Introduction – (Genesis)

The first book of the Hebrew Bible, translated as In the Beginning, fittingly opens with the phrase “In the beginning,” and is named Genesis. The events chronicled in Genesis were originally passed down orally, shared as stories recounting the forefathers’ interactions with Yahweh. These narratives were preserved among the Israelites, serving as a reminder of their ancestors’ experiences with God as they journeyed through the wilderness.

Authorship

Genesis covers the longest timeline of events in the Bible, beginning with the creation of the world—an indefinite period—and spanning to the second millennium BC when Abraham set out on his journey. While the authorship of Genesis is uncertain, it is traditionally attributed to Moses, who is also believed to have written the rest of the Pentateuch (see Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:24; John 5:46). Moses, however, lived long after the events recorded in Genesis. It is likely that these stories were passed down through generations, and Moses compiled them into a unified narrative.

Audience

The first audience for Genesis would have been the Israelites, whom Moses led through the wilderness. For modern readers, Genesis serves as a foundational introduction to the rest of the Bible, rightly earning its title as the “book of beginnings.” One of the most debated and discussed chapters in Genesis—perhaps even in the entire Bible—continues to provoke reflection and interpretation today.