GENESIS IS FOUNDATIONAL

In the importance of Genesis to the body of books that make up the Christian Bible CAT claims: "More Bible writers quoted (or referred to) Genesis than any other book… Christianity was build upon its foundation." [1]

The claim that Genesis being most quoted is made in CAT with no basis or data to back it up (this feels like a shell-game). But assuming they are right, it is the passages from Genesis 12 and beyond that are more quoted than the pertinent chapters to the issue of the age of the earth (which most would agree are limited to Chapters 1-3 and 9).

The original title of the Book of Genesis, in the Hebrew, is “B’eresheet” which means “beginnings”. Indeed it is a book of beginnings. To name a few, the Book of Genesis documents the beginnings of:

1. the universe and earth (Gen. 1)
2. humanity (Gen. 1 and 2)
3. sin (Gen. 2 and 3)
4. spread of humanity and nations (Gen. 11).

But most importantly (with respect to volume and verse count) Genesis documents the beginning of the Jewish race (Gen. 12-50). A people God chose to set apart and as a testimony to the world [2]. I contend that this is the section of Genesis that is foundational to Christianity since it is the source of the Abrahamic Covenant [3]. It was this covenant that promised blessing to Gentiles from a coming Messiah and forms the basis for the New Covenant is promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 which the Church resides under.

If it sounds like I am off topic it might be because the original claim of CAT has little to nothing to do with the issue of the age of the earth.

FOOTNOTES:
[1] CAT pg. 22
[2] Deu. 7:6-8
[3] Being sensitive to the original, Jewish perspective of both the Old and New Testament- see my bio on this blog.