Page 19 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

the same race. Genesis also clearly explains the formation of distinct people groups or nations. This is
accurate to what we observe today.

M. Origin of religion
There are many religions in the world today and all share the common idea that there is a consciousness
greater than or outside ourselves, some unifying truth or ultimate reality that we should strive to
maintain. Many are organized but some are fragmented and disorganized, yet they all find the need to
somehow worship something greater than themselves. Genesis clearly describes where this knowledge
or connection with a greater consciousness comes from and who that greater one is that deserves honor
and praise.

N. Origin of the chosen people
Israelites – a unique and peculiar nation that existed under persecution from every corner of the globe
for nearly 1900 years. They gave the world the bible, birthed Christianity, rejected Christianity, and
contributed significantly to the world’s art, music, science, finance, etc. and yet has been despised and
rejected by many. They are a small nation that finds themselves at the crossroads and in the crosshairs
of so many of the world’s nations on so many issues. This can only be explained and understood in light
of the account of the rise of the Israelites in Genesis.

The book of Genesis is really the foundation of all true history, true science, and true philosophy. It is
the foundation of God’s revelation to mankind, as given in the Bible. No other book of the Bible is
quoted as copiously or referred to so frequently in other books of the Bible as Genesis.

In the old Testament, Adam is mentioned by name in Deut., Job, 1Chron., and Noah is mentioned in
1Chron., Isaiah, and Ezekiel. Abraham is mentioned by name in 15 books of the old testament and
eleven of the new testament. Jacob is named in twenty books (other than Genesis) of the old testament
and in at least 17 of the new testament. In a special sense every mention of the nation of Israel is an
acknowledgement of their foundation in Genesis. Apart from Genesis, there is no explanation for the
nation of Israel, nor consequently for all of the rest of the New Testament.

The New Testament is even more dependent on Genesis than the Old Testament. There are at least 165
passages in Genesis that are either directly quoted or clearly referred to in the New Testament. Many of
these are alluded to more than one so that there are at least 200 quotations or allusions to Genesis in
the New Testament.

It is significant, that the portion of Genesis which has been the object of the greatest attacks of
skepticism and unbelief, the first 11 chapters, is the portion which has the greatest influence on the New
Testament. Yet there exist over one hundred quotations or direct references to Genesis 1-11 in the New
Testament. Further, every one of these chapters is alluded to somewhere in the New Testament, and
every one of the New Testament authors refers somewhere in his writing to Genesis 1-11. On at least 6
different occasions, Jesus Christ, Himself quoted from or referred to something or someone in one of
these chapters, including specific references to each of the first seven chapters.

Further, there is not one instance where these New Testament writers referring to Genesis give even
the slightest evidence that they regard the events or persons as mere myths or allegories. Instead, they
viewed Genesis as absolutely historical, true and authoritative.

“It is quite impossible to reject the historicity and divine authority of Genesis without undermining and
in effect repudiating the authority of the entire Bible. If the first Adam was only an allegory, then by all
logic so is the second Adam. If man did not really fall into sin from his created state of innocence, there
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