1 Chronicles 1

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Genealogies from Adam to Jacob

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The genealogy from Adam to Abraham is important.

  2. The genealogy from Abraham to Jacob is important.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Remember Enoch!

QUESTIONS

  1. How do the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles overlap with other biblical books?

  2. How is the purpose of Chronicles different than those other books?

  3. Who was most likely the author of Chronicles? Tell a little about him.

  4. Approximately how long was it from Creation to the coming of Christ?

  5. Why did God include the sons of Ishmael, Esau, and others in this genealogy who are not in the line of the Messiah?

  6. Do all Arab people descend from Ishmael?

ANSWERS

  1. 1 Chronicles covers the same period in the history of Israel as 2 Samuel. 2 Chronicles corresponds to 1 and 2 Kings.

  2. The purpose of 2 Samuel and Kings is to give a political history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The purpose of Chronicles is to give a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of the kingdom of Judah. Samuel and Kings were written from a prophetic and moral viewpoint; Chronicles was written from a priestly and spiritual viewpoint.

  3. Because the genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles go from Adam to the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, Ezra is the most likely candidate for the author. Ezra was a scribe who came back to Jerusalem in the second wave of the returned captives in 458 B.C. He was very concerned about the spiritual condition of the nation.

  4. about 4,000 years

  5. This shows that the Bible is about real people in real history. We learn important background information that can be confirmed in history. This also shows that God is concerned about individual people, although they may not be the main focus of God’s plans for the coming of the Messiah.

  6. No, the Arab people today descend not only from Ishmael, but also from the six other sons that Abraham had with Keturah, whom he married after Sarah died.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Biblical genealogies serve the overall purpose of tracing the line from Adam to the Messiah. Discuss the other reasons given as well: 1) The genealogy from Adam to Abraham to Jacob is real history. 2) The genealogy shows us that mankind has not been on this earth for a million years. 3) The genealogy gives us important background information, which supports the biblical record.

CHALLENGE

  1. Enoch had a great testimony – He pleased God and he was taken home to heaven. Remember Enoch.

KEY VERSES

  • “The name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided.” 1 Chronicles 1:19

  • “And Abraham begot Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.” 1 Chronicles 1:34

Old Testament, TalksRon Reid1 CHRONICLES 1