In last month's issue emphasis was laid upon the necessity of studying the book of Genesis because all the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, are found in it in the undeveloped state. I now wish to substantiate this proposition by discussing several of them.

      First, let us note the statement of the first verse of the book. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The Hebrew word that is translated "God" is in the plural number. The unity of the Godhead, on the other hand, is fully vindicated by the singular verb. But again the statement of Gen. 1:26 reads: "Let us make man in our own image." From these statements we learn that there is a plurality in the Godhead. But we do not learn that the number of persons is three--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--until we come to the New Testament.

      Again, the understanding of the word that is translated "create" demolishes the theory that man evolved from the monkey or ape. This word, "Bara," carries the idea of bringing something into existence that did not previously exist. It is used only in reference to God's actions. It makes three crises in Gen. 1. In verse 1 it means that before the action nothing of the material world existed, but after this action the heavens and the earth were in existence. To use a figure, it spans the chasm between non-existence and existence. It occurs again in verse 21 with reference to God's creating animal life. Here God stepped over the chasm from inanimate creation, to the animate--a higher order of creation. In verse 27 God bridged still a greater chasm by bringing into existence a new and higher order of life, human life. Our conviction that man is the highest order of God's creation--and that He is this by creation--is strengthened by the fact that God said, "Let us make a man in our image"--a conference in the council chamber of God concerning the creation of man in the image of God. The facts that God held a consultation before creating man and that He was made in the image of God differentiate him from the animal creation and set him off on a higher plane in a class to himself.

      To him God gave dominion over the earth. Through his disobedience he forfeited this dominion to Satan who has been since that time the god of this world. Luke 4:6; John 16:11; II. Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-4; 1 John 5:19. Satan rules, but God overrules. Man's lost dominion is not lost forever, but it will be restored to him according to the eighth psalm. This psalm is both retrospective and prospective--it looks back to the original promise. Gen. 1:26, 27, and forward to the time of its fulfillment. "For thou hast made him but little lower than God and crownest him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands." Ps. 8:5, 6. Note the verbs "crownest" and "makest." These verbs in the Hebrew are [70] in the imperfect tense, which tense denotes incompleted action, hence future time. This interpretation is confirmed by the application of this same scripture to the world to come (the inhabited earth. R. V. marg.) Heb. 2:5-10. See Isa. 11.

      Next let us consider the marriage relation and its typical import. Gen. 2:25. Though there had been millions of marriages before Paul's day, no one knew its real typical meaning. In Eph. 5:31, 32 Paul shows that it typified the relation between Christ and the Church. The same relation is hinted at in II. Cor. 11:2. The great consummation of this relation--marriage of the Lamb--is seen in Rev. 19:6-8.

      In Gen. 3, the serpent appears as the tempter of man. Man yields and falls. With his fall came all the distress, sin, and sorrow in the world. Our knowledge of Satan would be very limited and imperfect if this were the only passage on this subject, but God has given us much information elsewhere. In I Kings 22:19-23 God invites us behind the scene and shows us that lying spirits sometimes played a part in human affairs. Also see I. John 4:1, 2. Turn to I. Chron. 21:1. Here Satan moved David to sin by numbering Israel. In Job 1 and 2 the first scene is in heaven and Satan appears as one of the chief actors. In Job 1:10-12 note God's special protection about His servant, "Hast not thou made a hedge about him," etc.? The second scene, which is on the earth, is described in verses 13-22. Note Satan's power over the Sabeans, v. 15, the fire of God v. 16, the Chaldeans v. 17, and great wind v. 19. From these chapters of Job and Luke 22:31, 32; I. Cor. 10:13, we learn that Satan cannot go beyond certain limits without the permission of God. For more about Satan see Zech. 3:1, 2; Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13. Concerning his dwelling place--"prince of the powers of the AIR"--and work see Eph. 2:1, 2; 6:12. Concerning his method of attack see Gen. 3:6, "I saw . . . . desired . . . . took." I. John 2:16. His attitude toward God's people is seen in Rev. 12:9, 10. Note this statement, "the accuser of the brethren . . . . who accuseth them before our God day and night." His doom is in the lake of fire. Rev. 20:10.

      The doctrine of redemption is also seen in Gen. 3. With man's disobedience come the consciousness of guilt and sin. He endeavored to cover his nakedness with an apron of fig leaves--a crude attempt at man's righteousness. Man's righteousness avails nothing. Before God can save man be has to repudiate his own righteousness. See this principle in Isa. 64:6. "Our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment" Paul realized its insufficiency--"not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of law." Phi. 3:9. For man's insufficient covering of fig leaves God gave him coats of skins. The price of these coats of skins was the shedding of blood which was typical of the blood shed for us, the price paid for our wedding garment. Matt. 22:11, righteousness of Christ, Phi. 3:9.

      Turn with me now to Gen. 12. God called Abram from his people and country to go to a land that he would show him, [71] promising him that he and his seed should be the channel through which he would bless the world. In connection with this great plan of a worldwide blessing God promised to Abram's seed "this land"--the land on which he was then standing. v. 7. In 13:14-18 God promised it not only to Abraham's seed but to HIM also--"to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever." God never did give the land to Abraham--"no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession and to his seed after him," etc. Acts 7:5. There can be no doubt as to what God meant by "this land," Gen. 12:7, for Stephen interpreted it as "this land, wherein ye now dwell"--the land of Palestine. Since God is a covenant keeping God, He will make good every promise though we may not see how He is going to do it. This land promise was the foundation of Old Testament prophecy, the prophets enlarging upon it and giving a most glowing description of conditions under the Messianic reign. Taking the Word of God at its face value one concludes that this promise awaits fulfillment, and that God will redeem every promise He has made in His own good time.

      Time fails me to speak of the other great Bible doctrines found in the book of Genesis, such an that of election, God's providence, and love, etc. May these suggestions create in all who read them a thirst for the deep spiritual truths of this book is my prayer.

["Genesis." Word and Work 9 (February 1916): 70-72.]

      The electronic version of David L. Cooper's "Genesis" has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1916.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 71:     Chaldeans 7. 17, [ Chaldeans v. 17,
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 2 February 2002.
Updated 2 July 2003.