Gen 1:1b . . created the heaven and earth--
The word for "heaven" is from the Hebrew word shamayim (shaw-mah'
yim) and means: to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the plural (heavens) perhaps
alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher
ether where the celestial bodies revolve). So the word "heaven" is
ambiguous and can mean the breathable air in our planet's atmosphere as
well as the stratosphere and the vast celestial regions of space. Shamayim
corresponds to the "air" in the Navy SEAL acronym that stands for Sea, Air,
and Land.
The Hebrew word for "earth" is 'erets (eh'-rets) which is yet another of the
Bible's many ambiguous words. It can indicate dry land, a country, and/or
the whole planet.
Anyway; Genesis 1:1 merely reveals the origin of the cosmos without going
into detail. It's a "Once upon a time" sort of statement with a story to follow.
Cont.
/
The author of Genesis is currently unknown; but commonly attributed to
Moses. Scholars have estimated the date of its writing at around 1450-1410
BC; which is pretty recent in the grand scheme of Earth's geological history--
a mere 3,400 years ago. Since Moses penned Exodus (Mark 12:26) it's
conceivable that he also penned Genesis; but in reality, nobody really
knows.
Genesis may in fact be the result of several contributors beginning as far
back as Adam himself; who would certainly know more about the creation
than anybody, and who entertained no doubts whatsoever about the
existence of a supreme being since he knew the Creator himself like a next
door neighbor. That would explain why the book begins with an in-your-face
theistic account of the origin of the cosmos, rather than waste words with an
apologetic argument to convince agnostics that a God exists. I mean: if the
complexity of the cosmos-- it's shape and all of its forms of life, matter, and
energy --aren't enough to convince the agnostic; then the agnostic is pretty
much beyond reach.
As time went by, others like Seth and Noah would add their own experiences
to the record, and then Abraham his, Isaac his, Jacob his, and finally Judah
or one of his descendants completing the record with Joseph's burial.
Genesis is quoted more than sixty times in the New Testament; and Christ
himself authenticated its Divine inspiration by referring to it in his own
teachings. (e.g. Matt 19:4-6, Matt 24:37-39, Mk 10:4-9, Luke 11:49-51,
Luke 17:26-29 & 32, John 7:21-23, John 8:44 and John 8:56)
†. Gen 1:1a . . In the beginning God
The word for "God" is from the Hebrew 'elohiym (el-o-heem'). It's a plural
word and means, ordinarily: gods. 'Elohiym isn't really the creator's personal
name, but an abstract deistic term that pertains to all sorts of gods, along
with, and including, the supreme one.
The "beginning" is mentioned again at 1John 1:1 which I believe safe to
assume compliments John 1:1-2
†. Gen 1:1b . . created the heaven and earth--
The word for "heaven" is from the Hebrew word shamayim (shaw-mah'
yim) and means: to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the plural (heavens) perhaps
alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher
ether where the celestial bodies revolve). So the word "heaven" is
ambiguous and can mean the breathable air in our planet's atmosphere as
well as the stratosphere and the vast celestial regions of space. Shamayim
corresponds to the "air" in the Navy SEAL acronym that stands for Sea, Air,
and Land.
The Hebrew word for "earth" is 'erets (eh'-rets) which is yet another of the
Bible's many ambiguous words. It can indicate dry land, a country, and/or
the whole planet.
Anyway; Genesis 1:1 merely reveals the origin of the cosmos without going
into detail. It's a "Once upon a time" sort of statement with a story to follow.
Cont.
/
