Genesis: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary

by Stephen K. Ray

Everything in the Bible—and in the Catholic Church—starts with the Book of Genesis. The Greek word genesis means "beginning", and this inspired text reveals to us not only our origins, but our purpose, our meaning, and God's plan for mankind. Yet Genesis can be daunting, especially given the scientific discoveries of the last few centuries. Stephen K. Ray, author of Crossing the Tiber , breaks down this sacred and profoundly influential book, wrestling with the complex intersection of history and theology. Thoroughly Catholic in his approach, Ray is unafraid to draw from sources of all from Jewish and Protestant commentaries, from archaeology, from geography, and even from modern literature. A Bible Study Guide and Commentary uncovers the excitement and drama of this ancient narrative, so often ignored or misunderstood. In Ray's reading, the Book of Genesis is a shout of "We can know where we came from! We can know who we are! We can know our destiny! And we are not alone in the universe!"

434 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Stephen K. Ray was raised in a devout, loving Baptist family. His father was a deacon and Bible teacher and Stephen was very involved in the Baptist Church as a teacher of Biblical studies and lectured on a wide range of topics. Steve and his wife Janet entered the Catholic Church in 1994.

In addition to running a family business, Steve spends time researching, writing, and teaching about the Catholic Faith. He is the author of Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical Church, Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church, and St. John's Gospel: A Bible Study and Commentary.

He is currently producing a 10-video series for Ignatius Press called The Footprints of God: The Story of Salvation From Abraham to Augustine, filmed on location in the Holy Land.

Reviews

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I really liked Steve Ray's commentary on the Gospel of John published back in 2002, I much prefer the approach he took with his new commentary on Genesis.

This new commentary is more seamless when reading it integrating the previously separate theological/cultural/historical notes/etc into a more of a storytelling narrative. While still dense with information, I was entering more deeply into the story of Genesis without the feeling that I was just studying in a more abstract way.