the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Commentaries
Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Expositor's Dictionary
Creation of the World in Six Days.Chapter 2
Creation of Adam, Eve, and Eden.Chapter 3
The Fall: Adam and Eve's Sin.Chapter 4
Cain Kills Abel; Cain's Descendants Multiply.Chapter 5
Genealogy from Adam to Noah.Chapter 6
Wickedness Prompts God to Flood Earth.Chapter 7
Noah's Ark Survives the Great Flood.Chapter 8
Waters Recede; Noah Exits the Ark.Chapter 9
God's Covenant with Noah; Rainbow Sign.Chapter 11
Tower of Babel; Languages Confused.Chapter 12
God's Call to Abram; Covenant Begins.Chapter 13
Abram and Lot Separate; God Promises Land.Chapter 14
Abram Rescues Lot; Melchizedek Blesses Abram.Chapter 15
God's Covenant with Abram Affirmed.Chapter 16
Hagar Bears Ishmael, Abram's First Son.Chapter 17
Circumcision Covenant; Abram Renamed Abraham.Chapter 18
Angelic Visitors Announce Isaac's Birth.Chapter 21
Birth of Isaac; Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away.Chapter 22
Abraham's Near-Sacrifice of Isaac.Chapter 24
Isaac Marries Rebekah, Abraham's Choice.Chapter 25
Abraham's Death; Jacob and Esau's Births.Chapter 26
Isaac Prospers in Gerar, Repeats Abraham's Mistakes.Chapter 27
Jacob Deceives Isaac; Esau's Blessing Stolen.Chapter 28
Jacob's Ladder Dream; Covenant Reaffirmed.Chapter 29
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel.Chapter 32
Jacob Wrestles with God; Becomes Israel.Chapter 33
Jacob Reconciles with Esau Peacefully.Chapter 35
Jacob's Name Change Reaffirmed; Rachel Dies.Chapter 37
Joseph's Dreams; Sold into Slavery by Brothers.Chapter 39
Joseph Prospers in Egypt Despite Imprisonment.Chapter 41
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams; Rises to Power.Chapter 42
Joseph's Brothers Visit Egypt for Grain.Chapter 43
Brothers Return to Egypt with Benjamin.Chapter 44
Joseph Tests His Brothers' Loyalty.Chapter 45
Joseph Reveals His Identity to Brothers.Chapter 47
Joseph Manages Egypt During Famine; Jacob Blesses Pharaoh.Chapter 49
Jacob's Prophetic Blessings on His Sons.Chapter 50
Jacob's Burial; Joseph Reassures His Brothers.
- Genesis
by Editor - William Robertson Nicoll
Introduction to Genesis
In the British Museum Library there is a folio Latin Bible, published in 1546, which contains marginal notes by various Reformers. In the narrow space above the heading of Genesis two and a half lines have been inserted. The Latin sentence tells us that 'the whole Book of Genesis excels in sweetness all other books and histories'. The German reads: 'There is no more beautiful and more lovable little book'. At the end of the inscription are the initials in Greek letters: 'Ph. M.,' i.e. Philip Melanchthon.
The Book of Genesis
It was on the book of Genesis that Luther delivered his last lectures in the Autumn of 1545. At the conclusion of his lecture on 17 November he said: 'This is the beloved Genesis; God grant that after me it may be better done. I can do no more I am weak. Pray God that He may grant me a good and happy end.' He began no new lectures.
Genesis The Book of Beginnings
The book of Genesis is the book of origins. There is nothing final in this book. The Divine plan of redemption is not fully unfolded, but the first movements in history towards its outworking are clearly revealed. There are three divisions.
I. Generations. In this division there are two sections.
( a ) We have the Bible declaration of the origin of the material universe, and it is one in which faith finds reasonable foundation. The evolutionary process has never been able to discover a link between the highest form of animal life and man; that link is supplied in the affirmation 'God created man in His own image'.
( b ) The relation of man to God and nature was conditioned by a simple and yet perfectly clear command, which indicated the limits of liberty. Man was completed by the bringing to him of one who was of himself, and in whom he found the true complement of his own nature.
II. Degeneration. Everything commences with the individual. Spiritual evil took material form to reach spiritual man through the material side of his being. Moving swiftly upon the degradation of the individual came that of the family. The race moved on, but the shadow of the issue of sin was on the whole of them. This ended in a Divine interference of swift and overwhelming judgment. Out of the devastation a remnant was saved, and human history started forward upon a new basis, as there emerged a new idea of social relationship, that of the nation. The book chronicles the story of the failure of this national idea. Finally, the time of continuity from Shem to Abram is declared.
III. Regeneration. The regeneration of the individual gives us the account of the dealings of God with three men: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this study of the beginnings of the regeneration of the individual the truth is revealed that the one principle through which God is able to operate is that of faith in Himself. Through the sons of Jacob the circle widens, and we see the movement toward the regeneration of the family. Through years God purged the family and society, and in the final verses of the book of Genesis the national idea is seen for a moment as a prophecy and a hope.
G. Campbell Morgan, The Analysed Bible, p. 8.
