B.R.I-Genesis
1. Critical Method
a.
Author of Genesis-Moses
i.
Internal Evidence
1.
Exodus 24:4- ‘And Moses wrote down all the words
of the Lord.’
2.
Exodus 34:27- ‘The Lord said to Moses, “Write
these words...”’
3.
Deuteronomy 31:9- ‘Then Moses wrote down the
law...’
ii.
External Evidence
1.
Jewish and some early Christian traditions state
that Moses did, in fact, write the book of Genesis. (Illustrated Standard Bible
Dictionary)
2.
Because Moses was not present during the events
of Genesis, many people believe that Moses received direct revelation from God.
(New Bible Dictionary)
3.
Cliff Davis says, ‘Moses wrote Genesis.’
(lecture)
iii.
Conclusion
My own opinion is that Moses wrote
the book of Genesis. At the time it was written, Moses would have been one of
the few, if not the only one of the Israelites who had the ability to read and
write (a result of his Egyptian education*). He most likely wrote down
revelations from God, along with stories orally passed down through familes.* *NBD
b.
Written When
i.
Internal Evidence
1.
1 Kings 6:1- ‘In the four hundred eightieth year
after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt...’
2.
Exodus 24:4- ‘And Moses wrote down all the words
of the Lord.’
ii.
External Evidence
1.
1446-1406 BC (Cliff Davis, lecture)
2.
1290-1150 BC (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary)
iii.
Conclusion
1.
My opinion is that the book of Genesis was
written around 1446-1406 BC. It seemed to be the most likely choice. But no one
is actually sure when it was written, although the oldest piece of biblical
manuscript dates back to the 3rd century BC.* *Cliff Davis, lecture
c.
Original Reader-Israel
i.
Internal Evidence
1.
Genesis 15:13- ‘Then the Lord said, “Know this for
certain, that your offspring shall be aliens...slaves, and they shall be oppressed
for four hundred years...”’
2.
Exodus 34:27- ‘The Lord said to Moses, “Write
these words...”’
ii.
External Evidence
1.
Cliff Davis says, “Genesis is written to the
Israelites.” (lecture)
iii.
Conclusion
My opinion is that the book of
Genesis was written for the Israelites, simply because of their loss of
identity. After 400 years as slaves, they would have believed that that’s all they
were. Slaves. God wanted them to know that they were special, a great nation.
2.
Historical Method
a.
Setting of the Original Audience
i.
God has just delivered the Israelites from Egypt,
and is freeing them from the ‘slavery mindset.’
ii.
God used Moses to relay his words to the
Israelites. (Exodus 24:4)
iii.
The surrounding nations were Egypt, from which
they had come from, and Canaan, the land of their ancestor, Abraham, and the
Promised Land. (Genesis 13:12)
3.
Literary Method
a.
Kinds of Literature
i.
Poetry
1:27, 4:23-24, 8:22, 9:22, 9:25-27. 14:
19-20, 16:11-12, 24:60, 25:23, 27:27-29, 27:39-40, 48:15-16, 48:20, 49
ii.
Prose
b.
Types of Literature
i.
Narrative
4.
Survey Method
a.
Main Idea
i.
To tell the origin of the people
ii.
God’s redemptive plan for mankind
b.
Reason Written
i.
To free the Israelites of the ‘slavery mindset.’
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