1. Identify and explain the significance of key terms, passages, and themes from this section including: Genesis 1 (creation and God's image), Genesis 3 (the fall and sin), Genesis 4 (the development of sin and civilization), Genesis 9, 15, and 17 (covenant), Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Isaac, Ishmael, Esau, Jacob, and Joseph.
2. Locate on a map the key places in this section, including: the Garden of Eden, Ur, Haran, Shechem, Bethel, Mount Moriah, Hebron, Sodom and Gomorrah, Canaan, and Egypt.
3. Explain the sequence and identify the sites for the key events of the patriarchal period.
4. Analyze the theme of "covenant" in the patriarchal period and evaluate how it applies to God's covenant with us today.
Required Readings and Study Items
(Bible software upgrade may be required for "Dictionary" and "Study Bible Notes," see "Order" button on "Cover")
1. Discovering God, Philip Yancey, pp. 15-30, Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1989 (click on the "Text" button).
2. Click on the "Text" button and then click on unfamiliar words or phrases in blue/bold type.
3. Click on the "Explore" button, open the Bible Dictionary, and do a search on the words, terms and people listed in Learning Objectives #1 and #2. Scroll through the search "hits" and read the key article(s) associated with each term.
4. Click on the "Explore" button, open the Study Bible Notes, and read the "Introduction" to the book of Genesis and the "Genesis 1:1" notes and Old Testament chronology.
5. Click on the "Study" button and learn:
A. Geography - "Major Areas" and "Adam to Joseph"
B. Books - Genesis
C. Chronology - Creation to the Patriarchs
6. Click on the "Library" button and read the "References" associated with the Beginnings section.
7. Click on the “Links” button in this section and follow each link to other related areas of study.
8. Click on the "Facts" button and review the Bible facts associated with Genesis.
Suggested Readings
1. "Genesis," by John Sailhammer, pp. 11-62, in NIV Compact Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994.
2. "Introduction and Genesis," by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman, pp. 17-56, in Introduction to the Old Testament, Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994.
3. "The Study of the Pentateuch and The Book of Genesis," by R.K. Harrison, pp. 495-565, in Introduction to the Old Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969.
4. "Genesis," Allen P. Ross, pp. 15-100 in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, eds. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Victory Books: Wheaton, Illinois, 1985.
5. "The First Seven Days," Bruce Waltke, pp. 42-46 in Christianity Today, vol. 32, August 12, 1988.
6. "Reading Genesis in the Wild," Philip Yancey, p. 72 in Christianity Today, vol. 37, June 21, 1993.
7. For a reasoned, well-balanced treatment of the issues and themes in the opening chapters of Genesis see In the Beginning, Henri Blocher, Inter-Varsity Press: Downers Grove, Illinois, 1984.
For Further Review:
Go to the next page and test yourself by taking the quiz over the material you have studied. When you have finished, check your answers by clicking on the "Answers" button.
BEGINNINGS: QUIZ
1. In a paragraph or two using your own words, describe the story of creation as given in Genesis 1.
2. Men and women are made in "God's image." This means:
A. that they are gods and goddesses
B. that they look like God
C. that when God looks upon them he sees something of himself reflected in them.
3. What are two aspects of life instituted by God for human fulfillment?
A. creation and the fall
B. work and marriage
C. promise and covenant
4. The real issue in the fall of Adam and Eve was:
A. sexuality
B. hunger
C. Who would ruleÑthem or God?
5. The major consequence of Adam's sin was:
A. death
B. shame
C. guilt
6. Following the "crash" of Adam and Eve, what developed in human history?
A. sin
B. civilization
C. both a and b
7. Noah's Ark stands as a symbol of God's ________ to a fallen world.
A. mercy
B. judgment
C. sovereignty
8. In order to encourage the relationship between fallen human beings and himself, God began to make _______ with them.
A. treaties
B. laws
C. covenants
9. The father of the Hebrew nation and the major biblical representative of faith in God was _______.
A. Adam
B. Noah
C. Methuselah
D. Abraham
10. What were the two things God promised to Abraham?
A. wealth and freedom
B. fame and power
C. land and descendants
11. Because of their enormous evil, God ________ Sodom and Gomorrah.
12. Abraham's greatest test of faith came when he was told to sacrifice _______.
13. God's dealings with Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, demonstrate that God is:
A. judgmental
B. harsh
C. sweet
D. gracious
14.) Jacob's favorite son, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers. However, he eventually rose to be second in command of the entire _______ empire.
A. Hebrew
B. Egyptian
C. Babylonian
D. Hittite
15.) Joseph's life reveals two things to us above all else:
A. pain and suffering
B. his failure and success
C. his trust in God and God's sovereign care
16.) God allowed Joseph to suffer and then raised him to prominence so that all of Israel could eventually be _______.
17.) Essay question: using Genesis 12-23 as your guide, in two or three paragraphs recount the life of Abraham in your own words. Focus upon the major theme of his life, how God worked with him and helped him to develop spiritually, and how that applies to believers today.
