CRS 224: The Book of Genesis Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the historical context, literary types, critical methods, and theological themes of the Book of Genesis as outlined in CRS 224.

Genesis

The first book of the Old Testament describing events in the ancient Near East from the beginnings of civilization to the relocation of Jacob’s (Israel’s) family to Egypt.

Biblia

The Greek neuter plural word from which the English word 'Bible' is derived, originating from 'byblos' or 'biblos,' the Greek term for the papyrus reed used to make books.

Septuagint

The Greek version of the Old Testament used in Alexandria and the Hellenistic world which contained the Apocrypha.

Vulgate

The Latin translation of the Bible made by Jerome around A.D. 405.

Apocrypha

Books of 'doubtful' authenticity that were present in the Septuagint but never in the Hebrew Old Testament.

Pseudepigrapha

Meaning 'false writings,' these are non-canonical gospels and epistles that laid claim to authorship by distinguished early churchmen.

Patriarchal Dispensation

The age of family rule and worship where the paternal head acted as prophet, priest, and king, as described in the book of Genesis.

Jewish Dispensation

The stage of divine revelation ushered in with national institutions of worship like the Tabernacle and Temple and the Levitical priesthood.

Christian Dispensation

The current age beginning with the death of Christ, where all Christians are priests and Christ is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Adam

A name literally translated as 'the man.'

Ishah

The Hebrew word for 'woman,' signifying 'she-man' or 'womb-man.'

Eve

A personal name meaning 'life,' designating the mother of all living.

JEDP Documentary Hypothesis

A theory espoused by Julius Wellhausen suggesting Genesis was pieced together from four documentary sources: Jehovist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, and Priestly.

Toledoth

A Hebrew word meaning 'generations,' used as a key to the ten sections of the book of Genesis.

Myth

Stories about the actions of divine beings used to answer knotty questions about life and existence.

Legend

Narratives relating human activities, often with divine involvement, that serve functions like explaining the origin of language (e.g., Tower of Babel).

Report

A brief, third-person narration of a single past event or situation presented without literary embellishment.

Comedy

In literature, a narrative with a happy ending, often involving disguises, mistaken identity, and dramatic reversals, such as the story of Joseph.

Massoretes

Ancient Israelite scribes and recorders who served as the custodians of the sacred Old Testament texts.

Textual Criticism

A method involving the comparison of available manuscripts to discover variants and attempt to arrive at the original wording of scripture.

Form Criticism

A tool that identifies the genres, structures, and settings of narratives to understand their oral, pre-literary stage of development.

Tradition Criticism

The study of the stages through which literature evolved and how beliefs and practices were modified and transmitted across generations.

Cosmogony

The study of the origin of the universe.

Gap Theory

A theory based on a misunderstanding of Gen. 1:1-2 suggesting the world reverted to chaos after initial creation and was then reconstructed.

Yom

The Hebrew word for 'day,' which can refer to a literal 24-hour period or an era, epoch, or age.

Providence

The concept that God continues to sustain and govern the universe even after ceasing creative activities.

Communicable Attributes

Divine attributes shared by humanity because they are created in the image of God, including wisdom, love, justice, and holiness.

Knowledge of Good and Evil

A term expressing moral discernment, moral autonomy, and the ability to be self-legislating.

Atrakhasis Epic

A Babylonian poem concerning the development of man and the beginning of society which includes a flood story.

Theistic Evolution

A view that posits God initiated the evolutionary process.