The First Five: Reorganize Concise Paraphrased Bible | Vol. I

by Obadiah Paulus

This is a paraphrase of translations of the original writings and I have used the ESV, NIV, NASB, and NLT to come up with a readable version of the original text. I have tried to modernize the language by removing passive voice, split infinitives, and other devices that can sometimes make the text harder to understand for the layperson. I’ve also reorganized the text into chronological order and provided explanatory boxes to help the reader better understand the authors’ original intent.This text covers the first five books of the Bible, the beginning of human history, which is the story of God’s glory. While these chapters primarily record human activity, we are not the main characters. Humanity is important, but this book, like the rest of the Bible, is a revelation of God’s glory, not our own.The story starts with God’s perfect Creation that he gave to humanity as a gift. Everything was as God planned, and nothing bad ever happened. There was no sickness or death, no relational difficulties, no bad weather, no self-esteem issues, nothing that could be considered a failure or deficiency.But Adam and Eve messed it up with their disobedience, which eventually led to every bad thing that has ever happened since the Garden. However, God graciously did not destroy them in that instant. Instead, he sacrificed some animals so that he could cover their nakedness. He also started his plan to redeem people and bring us into a restored relationship with him.The first piece of this redemption plan was the ancestors of the faith, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God promised to give them the Promised Land and make their descendants a great nation that would bless the entire earth. The story follows their journey into Egypt and captivity and their miraculous deliverance and journey to the Promised Land.Moses penned these five books of the Bible, and although he was not alive for the events of Genesis, God revealed what had happened before his birth. If we accept that God is the author of Creation, this type of inspiration by God’s hand should not be too difficult to believe. There is a school of thought that rejects Moses as the author of these books, often based on the use of different names for God. However, just because he used different names does not mean that he is not the author of all five books. Other biblical authors in the Old and New Testaments confirm Moses’ authorship, and Jesus also attributes the books to Moses.This book is the beginning of God’s story, but it is not exhaustive, nor is it intended to be. The Bible is not a science textbook. However, it is essential to note that no historical or archeological discovery has ever contradicted the information recorded in the Bible. There are many events recorded in this book (as well as other books of the Bible) that we would like to have more information about, but that was not God’s purpose for inspiring the Bible. While we may not know precisely who the Nephilim were, where the Garden of Eden was, or how dinosaurs fit into the picture, we can trust that God has given us enough to suit his purposes.The people in this book gave God many names based on his characteristics and actions toward them. To avoid confusion, I have opted to use either God or the Lord to refer to him.

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2021