The book of Genesis edifies Christian life by recording the progressive self-revelation of God, which culminates in Jesus Christ.

Genesis, meaning “origin,” covers the time from creation to the Israelite sojourn in Egypt. Genesis enters into the very structure of the New Testament, in which it is quoted more than sixty times. The roots of all subsequent revelations are planted deep in Genesis. The inspiration of Genesis and its character as divine revelation are authenticated by the testimony of Jesus Christ (Mt. 19:4-6; 24:37-39; Mk. 11:49-51; 17:26-29; Jn. 7:21-23; 8:44) and supplemented by the testimony of history.

Genesis begins the progressive self-revelation of God, which culminates in Jesus Christ. The problem of sin as affecting human emotion on earth, human relation ship to God, and the divine solution of that problem are essentially in Genesis. The climax of God’s progressive self-revelation culminates in the person of Jesus. Genesis is the foundation of the progressive unfolding of the divine redemption, which is fulfilled through Jesus and recorded in the New Testament.

Among great covenants, indicating the conditions of human life and progressively unfold the divine redemption, four covenants are in Genesis, and these are fundamental to Christian life.