Genesis
Resources Genesis Commentary, Sermon,
Illustration, Devotional
See
Disclaimer
Updated June, 2012
Summary Chart
of
The Book of Genesis
Focus
Foundation
Events (Four Events)
(Events Predominant)
Foundation
People (Four People)
(People Predominant)
Divisions
Creation
(Ge 1-2)
Fall
(Ge 3-5)
Flood
(Ge 6-9)
Nations
(Ge 10-12)
Abraham's
Faith
(Ge 12-24)
Isaac's
Family
(Ge 25-26)
Jacob's Conflicts
(Ge 27-36)
Joseph's
Calamity
(Ge 37-50)
Topics
Beginning of the
Human Race
(Race As A Whole)
Beginning of the
Hebrew Race
(Family of Abraham)
Faithfulness of
Mankind
(Noah)
Faithfulness of
One Man's Family
(Abraham)
Historical
Biographical
Place
Eastward
From Eden to Ur
Westward
From Canaan to Egypt
Time
~2000+ Years
(20% of Genesis)
(~4004-2090BC)
About 300 Years
193 Yr in Canaan, 93 Yr in Egypt
(80% of Genesis)
(2090-1804BC)
Primeval History
of Humanity
Patriarchal
History
of Israel
Author
Moses
BEGINNINGS
Ge 1:1-25 - The
Universe (Everything)
Ge 1:26-2:25 - The Human Race
Ge 3:1-7 - Sin Enters the World
Ge 3:8-24- God Promises Redemption from Bondage to Sin
Ge 4:1-15 - Family Life
Ge 4:16ff - Civilization
Ge 10:1-11:32 - The Nations of the World
Ge 12:1ff - The Story of Israel and the Jews
Genesis 3–11
contains promises that unfold throughout Scripture. See God's plan
for marriage, His relationship with His people, His judgment of the
wicked, and His salvation of the righteous. (Not dependent on
Genesis Part 1.)
10 weeks, 10 lessons
Becoming The Friend of a Faithful God: A Study of Abraham
Learn principles
and truths from the life of Abraham that will challenge you in your
walk, and give you hope in your future. In the life of Abraham, we
see God's choosing and the further unfolding of His redemptive plan.
We learn more about God's character and His relationship with us in
Abraham's example. Learn how man becomes righteous, how God keeps
His promises, and how God protects those who are His.
6 weeks, 6 lessons (covers Genesis 12–25)
Wrestling With God: A Study of Isaac, Jacob and Esau
God renews the covenant promise to Abraham through the patriarchs
Isaac and Jacob. Their lives become an integral part of the scarlet
thread of redemption that God weaves through all of Scripture and
the source of comfort for us. But two nations arise from Isaac,
descendants of Jacob and Esau. Their struggle continues the story of
God's choice. The lessons we learn for our lives from these men and
their relationship to God can guide our steps of faith.
4 weeks, 4 lessons (covers Genesis 24–36)
Keeping Your Focus When Your Dreams Are Shattered: A Study of Joseph
Have you ever been falsely accused? Or maybe you have suffered
unjustly for something you had no control over. The life of Joseph
is a study on handling extreme situations. What would you be like if
you were the ruler of the world? How would you act if you were
literally a slave? Joseph had to deal with a life of ups and downs,
and his God taught him how to handle them all.
4 weeks, 4 lessons (covers Genesis 37–50)
Note: You can
retrieve more specific references by entering chapter and verse (the
above list reflects a search by chapter). Enter specific query
below...
Some
additional hints: For best results, be as specific as possible.
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You can search by book by typing in the book only (like: John
or Gen. standard abbreviations are accepted).
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You can also search by chapter like: John 1 or Gen. 2
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You can also search by simple or
complex references like:
James 1:2 or Hebrews 1:1-3,6; 5:4
Biblical Art
Related to Genesis
Hint: Hold
pointer over Scripture for description of the Art
My comments on
Clarke's commentary - "Clarke (1760-1832) was
Methodist, Wesleyan,
Arminian, (e.g.,
Clarke "suggested that although God can know all future events,
He
chooses not to know some events beforehand" Baker Encyclopedia of
the Bible, page 808). He did not always interpret Scripture
literally
and so was amillennial (to quote Clarke on 1000 years - "I am
satisfied that this period should not be taken literally" [see
comment on Rev 20:4]
- he
interpreted Revelation as a
Historicist) which led him to
interpret the church as fulfilling many OT promises to Israel.
He was influential in development of doctrine of Entire Sanctification (or
"Christian perfection").
Clarke did affirm the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, but held a
belief of "plenary dynamic inspiration" (idea of every
thought inspired), thus falling short of "plenary verbal
inspiration" (every single word inspired) (Bib. Sacra: Vol 125, p
163, 1968). In summary, a useful, respected commentary but as with
all extra-Biblical resources you are advised to
"Be a Berean!" Acts
17:11
C H Spurgeon
adds that "Adam Clarke is the great annotator of our Wesleyan
friends; and they have no reason to be ashamed of him, for he
takes rank among the chief of expositors. His mind was evidently
fascinated by the singularities of learning, and hence his
commentary is rather too much of an old curiosity shop, but it
is filled with valuable rarities, such as none but a great man
could have collected. Like
Gill,
he is one-sided, only in the opposite direction to our friend
the Baptist. The use of the two authors may help to preserve the
balance of your judgments. If you consider Clarke wanting in
unction, do not read him for savor but for criticism, and then
you will not be disappointed. The author thought that lengthy
reflections were rather for the preacher than the commentator,
and hence it was not a part of his plan to write such
observations as those which endear Matthew Henry to the million.
If you have a copy of Adam Clarke, and exercise discretion in
reading it, you will derive immense advantage from it, for
frequently by a sort of side-light he brings out the meaning of
the text in an astonishingly novel manner. I do not wonder that
Adam Clarke still stands, notwithstanding his peculiarities, a
prince among commentators. I do not find him so helpful as Gill,
but still, from his side of the question, with which I have
personally no sympathy, he is an important writer, and deserves
to be studied by every reader of the Scriptures. He very
judiciously says of Dr. Gill, “He was a very learned and good
man, but has often lost sight of his better judgment in
spiritualizing the text;” this is the very verdict which we pass
upon himself, only altering the last sentence a word or two; “He
has often lost sight of his better judgment in following learned
singularities;” the monkey, instead of the serpent, tempting
Eve, is a notable instance."
(Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
Steven Cole Sermons on Genesis
Excellent Resource
Virtually Verse by Verse
More than 900 pages of in depth preaching
functions almost like a commentary
Commentary
Critical and Explanatory
on the Whole Bible - Genesis
Robert Jamieson
A. R. Fausset
David Brown
James
Rosscup writes that "This is a helpful old set of 1863 for laypeople
and pastors to have because it usually comments at least to some
degree on problems. Though terse, it provides something good on
almost any passage, phrase by phrase and is to some degree
critical in nature. It is evangelical....Especially in its
multi-volume form this is one of the old evangelical works that
offers fairly solid though brief help on many verses" (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Arno C.
Gaebelein Commentary on Genesis
From the Annotated Bible
James Rosscup writes that "This dispensationally oriented work is
not verse-by-verse, but deals with the exposition on a broader scale,
treating blocks of thought within the chapters. Cf. also Arno C.
Gaebelein, Gaebelein’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (I
Volume, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux, 1985), the Annotated Bible revised. The
author was a popular evangelical Bible teacher of the first part of
the century, much like H. A. Ironside in his diligent but broad,
practical expositions of Bible books. Gaebelein was premillennial and
dispensational, and editor for many years of Our Hope Magazine."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
C
H Spurgeon -- "Beyond all controversy,
John Gill was one of the most
able
Hebraists of his day, and in
other matters no mean proficient...His great work on the Holy
Scriptures is greatly prized at the present day by the best
authorities, which is conclusive evidence of its value, since the set
of the current of theological thought is quite contrary to that of Dr.
Gill. No one in these days is likely to be censured for his
Arminianism, but most modern
divines affect to sneer at anything a little too highly Calvinistic (see
Calvinism): however, amid the decadence of his own
rigid system, and the disrepute of even more moderate Calvinism,
Gill’s laurels as an expositor are still green. His ultraism is
discarded, but his learning is respected: the world and the church
take leave to question his dogmatism, but they both bow before his
erudition. Probably no man since Gill’s days has at all equaled him in
the matter of Rabbinical learning. Say what you will about that
lore, it has its value: of course, a man has to rake among perfect
dunghills and dust-heaps, but there are a few jewels which the
world could not afford to miss. Gill was a master cinder-sifter among
the
Targums, the
Talmuds, the
Mishnah, and the
Gemara. Richly did he deserve the
degree of which he said, “I never bought it, nor thought it, nor
sought it.”
He was
always at work; it is difficult to say when he slept, for he wrote
10,000 folio pages of theology. The portrait of him which belongs to
this church, and hangs in my private vestry, and from which all the
published portraits have been engraved, represents him after an
interview with an Arminian gentleman, turning up his nose in a most
expressive manner, as if he could not endure even the smell of
free-will. In some such a vein he wrote his commentary. He hunts
Arminianism
throughout the whole of it. He is far from being so interesting and
readable as Matthew Henry. He delivered his comments to his people
from Sabbath to Sabbath, hence their peculiar mannerism. His frequent
method of animadversion (a critical and usually censorious remark) is,
“This text does not mean this,” nobody ever thought it did; “It does
not mean that,” only two or three heretics ever imagined it did; and
again it does not mean a third thing, or a fourth, or a fifth, or a
sixth absurdity; but at last he thinks it does mean so-and-so, and
tells you so in a methodical, sermon-like manner. This is an easy
method, gentlemen, of filling up the time, if you are ever short of
heads for a sermon. Show your people firstly, secondly, and thirdly,
what the text does not mean, and then afterwards you can go back and
show them what it does mean. It may be thought, however, that one such
a teacher is enough, and that what was tolerated from a learned doctor
would be scouted in a student fresh from college. For good, sound,
massive, sober sense in commenting, who can excel Gill? Very seldom
does he allow himself to be run away with by imagination, except now
and then when he tries to open up a parable, and finds a meaning in
every circumstance and minute detail; or when he falls upon a text
which is not congenial with his creed, and hacks and hews terribly to
bring the word of God into a more systematic shape. Gill is the
Coryphaeus (the leader of the Greek chorus and thus the leader of any
movement) of
Hyper-Calvinism, but if his
followers never went beyond their master, they would not go very far
astray." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
James Rosscup adds that "Gill (1697–1771), a pastor of England,
wrote these which are two-column pages, ca. 900–1,000 pages per
volume, Originally they were 9 volumes, folio. He also wrote Body of
Divinity, 3 volumes, and several other volumes. His commentary is
evangelical, wrestles with texts, is often wordy and not to the point
but with worthy things for the patient who follow the ponderous detail
and fish out slowly what his interpretation of a text is. He feels the
thousand years in Revelation 20 cannot begin until after the
conversion of the Jews and the bringing in of the fullness of the
Gentiles and destruction of all anti-Christian powers (volume 6, p.
1063) but in an amillennial sense of new heavens and new earth coming
right after Christ’s second advent (pp1064–65), and the literal
thousand years of binding at the same time. He feels the group that
gathers against the holy city at the end of the thousand years is the
resurrected wicked dead from the four quarters of the earth (i.e. from
all the earth, etc. (1067)."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
W H
Griffith-Thomas Genesis: A Devotional
Commentary London:
Religious Tract Society - 1909 Recommended Read
James Rosscup rates this as the #1 devotional commentary on
Genesis. Rosscup writes "the notes by W. H. Griffith-Thomas...will
be a warm devotional help...This work is good in tracing the argument
and showing connections between chapters. It is usually quite good
devotionally and gives suggestions for meditation at the ends of the
chapters. Applications are often usable. It is an excellent book to
put into the hands of a layman who is not ready to grapple with the
minutia of exegesis, but who is serious about his Bible study. It is
also good for the preacher and teacher. Since it is out of print,
readers must search in other places for it."
Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on Genesis See also
separate commentary
by Franz Delitzsch above
James
Rosscup writes that "This is the best older, overall treatment of
a critical nature on the Old Testament Hebrew text verse by
verse and is a good standard work to buy. The student can buy
parts or the whole of this series. Sometimes it is evangelical,
at other times liberal ideas enter." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
C
H Spurgeon writes that The Pictorial Bible is "A work
of art as well as learning" adding that if one "cannot
visit the Holy Land, it is well for you that there is a work
like the Pictorial Bible, in which the notes of the most
observant travelers are arranged under the texts which they
illustrate. For the geography, zoology, botany, and manners and
customs of Palestine, this will be your counselor and guide." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
This resource is in one sense somewhat antiquated, but in
another sense is timeless with well numerous done illustrations
that make the text spring off the page when you read words like
"balm
of Gilead (pix)". It's pages beckon the reader to
tarry a moment and peruse the interesting comments on subjects
that might otherwise be quite foreign to readers of a western
culture and mindset.
James
Rosscup notes that "In this very thorough, monumental work on Genesis,
the author is conservative and uses the original Hebrew
constantly. He considers carefully most major truths of the book
and uses the grammatical-historical method. This is one of the
most valuable works to have on Genesis. It came out originally
in 1942."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Rosscup rates Leupold's commentary as the fifth best detailed exegetical
commentary of all time on the book of Genesis. Be aware that Leupold is
amillennial.
Mackintosh, a Plymouth
Brethren, was a gifted teacher and writer. D L Moody said that "it
was C. H. Mackintosh who had the greatest influence" upon his
learning of the Word of God. One of his most respected works was
Notes on the Pentateuch.
Further biographical Note
- Another format -
Genesis 1-15
;
Genesis 16-50
James
Rosscup has a relevant note on Mackintosh's work on the Pentateuch
writing that "This
is a one-volume edition of an old evangelical devotional work (Genesis
to Deuteronomy, Notes on the Pentateuch). It has
some value at times, especially for lay readers, yet is not to the
point as much with pertinent material as W. H. Griffith-Thomas on the
Pentateuch (also old) and John Sailhamer’s recent introductory survey." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Alexander Maclaren Sermons on Genesis
Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL)
James
Rosscup writes that "This evangelical work is both homiletical
and expository and is often very good homiletically but weaker
otherwise. Helpful in discussing Bible characters, it is weak in
prophecy at times because of allegorization. It is not really as
valuable today as many other sets for the serious Bible student.
The expositions are in the form of sermons.." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Miscellaneous
Resources on Genesis Conservative, Evangelical
Query below to search
for articles in more than 29 conservative Theological Journals - An
annual $50
fee (click
here) is required to view the entire article but will
give you access to literally thousands of conservative
articles.
Galaxie Software
Retrieves articles
that mention the queried Scripture in either the title or the body
of the article
Defender's Study Bible
- Excellent,
conservative, literal study Bible notes from a leading Creationist. In
the box labeled "Book" select "Whole Bible" - Enter book name and chapter
and click enter or advanced search. Books that begin with a number (eg.
1, 2 Timothy, etc) must have a space between the number
and name (e.g., "2 Timothy 1" retrieves study notes but "2Timothy 1"
returns no study notes). Searches of first chapter of any book will
retrieve Dr Morris' introductory comments on that book. E.g. Gal 1
retrieves introductory notes and several notes on specific verses but
does not retrieve all notes on Gal 1 (only notes through verse 6) - if
looking for notes on a specific verse enter chap/verse (e.g., enter
Gal 1:7) to see if there is a note (not all verses have notes).
Comment:
This online resource allows one to view both the MacArthur Study Bible
Notes & ESV Study Bible Notes at the same time & both synchronize with
the Scripture! Very nice tool but note that purchase is required.
Includes online ESV audio version.
Crossway Publishing
Holman Christian
Standard Bible -Study Bible(HCSB Study
Bible)- Enter Scripture.
Study notes synch with Scripture. Mouse over underlined words pops up
the Greek or Hebrew word. Activate this feature by selecting the
"Alpha & Omega" Icon on bar above the Scripture. The HCSB is a very
well done, literal translation.
Holman Publishing
NET Study Bible-
Excellent
resource, includes NETBible notes and Thomas Constable's
notes that synchronize with the Scriptures.
Genesis - Article
Collection - 1250 pages total
-
There are
excellent articles
from renowned theological journals - they can be downloaded in toto
(13MB), in 4 parts or as individual articles. Click the link and
scroll down for titles of the articles
The Book of Genesis -
Commentary
"The Book of
Genesis and Part of the Book of Exodus is a thorough and excellent
commentary on the first book of Moses, and the first twenty-five
chapters of Exodus. A verse-by-verse examination of the Scripture,
this volume by one of the 19th century’s best theologians is
illuminating and comprehensive in its erudition of history, language,
translation, and interpretation of Genesis and Exodus." (Logos.com)
Genesis - Commentary
(1854)
"This solid,
fifty-chapter anthology of Cumming’s sermons on the book of Genesis
provides an in-depth look into the first book of Moses, colored with
Cumming’s astute commentary and perceptive insight." (Logos.com)
The Book of Genesis with introduction and notes
Rosscup
notes that "Driver was a careful scholar and aids the expositor in
understanding the meanings of difficult phrases...(in his critique of
Driver on Exodus Rosscup adds that he has) helpful comments on matters
of historical background and word meanings. It helps on problems,
though Driver was liberal." (Ibid)
Genesis Commentary in the Lange SeriesRosscup notes that "The treatments of books within this
evangelical set vary in importance. Generally, one finds a wealth of
detailed commentary, background, and some critical and exegetical
notes. Often, however, there is much excess verbiage that does not
help particularly. On the other hand, it usually has something to
assist the expositor on problems and is a good general set for pastors
and serious lay people though it is old." (Ibid)
Genesis - A Critical and
Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Genesis, with a new translation
(1867)Rosscup comments on
Murphy's style in his commentary on Exodus "This old evangelical work
of 591 pp. has some value at times for pastors, but so many works are
superior. Murphy gives only his own comments, and only now and then
any special help. The old writing style slows reading and takes longer
to get to a point. Comments often point in a good direction but
brevity hampers." (Ibid)
G Campbell Morgan
(1863–1948)
The Analyzed Bible - Genesis
James
Rosscup writes that "Morgan was an evangelical master at
surveying a book and giving its message within a brief compass. He
introduces each book with a chart giving an analysis and synthesis.
Revell put it out in a one-volume form in 1959..., and it is adequate
to have the one-volume work, since Morgan is broad in his treatment
anyway." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
As an
aside G Campbell Morgan would read the book from which he
planned to preach as many as 40 times till its related parts became
clear in sections and paragraphs! Little wonder he was able to
honestly entitle his work "The Analyzed Bible"!
Net Bible Notes Commentary
Opens Chapter 1
Type in other chapters in "Display Bible" (upper left)
The NET Bible Notes
have occasional "nuggets of gold" - e.g., Ge 3:16 and Ge 4:7
use the same Hebrew noun teshuqah (Strong's #
08669)
which is translated "desire". Read the interesting
Net Note {scroll down}
on Ge 3:16 (also note how NET version is translated!) for an
interesting insight (cp Ge 4:7
Net Note),
with which you may or may not agree! The Net Bible Note
references an article by
Susan Foh - What is the
Woman’s Desire?
which does require an annual
$50
fee (click
here) to view the entire article but gives
you access to literally thousands of conservative articles. I
use these journals continually when doing my verse by verse
commentaries.
These are more technical
notes on the New English Translation, but often yield some very useful
insights. The NET Bible is synchronized with the NET Notes,
Constable's Commentary, relevant articles on the Bible.org website and
10 parallel translations.
Here are some basic instructions on how to use the
free online NETBible Notes
-
First click this link
(you may want
to open in a new window to follow the instructions - Hold you
pointer over
this link
and click your Right Mouse button to open menu - choose "Open in
New Window"). First notice that at the top there a tab or box
labeled "Matthew 1".
Click the down arrow
on the left side, select book and then the chapter of
interest. The Scripture opens to that Book and Chapter and the
NETBible Notes automatically synch with the Scripture. Note that
instead of the NETBible notes you can select Constable's Notes
which also automatically synch as you scroll down the NETBible
Scriptures. Click on the Grk/Heb tab and
hold your pointer over the Greek
(or Hebrew) words to highlight the English word in the NETBible (or
hold pointer over the English word to see the corresponding
Greek/Hebrew word).
The Articles tab
also synchronizes with the NETBible and retrieves articles found at
Bible.org that mention the NETBible verse you are studying
(articles open in a new window). You can
increase or decrease the font
size by holding down
your Control Key and scrolling your Mouse wheel up or down. Now
double click
on a word like "Abraham" in 1:2 and
note that you have a choice to view one of several
dictionary articles
on Abraham. Notice also that when you click on Abraham, the
Articles tab automatically looks up articles that contain the
specific chapter/verse associated with the name you clicked (in
this case the Articles tab synchs with Mt 1:2NET). The Names tab gives brief descriptions of
names (persons and places) mentioned in the text (Interesting!)
Finally, click the "Parallel" tab to compare 10 different Bible
translations! There is more but this should get you started!
DISCLAIMER: Before you "go to the commentaries"
go to the Scriptures and study them inductively (Click for 3 part overview of
Inductive
Bible Study) in dependence on your Teacher, the
Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would
guide us into all the truth (John 16:13).
Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture. Any
commentary, even those by the most conservative and orthodox teacher/preachers
cannot help but have at least some bias of the expositor based upon his training
and experience. Therefore the inclusion of specific links does not indicate that
we agree with every comment. We have made a sincere effort to select only the
most conservative, "bibliocentric" commentaries. Should you discover some
commentary or sermon you feel may not be orthodox, please email your concern. I
have removed several links in response to concerns by discerning readers. I
recommend that your priority be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that
with practice you will have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from
evil (note
Hebrews 5:14).
