Creation and Blessing:

An Overview of Genesis

I. Genesis is divine REVELATION.

II. Genesis is the beginning of the biblical STORYLINE.

III. Genesis is masterfully written LITERATURE.

Outline of Genesis

1. 1. 1. 1. The Creation (1:1-2:3)
         2. The Second Chaos: Man’s Fall and Its Results (2:4-4:26)
         3. The Reign of Sin and Death (5:1-6:8)
         4. The Flood: De-creation and Re-creation (6:9-9:29)
         5. The Nations: Cursed, Confused, Scattered (10:1-11:9)
         6. The Beginning of God’s Blessing for the World (11:10-26) 
         7. The Promise of Blessing to Abraham and Seed (11:27-25:11)
         8. The Dealings of God with Ishmael (25:12-18)
         9. The Development of the Promise Through Abraham’s Seed (25:19-35:29)
         10. The Dealings of God with Esau (twice) (36:1-8; 36:9-37:1)
         11. The Preservation and Prospering of the Promise Through Abraham’s Seed (37:2-50:26).

This structure points us to the theme and purpose of the book.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Theme: Creation and Blessing
            2. Purpose: To show how God worked through covenant blessings to restore the creation blessing. In other words, Genesis reveals how God related to a particular people with the goal of undoing the curse of human sin and blessing the world.