Genesis

The book of beginnings

Genesis tells of the creation of the world, the fall, the flood and the origin of the nations, and then the story of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It ends with Jacob’s family living in Egypt.

Historical context

Jewish and Christian tradition attributes the first five books of the Bible to Moses. Many scholars think they gathered older traditions and reached their final form around the exile and after it (6th–5th centuries BC).

Explanation

Best-known passages

Creation (ch. 1–2)
Adam, Eve and the fall (ch. 3)
Noah and the flood (ch. 6–9)
The Tower of Babel (ch. 11)
The call of Abraham (ch. 12)
Joseph in Egypt (ch. 37–50)