OT101: Finding The Theme of Genesis

Benjamin Varghese

Searching for Subjects and Objects in Genesis with Clause Search In Logos

I find the video to only merely confirm the already known as the theme of Genesis. It does not tell you how to find the theme. You already know what subject, object, and verb to look for. If these are not known, how to use Logos to find the Theme of a Book?

(Futato, M. D. (2013). OT101 Introducing Old Testament: Its Structure and Story. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

Simon’s Brother

Searching for Subjects and Objects in Genesis with Clause Search In Logos

I find the video to only merely confirm the already known as the theme of Genesis. It does not tell you how to find the theme. You already know what subject, object, and verb to look for. If these are not known, how to use Logos to find the Theme of a Book?

(Futato, M. D. (2013). OT101 Introducing Old Testament: Its Structure and Story. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

I don't believe the clause search will or that the video claims it will help you find the theme of a book.  The video is merely instructing you how to use the clause search tool to validate the claim made in the teaching material.  Some commentaries, study bibles or bible handbooks in Logos is will also give you a theme(s) for the book you are reading.

 For instance the ESV study bible suggests: "The theme of Genesis is creation, sin, and re-creation."  

Looking at the Lexham Bible Guides for Genesis - there are two volumes.  The volume on Gen 1-11 suggests: "The main theological theme of Gen 1–11 is its depiction of Yahweh as creator of all things"  and further goes onto say: "The wickedness of humanity and the problem of sin, latent and recurring themes of the OT, are introduced first in Gen 1–11 through a series of stories describing the continual breakdown of the relationship between God and people."  The volume on Gen 12-50 suggest the theme of these chapters as follows: "The thematic center of the patriarchal history is God’s promise to Abram. The promise involves blessing—Yahweh will bless Abram, establish a legacy for him, and turn the childless nomad into a landed nation (Gen 12:2–3, 7)."

As one more example "The Book of Genesis Made Easy" suggests the Key Theme of Genesis is "God choosing one nation through whom he would bless all nations."

The fact is many themes run through the scriptures.  All of the above suggestions have merit and who you read / listen too , the context of the study you are doing and even the pre-suppositions you bring to the text will have some influence on what you  bring to the text will all impact in some way on what you could say is the key theme of the text.

And sometimes what one person identifies as a theme others may identify as key concepts or story arcs that support a theme. I don't believe there is any one single tool in Logos that will say here is it, here is the key theme of the book.  Ultimately I think it is a matter of become very familiar with the text, reading it, re-reading it, and reading it again and again many times,  looking for repeated ideas and words and then looking at what others have identified in light of what you have discovered out of your personal reading and notes.  All of this of course should be done in the context of prayer. Christ said to the disciples along the road that the scriptures were about him and whatever we come up as being the theme of a book should I think be examined in light of those words, making sense in light of them.

This course I believe is about how to better read the OT history and we may well get some more pointers along the way that help us in the process of identifying the key themes of a book.  I dont' believe these courses are designed to say here are the answers but to equip you to better read, study, interpret and apply the scriptures.

Hope there is something of help in my ramble and I would love to hear from much better qualified people to speak on this topic. Theology is best done in community and I'm sure there are others who can contribute something to the conversation in how they use Logos to assist them in identifying key themes for a bible book.