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[[Image:Creation of the sun.JPG|right|thumb|300px|''Creation of the Sun'', by [[Michelangelo]]]]

[[Image:Creation of the sun.JPG|right|thumb|350px|''[[Creation]] of the Sun'', by [[Michelangelo]]]]

'''Genesis''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: "birth", "origin") is the "book of beginnings" and the first book of the [[Bible]].<ref>Genesis is also the first book of the [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Torah]].  The Hebrew for Genesis is בראשית.</ref>  ''Genesis'' recounts the beginning of the [[universe]], living things including [[homo sapiens|mankind]], and [[Society|social]]/[[Culture|cultural]] formations.  ''Genesis'' promises the coming [[Jesus Christ|Redeemer]] and explains modern scientific phenomena, such as [[quantum mechanics]] (creation was from chaos) and the dichotomy between light and matter (created on different days). ''Genesis'' is a wellspring of [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]], such as inducing anesthesia/deep sleep for an operation ({{bible ref|Genesis|2|21}}) and setting maximum lifespan at 120 years.<ref>''See'' {{bibleref|Genesis|6|3}} ("120 years"). Despite modern medicine and technology, the oldest persons live nearly 120 years but not more. There is only one disputed, highly doubtful case of anyone living a bit longer.</ref>  '''''Genesis answers many questions about life and the universe'''''.

'''Genesis''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: "birth", "origin") is the "book of beginnings" and the first book of the [[Bible]] written by [[Moses]].<ref>Genesis is also the first book of the [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Torah]].  The Hebrew for Genesis is בראשית.</ref>  ''Genesis'' recounts the beginning of the [[universe]], living things including [[homo sapiens|mankind]], and [[Society|social]]/[[Culture|cultural]] formations.  ''Genesis'' promises the coming [[Jesus Christ|Redeemer]] and explains modern scientific phenomena, such as [[quantum mechanics]] (creation was from chaos) and the dichotomy between light and matter (created on different days). ''Genesis'' is a wellspring of [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]], such as inducing anesthesia/deep sleep for an operation ({{bible ref|Genesis|2|21}}) and setting maximum lifespan at 120 years.<ref>''See'' {{bibleref|Genesis|6|3}} ("120 years"). Despite modern medicine and technology, the oldest persons live nearly 120 years but not more. There is only one disputed, highly doubtful case of anyone living a bit longer.</ref>  '''''Genesis answers many questions about life and the universe'''''.

There are many dozens of references to ''Genesis'' in the [[New Testament]], including direct quotations by [[Jesus]].  Many books, movies and plays (e.g., ''[[East of Eden]]'' and ''[[Hamlet]]'') draw upon Genesis and particularly its [[paradise]].  Rock groups, too, such as "[[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]" itself.

There are many dozens of references to ''Genesis'' in the [[New Testament]], including direct quotations by [[Jesus]].  Many books, movies and plays (e.g., ''[[East of Eden]]'' and ''[[Hamlet]]'') draw upon Genesis and particularly its [[paradise]].  Rock groups, too, such as "[[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]" itself.

Genesis ends with the blessing of Jacob’s children, his death, and the death of Joseph, who exhorts his brothers to carry his bones to the [[Promised Land]] when they eventually reach there.

Genesis ends with the blessing of Jacob’s children, his death, and the death of Joseph, who exhorts his brothers to carry his bones to the [[Promised Land]] when they eventually reach there.

==Authorship==

== Authorship ==

''See also [[Genesis authorship]]''.

''See also [[Genesis authorship]]''.

<br>Biblical tradition within and without the [[Old Testament]], [[Jesus]] in the [[New Testament]], as well as extra-Biblical writers such as [[Josephus]], [[Origen]], the early church fathers and many others, have claimed [[Moses]] as the author of Genesis, written during the time of the [[Hebrew]] wanderings in the Wilderness, between 1440-1400 B.C.  Certainly, Moses was able to have written Genesis in Hebrew, [[Akkadian]], or Egyptian.  He was well-educated and trained in the Egyptian court.  [[Archaeology]] demonstrates that such a man would have had the education necessary to accomplish this during that time in history.<ref>Unger, pp. 35-35</ref>

<br>Biblical tradition within and without the [[Old Testament]], [[Jesus]] in the [[New Testament]], as well as extra-Biblical writers such as [[Josephus]], [[Origen]], the early church fathers and many others, have claimed [[Moses]] as the author of Genesis, written during the time of the [[Hebrew]] wanderings in the Wilderness, between 1440-1400 B.C.  Certainly, Moses was able to have written Genesis in Hebrew, [[Akkadian]], or Egyptian.  He was well-educated and trained in the Egyptian court.  [[Archaeology]] demonstrates that such a man would have had the education necessary to accomplish this during that time in history.<ref>Unger, pp. 35-35</ref>

 

The higher critical view is that [[Moses]] did not write Genesis.  Some biblical scholars identified five separate authors of the five "books of Moses."<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora.htm Who Wrote The Pentateuch, The Five Books of Moses?]</ref><ref>[http://lectionary.org/EXEG-English/OT/EOT01-Gen/Authorship-Genesis%20&%20Pentateuch.html Introduction to Genesis & the Pentateuch]</ref> This idea is called the ''Documentary Hypothesis''. Although unidentified, each of these authors has been given the name of a letter:

The higher critical view is that [[Moses]] did not write Genesis.  Some biblical scholars identified five separate authors of the five "books of Moses."<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora.htm Who Wrote The Pentateuch, The Five Books of Moses?]</ref><ref>[http://lectionary.org/EXEG-English/OT/EOT01-Gen/Authorship-Genesis%20&%20Pentateuch.html Introduction to Genesis & the Pentateuch]</ref> This idea is called the ''Documentary Hypothesis''. Although unidentified, each of these authors has been given the name of a letter:

* J who calls God ''YHWH'' (the ''Jehovist'' account), and who possibly wrote in the south of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]], written c. 850 B.C.

* J who calls God ''YHWH'' (the ''Jehovist'' account), and who possibly wrote in the south of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]], written c. 850 B.C.

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Sistine Chapel]]

*[[Sistine Chapel]]

*[[Dead Sea Scrolls]]

*[[Dead Sea Scrolls]]