Page 22 - Masters Sample Courses

Why study the Book of Genesis?

Genesis is the first book in the Bible because it reveals to us who God is, His omnipotent power, and the
revelation of the process of redemption of mankind. It is the book in the bible that lays the foundation
for all other books in the Bible. It gives us God’s mooring for everything else taught in the Word of God.

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Reading Genesis give us an understanding of the Bible’s origins

The word Genesis means “origin”. In it we find the information about the origin of all things. When we
know the origin of something we can understand the meaning for its existence. Further to understand
where we are going – our future, we must understand where we have come from – our past. In Genesis
we find the most accurate and authoritative account of the origin of:

Origin of the universe
The book of Genesis stands alone as an account of the actual creation of the space-mass-time
continuum of the physical universe. Genesis 1:1 is unique in all of literature, science, and philosophy. All
other forms of thought or systems of cosmology start with eternal matter or energy in some form, from
which other entities gradually form through some process. Only the book of Genesis attempts to
account for the ultimate origin of all matter, all space, and all time. It does this uniquely through special
creation.

Origin of order and complexity
As we observe the physical universe we notice that there is order, specificity, and complexity. We also
notice that all systems tend to wind down and move from order to chaos. We observe nothing becoming
more orderly. The tendency is toward decay, disorder, simplicity. Order and complexity never arise
spontaneously; they are always generated by a prior cause programmed to produce such order. The
Primeval Programmer and His programmed purposes are found only in Genesis.

Origin of the solar system
The earth, sun, moon, and stars were brought into being by the Creator in
Genesis. It is ironic that modern scientists and cosmologists are unsuccessful
and attempting to devise plausible naturalistic theories to explain the origin of
the universe and solar system.

Origin of the atmosphere and hydrosphere
The earth is unique in the known universe for its abundance of water and
breathable atmosphere. We find a balance of Oxygen-Nitrogen gaseous atmosphere infused with liquid
water and water vapor. These elements and these concentrations are necessary for the sustenance of
life. It has not developed anywhere in the rest of the known universe. The earth system did not
randomly develop. It was purposefully created just like the rest of the universe.

Origin of life
The question of how living systems could come into existence from nonliving chemicals has always and
will always be a mystery to materialistic philosophers and modern evolutionary scientists. However, the
book of Genesis explains that all matter living and nonliving sprang into existence at the Word of the

1 The outline of the four purposes of Genesis comes from https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/why-
should-you-read-the-book-of-genesis-in-the-bible.html