Genesis: Texts and Contexts

This course is an introduction to the Book of Genesis, its structure and contents. We will discuss common misconceptions about the Bible and introduce it in relation to the cultures in the Ancient Near East. We will explore the concepts of monotheism and the meaning of human life in the two stories of creation, the account of Cain and Abel, the Flood, and God’s covenant with Noah in order to discuss the complex compositions and issues of authorship. Additionally, we will introduce some aspects of the modern critical study of the Bible and raise questions of the historical accuracy of the biblical record. The central themes we will explore are the narratives of the patriarchs and matriarchs, the concept of covenant, the formation of the nation and the threats to the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12. In the last section we will pay attention to the story of Joseph and the twelve tribes that set the stage for the continuation of the biblical narrative in the book of Exodus where God is seen as redeemer and liberator.

Instructor: Dr. Julián González 

Julián Andrés González Holguín was born in Colombia, South America and has lived in the USA for 9 years. He earned his M.Div from George Truett Theological Seminary, at Baylor University and his Ph.D in religious studies from Southern Methodist University. After working with children and youth in his home country, he also served as Hispanic minister during his master program. This is his first year teaching at CDSP/PLTS.