Genesis Record

M. Morris Henry

Description

Written by a creationist scientist as a narrative exposition rather than a critical verse-by-verse analysis, this unique commentary on the whole book of Genesis is equally useful to both the theologically trained and the layperson.

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 16 décembre 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781585580415
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

© 1976 by Henry M. Morris
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-58558-041-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Foreword

Although there are more than twenty commentaries on Genesis currently in print, there is a unique need for this one. So far as is known, this is the only commentary on the complete Book of Genesis written by a creationist scientist. Clearly, it takes such a scientist, as well as a writer with Biblical and theological acumen, to understand and expound this book of beginnings in depth.
In fact, if a Christian worker desires to develop a commentary shelf on Genesis for his library, he would do well to begin with this one. A reader usually merely consults a commentary, but this volume tempts one to read it at length. It is written as a narrative exposition rather than as a critical verse by verse analysis (although discussions of all important historical and scientific problems are woven into the narrative); hence it is difficult to lay it down.
Dr. Morris writes from the conviction that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are as truly historical as the remaining thirty-nine. This conclusion is not based simply on faith, but on many years of study of the scientific aspects of the Genesis records and of the interchange of ideas with many other scientists, both creationists and evolutionists. Since he and many of his colleagues are convinced that the earth and universe are young, rather than billions of years old, he advocates a tight chronology in expounding Genesis. In handling the account of the worldwide Noahic Flood, the author draws on his studies in hydrology and geology, in addition to his years of teaching hydraulic engineering.
The fact that Dr. Morris has not received formal theological training does not hinder him from handling the Biblical and theological implications effectively. There is evidence of wide reading and Bible study in depth. He has taught adult and college Bible classes regularly for over thirty years. One will also find many applications to the Christian life, with unusual insight into human character.
A thorough understanding of the Book of Genesis is necessary if one is to understand the rest of sacred Scripture. In this book, the reader is conducted by a capable guide through these important corridors of earth history.
Arnold D. Ehlert
Contents

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Foreword
Testimony and Introduction
PART ONE INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS
1. The Book of Beginnings
The Foundation of History
Who Wrote Genesis?
Principles of Interpretation
Anticipation of Eternity
PART TWO GOD AND THE WORLD HE MADE
2. The Creation of the World (Genesis 1:1-2)
Foundation of Foundations
The First Verse
The Date of Creation
The Gap Theory
The Second Verse
3. The Six Days of Creation (Genesis 1:3–2:3)
The Day-Age Theory
A Tent to Dwell In
Living Creatures
The Completed Creation
4. The Creation of Man (Genesis 2)
The Geography of Eden
The Moral Choice
Man and the Animals
Flesh of His Flesh
5. The Fall of Man (Genesis 3)
That Old Serpent
The First Human Sin
The Bondage of Decay
Paradise Lost
6. The Lost World (Genesis 4–5)
The Blood of Righteous Abel
The Way of Cain
The Line of the Promised Seed
The Amazing Case of Enoch
7. The Days of Noah (Genesis 6)
The Sons of God
Filled with Violence
Noah’s Ark
The Provision of God and the Obedience of Noah
8. The Great Flood (Genesis 7–8)
The Last Days of the Old World
Overflowed with Water
After the Deluge
The New World
9. The New World (Genesis 9)
The Establishment of Human Government
The Rainbow Covenant
The Sons of Noah
The Noahic Prophecy
10. God and the Nations (Genesis 10–11)
The Table of Nations
The Days of Peleg
The Tower of Babel
The Generations of Terah
PART THREE THE CHOSEN NATION
11. The Call of Abraham (Genesis 12–13)
A New Nation
Abraham in Egypt
Lot’s Sad Choice
The World of Abraham
12. The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 14–17)
The Northeastern Kings
Melchizedek
The Word of the Lord
Ishmael and the Arabs
An Everlasting Covenant
13. Fire from Heaven (Genesis 18–20)
Angels Unaware
Lot in the Gates of Sodom
Remember Lot’s Wife
Sarah and the Philistines
14. The Child of Promise (Genesis 21–23)
The Birth of Isaac
Sacrifice of the Beloved
Sand and Stars
The Death of Sarah
15. Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24–26)
Search for a Bride
Sons of Abraham
The Birthright
Isaac Versus the Philistines
16. The Mystery of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27–28)
How Could God Love Jacob?
The Blessing and the Tears
The Flight of Jacob
Stairway to Heaven
17. Jacob and Laban (Genesis 29–31)
Jacob’s Love Life
The Sons of Jacob
Spotted and Speckled
Heading for Home
18. Jacob in Canaan (Genesis 32–36)
Wrestling with God
Encounter with Esau
Dinah and the Canaanites
Return to Bethel
The Generations of Esau
19. The Testing of Joseph (Genesis 37–39)
The Coat of Many Colors
Rejected by His Brethren
Judah
Potiphar’s Wife
20. The Exaltation of Joseph (Genesis 40–41)
The Butler and the Baker
Pharaoh’s Dream
Second in the Kingdom
The Sons of Joseph
21. Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 42–45)
Famine in the Land
Joseph and Benjamin
The Plea of Judah
They Will See Him
22. Israel in Egypt (Genesis 46–50)
The Children of Israel
Prosperity in Egypt
The Last Days of Jacob
Prophecies of the Twelve Tribes
A Coffin in Egypt
APPENDIXES
1. Annotated Bibliography: Recommended Books
2. Chronology of the Patriarchs in Genesis
3. Chronology of Important Events in Genesis
4. Quotations from or Allusions to Genesis in the N.T.
5. The Universality of the Deluge
6. “First Mentions” of Important Biblical Words in Genesis
7. The Table of Nations According to Genesis 10
8. The Post-Diluvian World
9. The Land of the Patriarchs
10. The Twelve Tribes of Israel
INDEXES
1. Index of Subjects
2. Index of Scripture References
Notes
Back Cover
Testimony and Introduction

I first read the wonderful Book of Genesis fifty years ago, as a small boy. My mother had given me a Bible and, not knowing any better, I began to read on page 1. The great themes of Creation, the Fall, the Deluge, and the Dispersion, along with the absorbing stories of Abraham and the other patriarchs, all made a deep impression on a little boy’s mind.
I had been taught from earliest days that the Bible was God’s Word, and it never occurred to me in those childhood days to doubt any of these stories. Years later, however, the evolutionary teachings in college (Rice University), combined with years of lukewarm teaching in church and Sunday school during junior and high school years, left me with many questions. Consequently, I soon became what would now be called a theistic evolutionist. The great Creation and Flood stories could hardly be taken literally any more, and the tales of the patriarchs apparently had many legendary embellishments over their hidden core of facts. I practically stopped reading the Bible altogether during those college years, though I was still fairly regular in church attendance.
I had trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation as a very small boy, however, even before starting to school, and He would never allow one of His little ones to perish (John 10:27-30; Matthew 18:10-14). After graduating from college, a combination of influences—starting to attend an evangelical church, joining the Gideons, hearing the World War II edition of Irwin Moon’s Sermons from Science , and, most of all, starting to read the Bible again—eventually led me back to confidence in the full truth of God’s Word.
Returning to Houston later to teach at Rice gave the opportunity of trying to witness to college students concerning their need for Christ. These were intelligent students, most of them majors in science and engineering, and I quickly discovered that the same old questions that had troubled me (as well as several questions I had never thought of) were also hindering many others from believing. Central to all these problems was the question of the reliability of Scripture, especially the Book of Genesis. If Genesis were not historically trustworthy, then simple logic showed that neither was the rest of the Bible, including its testimony about Christ.
Thus began a study of the scientific and historical accuracy of Genesis—a study which has engaged much of my interest for the past thirty years and more. Not only did this open numerous opportunitities for discussing questions related to Creation and early history, but also for pointing out to many the wonderful ways of God with man, especially His provision of salvation through Christ. The Bible became a living, exciting book, and God a very present help. What God planned and promised and prepared in Genesis, He accomplished and perfected in the coming of Christ, and is now, today, applying and fulfilling in the lives of those who believe His Word.
Over the years since that time, I have had many occasions to teach the Book of Genesis—I would estimate a total of eight times. Each time is more exciting and instructive than the time before. The Book of Genesis is no mere collection of myths and legends; it is the actual, factual record of real events and real people at the beginning of history. Neither is the Book of Genesis merely a tedious scientific or theological treatise; it is an intimate diary of some of th