Genesis: Creation, Covenant, and the Patriarchs

Genesis: Creation, Covenant, and the Patriarchs is a 40-lesson study of the first book of the Bible. Students follow Genesis from creation to Joseph's death, examining the text in context and tracing major themes including creation, the image of God, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, promise, faith, providence, blessing, and God's purposes for the nations.

Course Overview

This course studies Genesis as a unified biblical book and as the opening foundation of the larger biblical story. Students examine its major narratives, characters, covenant promises, literary development, and theology while learning to interpret narrative responsibly.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the overall structure and message of Genesis.
• Describe the biblical teaching of creation and humanity in God's image.
• Trace the development and consequences of human sin in Genesis 3–11.
• Explain the significance of the flood and Noahic covenant.
• Trace God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Analyze the strengths and failures of the patriarchs without treating narrative description as automatic approval.
• Explain the role of covenant, blessing, land, descendants, and the nations.
• Recognize God's providence in the Joseph narrative.
• Connect major Genesis themes responsibly with later Scripture.
• Apply the theology of Genesis faithfully to Christian life and ministry.

Course Structure

The course contains 40 sequential lessons covering Genesis 1–50. Every lesson provides a primary biblical text, substantial teaching, study guidance, a plain-text written assignment, and four multiple-choice review questions.

Study Method

Students should read the assigned chapters directly from a complete Bible before studying the lesson. Pay close attention to narrative context, repeated themes, divine speeches, genealogies, covenant promises, character development, and links between episodes. Assignments are designed to develop careful Bible-reading and teaching skills.