Excursus 3:
The Duration of the Ark Construction • 135
Excursus 4:
The Meaning of the 120 Years in Genesis 6:3 • 138
Chapter 11 The Genealogy from Shem to Abraham • 142
11. Eleventh Generation: Shem • 143
12. Twelfth Generation: Arpachshad • 147
13. Thirteenth Generation: Shelah • 152
Excursus 5:
Perspective on Cainan • 154
14. Fourteenth Generation: Eber • 156
15. Fifteenth Generation: Peleg • 160
16. Sixteenth Generation: Reu • 163
17. Seventeenth Generation: Serug • 166
18. Eighteenth Generation: Nahor • 169
19. Nineteenth Generation: Terah • 173
20. Twentieth Generation: Abraham • 176
A New Work of Salvation • 181
Chapter 12 The Differences between the Line of Cain and the Line of Seth • 183
1. The Genealogies of Cain and Seth Have Different Beginnings • 183
2. The Genealogies of Cain and Seth Demonstrate Different Lifestyles • 185
3. The Genealogies of Cain and Seth Have Different Records of Birth and Death • 186
4. The Genealogies of Cain and Seth Have Different Records of Longevity • 188
Chapter 13 The Work of Separation • 193
1. The Work of Separation among the Patriarchs after Noah • 193
2. The Work of Separation in Abraham’s Life • 202
Chapter 14 Abraham from the Redemptive Historical Perspective • 208
1. The Work of Sin Proliferated until the Birth of Abraham • 209
2. God Preserved Faith throughout the History of Sin and Wickedness • 210
3. The Beginning of a New Work of Salvation through Abraham • 210
Conclusion • 215
Commentaries • 221
1. Dr. Kyung-Bae Min, Th.D. • 222
Distinguished Professor of Baekseok University Honorary Professor of Yonsei University
2. Dr. Nam-Sik Kim, Th.D. • 227
Chief Editor of Kidok (Christian) Times, Visiting Professor of Chongshin University, Director of the Counseling Mission Research Center of Korea, President of the Presbyterian Church Korea History Association
3. Dr. Young-Bae Cha, Th.D. • 230
Former President of the Chongshin University
4. Dr. Youngyup Cho, Ph.D. • 232
Professor of the Kyeyak Graduate School of Theology
5. Rev. Tae-Deuk Lim • 233
Senior Pastor of Dae Myung Church in Daegu
Former Moderator of the Hap-dong General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea
6. Dr. Andrew J. Tesia, Ph.D. • 235
President of the Research Institute of Reformed Theology
7. Dr. Horiuchi Akira • 241
Representative Pastor of Grace Missions, Evangelical Free Church of Japan, Chairman of the Food for the Hungry International (F. H. I.), Chief Director of King’s Garden in Mie
Bibliography • 242
Notes • 247
Index • 249
Excursus 1: The Chronology of the Patriarchs • Endpapers*
Foreword
All too often genealogies are viewed as uninteresting or, even worse, boring. However, Dr. Abraham Park’s new book, The Genesis Genealogies: God’s Administration in the History of Redemption, demonstrates the great value and even excitement of an in-depth study of biblical genealogies. A strong foundation is necessary for any enduring structure. And so it is also true that the book of Genesis is a firm foundation for our biblical faith. Genesis is not only the groundwork for understanding our beginnings, but is also the basis for understanding ourselves as well as our relationship with God and one another. One simply cannot overstate the importance of Genesis as the foundational paradigm for all Christian thinking. Dr. Abraham Park is to be congratulated for his important and worthy contribution to our understanding of this foundational book.
Dr. Park displays a remarkable facility with the Hebrew language. Time and again, his linguistic skills are on display. This indicates not only the seriousness of his research, but also his love for the book of Genesis. He has rightly understood that one cannot fully grasp God’s work of salvation unless one digs deeply into the book of beginnings. The old adage that one cannot understand the future without first understanding the past holds true in biblical studies. Dr. Park takes this adage to heart in this remarkable book.
The biblical point of departure for Dr. Park is Deuteronomy 32:7, where the Song of Moses declares, “Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations . . . .” He carefully considers the ten genealogies of Genesis (of heaven and earth, of Adam, of Noah, of Noah’s sons, of Shem, of Terah and Abraham, of Ishmael, of Isaac, of Esau, and of Jacob), and through each of these the history of redemption is clearly expounded. Dr. Park employs these genealogies, which find their ultimate expression in the work of Jesus Christ, to reveal the core of God’s work of redemption in history.
There are several distinguishing features of Dr. Park’s important book. First, it is a book suffused with Scripture. It is absolutely clear that Dr. Park loves the Bible, and it is obvious that he drinks deeply from the fountain of biblical study. Second, it has a clear evangelistic thrust. At many points the clear implication of his exposition is a warm invitation to embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. Dr. Park, it would seem, has never lost sight of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. Third, I was delighted to see that he takes the historicity of the Genesis account seriously. In a day when many modern theologians cast doubt on the historicity of Adam, for example, it is refreshing to see a firm affirmation of historicity. Finally, the text is clear and well written. The average reader will not get lost in technical jargon, but will indeed see the teaching of Scripture with ease.
This book is a sweeping vista of God’s plan of redemption from Genesis down through the ages to its final expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Dr. Park’s book is a journey worth taking. I heartily recommend this insightful work of Dr. Park for seminaries and colleges. I can assure readers that this book will not disappoint. Read it, study it, pray over it, and then put its wisdom to work in your life and ministry.