Who wrote the Book of Genesis?

WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF GENESIS? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its Hebrew name "Bereshit" that translates "in the beginning" is synonymous with its position as the first text of Scripture. The Book is a Scripture cannon of doctrine for the Hebrew and Christian faiths. 

The Book conveys the foundational teachings on the original of man, his disobedience and fall and its consequences. It also records a series of God's dealings with the Hebrew patriarchs and the founders of the nation of Israel - Jacob and his sons - and their relationship with their Canaanite neighbors. 

A significant portion of the Book is therefore dedicated to Jacob's family including their Egyptian experience. The Book concludes with the deaths of Jacob and Joseph who are the two prominent characters of the Book. 

The author of the Book of Genesis is not mentioned in any of its passages of Scripture. As a result, many speculative suggestions have been advanced on the identity of the author.  

Hebrew tradition assigns the authorship of Genesis to Moses who is also believed to have written the rest of the five books that constitute the Hebrew Pentateuch. Some modern Bible scholars have however disputed this tradition on the basis of theological evidence that they have gathered. They contend that the Book was written long after the death of Moses. I am persuaded by the latter view. For instance, Deuteronomy 34 describes the death of Moses. He could not have been its author. It may be safe to consider that sections of the Pentateuch Scriptures including Genesis may have been authored by Moses but some of the Books may have been written and compiled by unidentified authors who succeeded Moses.

Of significance however is the general view that the text of Genesis was inspired by the Holy Spirit and its canonical authority is not open to dispute. 

The covenants recorded in Genesis are significant to the future of Israel. They affirm that God works through the history of mankind in relating with  His covenant people and punishing the wicked. It is instructive that three major judgements are recorded in Genesis. The judgment of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) the flood of Noah (Genesis 7-8) and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-29). 

Three major covenants involving the patriarchs are also captured in Genesis - the covenants of Noah (Genesis 9), Abraham (Genesis 15) and Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22).

The Book is is structured under 50 chapters. It is theologically classified under the narrative genre. Genesis is thematically identified with the fall of man and the divine promise for Israel that permeates through God's dealings with the patriarchs as reported in the Book.

Some covenant theologians have argued that the promise of Israel's election was partially fulfilled under Israel's nation-state and that the eschatological portion remains to be fulfilled in the redemption and resurrection of the church and the eternal kingdom under Christ. They consider that natural Israel has passed and that the church is the new Israel will be unveiled at the coming of Christ. Dispensationalism theologians however consider God's dealing with Israel as a nation-state to be a distinct theological phenomenon that is separate from God's dealing with the church under the new covenant. 

The Book of Genesis finds fulfillment in the redemption works of Christ at the cross where the curse of Adam was reversed. The forbidden tree in Genesis mirrors the tree of life in Revelation 21 which will be available to the redeemed of Christ in their eternal state.

No matter who the writer(s) of Genesis were, the works they put together were undoubtedly part of God's revelation to sinful man and the preamble to God's calling of lost men to Himself that was ultimately fulfilled in Christ's calling in His gospel recorded in the New Testament Scripture (John 3:16-17). The ultimate author of Genesis and other texts of the cannon of Scripture was the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2022