The book of Genesis is quite possibly my favorite book of the bible. In my opinion, it has a richness that is matched only by the Gospels. I think that what I like most is that the whole of God’s plan is contained in Genesis in seed form. Kind of like the Big Bang, Genesis is the beginning of an expanding universe. The whole plan of salvation is set in motion and the rest of scripture is really an expansion of this plan. 

How to read Genesis

Since we cannot possibly review all the stories in Genesis in this brief blog, it may be more beneficial to outline a few key strategies for understanding Genesis better in our own reading. The first key is to understand that not all of sections of Genesis are written in the same literary style. Genesis is often divided into two sections: Genesis 1-11 and Genesis 12-50. 

Genesis 1-11 forms a type of protohistory about our origins. It is not written as a scientific description of the creation of the universe. Rather, it reveals fundamental truths about core meaning of who we are, sin and the moral order of the universe, and God’s relationship to man. 

This is not to say that the early part of Genesis is not true. It simply means that not every detail is to be pressed to its literal extreme. For instance, Catholics are free to believe that creation took billions of years or just six 24-hour periods as literally stated. On the other hand, the Church holds that a number of key truths are definitively revealed. These include: 1) God created the universe out of nothing (i.e., our universe had a beginning), 2) our souls are directly created by God, 3) creation is good and man is good, 4) a real fall occurred (original sin), 5) we inherited that original sin from our first parent Adam, and 6) that fall damaged the created order and its effects are still felt today. 

Typology

As stated above, Genesis contains God’s plan in seed form. God’s plan is revealed through what scholars refer to as “typology”. Typology is the foreshadowing of truths which will be revealed and fulfilled in Christ. As such, many of the events and characters act as “types” or models which are fulfilled later in scripture. In other words, these characters and events prefigure people and events which come later. 

There are many examples by which typology informs New Testament references.  For instance, Paul seizes on this idea in both Romans and Corinthians while referencing Jesus as the “new Adam”. 

“But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come.” (Romans 5: 14)

“So, too, it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being,” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15: 45)

Another example of typology in Genesis includes the testing of Abraham in which Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son on a mountain (which would later be the site of Jerusalem). In this episode, Isaac carries the wood of the sacrifice on his own back. However, God himself provides the sacrifice, a ram (or male lamb) caught by the horns in a thicket (a crown of thorns). 

Likewise, the story of Joseph in Egypt prefigures his later namesake Saint Joseph. Both are men of dreams. Both must descend into Egypt. Joseph to deliver his family from famine and Saint Joseph to deliver Jesus from Herod. 

An Expanding Covenant

Finally, Genesis should be read as a series of expanding covenants. God creates the earth in Genesis 1-2. By chapter three, the fall of man occurs. God responds with a great promise. Coming forth from the woman will be an offspring who will crush the head of the serpent. This promise is then fulfilled through a series of falls and covenants. 

At each stage the promise expands to more and more people. The initial promise is made to Adam and Eve. Yet, the wickedness of man continues to grow. Cain kills Abel and eventually God brings the great flood. Following the flood, God lays down his bow (in the form of a rainbow) and the promise is extended to a family (Noah and his sons). With Abraham the covenant is extended a tribe along with the promise that Abraham will father a great nation. That great nation will eventually be formed in the book of Exodus and the covenant will be expanded again. This covenant too will be expanded in the New Testament when Jesus creates a new covenant for all the nations. 

The Treasure of Genesis

There are many other examples through which Genesis enlightens all of scripture. I encourage you to go digging for these buried treasures. Please pick up Genesis and read it anew. I believe you will be rewarded with a treasure trove of discoveries.