Genesis

Timelines

The book of Genesis commences approximately 4000BC and covers the first 22 generations of the patriarchs from creation to the death of Jacob. This spans a period of approximately 2250 years, longevity and age of male parent at time of birth are detailed in the genealogies presented mainly in Genesis 5 and Genesis 10 & 11, with additional data with respect to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob appearing in the general text.
This same genealogical order also appears in Luke 3:34-38 as part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

The following chart summarises the data presented.

Timeline in Years from Creation

Creation

Genesis 1-2, gives details over a seven day period, with six says of creation by God followed by a seventh day of rest:-

Day 1.           Light.
Day 2.           Heaven.
Day 3.           Land divided from the sea. Plant life.
Day 4.     Sun, Moon and Stars.
Day 5.           Marine, Bird, and Insect life.
Day 6.           Land Animals and Man
Day 7.           God rested.

Creation doctrine is consistent throughout both the Old and New Testament, for example in the NT Hebrews 4:4 God did rest the seventh day from all his works

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The first man was called Adam, and Genesis 2 details the creation of Eve from his rib. They are described as inhabiting an area in the Middle East which is often termed ‘The Garden of Eden’.

The Fall of Man

Genesis 3, details the fall of man.
Man is allowed by God to eat of the fruit of any tree within the garden with the exception of ‘the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ in the midst of the garden.
The penalty for consumption of the fruit of this tree had been stated to be death.
The serpent questions Eve’s obedience to this law, stating Genesis 3:4-5 Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

These ideas sown in Eve’s mind bring temptation and thence sin:- Genesis 3:6 when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Temptation is defined James:- 1:14-15 every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Sin is defined:- 1 John 3:4 sin is the transgression of the law.

When questioned by God, Adam attempts to blame Eve, and Eve the serpent for their sin.
However God holds all three parties responsible for their actions:- Genesis 3:14-19 the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Paul referring to the curse on the woman, states:- 1 Timothy 2:12-15 I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Solomon discussing the curse of death on man:- Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

The curse on the serpent given above in Genesis 3:15, can be taken in reference to the work of Jesus Christ.
The NT states that He was God’s son conceived by Mary through divine intervention; thus occupying the position of the seed of the woman. As a human being, He was tempted like Adam and Eve, but overcame those temptations, quoting and applying God’s law to achieve this; thus bruising the serpent in the head.
However being of Adam’s nature and consequently under the curse He had to die; thus being bruised in the heel.

James 1:14-15 quoted above defines ‘temptation’.
We are told Jesus was tempted in exactly the same way as other humans:- Hebrews 4:14-15 we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
An illustration of His temptations are given in the Gospel records, together with quotations that he uses to guide Him in actions he should take:- Matthew 4:1-10 Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus disputing with the Jewish leaders of His era states that they are of the serpents’ seed:- John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Jesus Himself is equated with Adam, being the first in what is termed a ‘new creation’.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:45-47 so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The first man is of the earth,earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:18-19 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.