Deep Dive into From “And He Died” to “And He Lives”: Kenan, Death, and the Promise (Genesis 5:12 –14)

The book of Genesis 5 employs a simple, repetitive genealogical pattern that functions as a profound theological sermon, tracing the Sethite line of humanity from Adam down to Noah. This formula, consistently applied to patriarchs like Kenan, records the ancestor's age at the birth of the key son, the subsequent extended period of life and fertility (noted by having "other sons and daughters"), the final total count of years (such as Kenan's 910 years), and the final, unvarying verdict.

This repetitive structure conveys the main theological verdict of the chapter: the short, stark phrase, "and he died." This refrain acts like the tolling of a bell, relentlessly preaching the doctrine of death—the penal consequence of sin and the inescapable doom for all who live "in Adam." The sheer length of their lives only delays, but does not cancel, this curse, illustrating the universality and inevitability of mortality.

The line traced in Genesis 5—the Sethite line—is crucial because it carries the promise of the Redeemer, contrasting sharply with the lineage of Cain, which is marked by violence, pride, and self-assertion. The Sethite line, in its ideal, is marked by an "orientation toward worship" and is associated with "calling upon the name of the LORD." Even names like Mahalalel, meaning "praise of God," support this focus.

Yet, because every patriarch in this promise-bearing line falls under the curse of death, the genealogy demonstrates that the carriers of the promise are unable to break the curse themselves. This condition makes figures like Kenan foils for Jesus Christ, the Second Adam. Christ is the only one who steps into this human lineage and shatters the repeated verdict of death, providing the glorious climax when the final word over Him is proclaimed: "He is not here, for He has risen."

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730