Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation

by J. Daryl Charles (Editor)

Seven specialists in Old Testament theology and interpretation come together to offer a variety of needed biblical perspectives and insights on how to interpret the first two chapters of Genesis correctly. Evangelical scholars, college and seminary professors (and their students), and pastors will benefit from this title. This is the only book of its kind that involves a critical and comparative assessment of the early Genesis narratives by Old Testament scholars actually working in the field.From the Introduction by Victor P. Hamilton: "

"Even in the wider evangelical portion of conservative Protestantism there are emerging divergent perspectives on reading Gen 1-2. To some this is salutary. To others it is a slippery slope. The essays to follow in this volume, all by highly esteemed and well-published OT evangelical scholars, will demonstrate this hermeneutical diversity . . .

A community of believers tries, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to come to an understanding of a scriptural position or passage by thinking together, talking and dialoguing together, praying together, and by agreeing to disagree agreeably if the case need be. The title of the Bryan Institute symposium which produced this collection of essays was 'Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation.' To which I say, let the conversation continue.""

Chapters include:

RICHARD E. AVERBECK--Genesis 1 and 2 as Observational Cosmogony and Cosmology: A Literary, Inter-textual, and Contextual Reading

TODD BEALL--Reading Genesis 1 and 2: A Literal Approach

C. JOHN COLLINS--Reading Genesis 1-2 with the Grain: Analogical Days

TREMPER LONGMAN III--What Genesis 1-2 Teaches (and What It Doesn't)

JOHN H. WALTON--Reading Genesis One as Ancient Cosmology

KENNETH J. TURNER--Teaching Genesis 1 at a Christian College

JUD DAVIS -- Unresolved Questions: Evangelicals and Genesis 1-2

A "response" section follows each chapter, in which each author has the opportunity to reply to the viewpoint presented. It is truly a conversational format.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Religion, Old Testament, School, Christianity

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

Reviews

[Matt Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume is comparable to the perspectives or four views series. The differing views of Creation are displayed with some affection given to the field of secular science. The attention is not completely neglected but is not a mainstay either. It is actually based on a former symposium where these scholars discussed these topics. For those not involved in these issues the material can be a bit dry. As for myself it was a required textbook. Even though I disagreed with these scholars on much, I appreciated the insight and the level of respect they showed one another.

[Dave Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in point and counterpoint fashion, this important work demonstrates the diversity of opinion among Evangelical (Protestant) scholars when the subject is interpreting Genesis chapters 1 and 2. I imagine that if one asked an average person on the street what an Evangelical believes about Genesis 1 and 2 (therefore, the creation account), they would probably perceive them as literal, 24 hour day creationists and potentially suggest that they believed the earth was 6,000 or so years old. This work shows some considerable diversity in the realm of Evangelical scholarship.

J. Daryl Charles edited the book which features prominent thinkers: Richard Averbeck, Todd Beall, John Collins, Tremper Longman, John Walton and some others. Each scholar gets space to articulate his views about Genesis 1-2 and then the others weigh in with rebuttals. Virtually all of the authors acknowledge that the writing of Genesis 1 and 2 was inspired as a rebuttal against Ancient Near Eastern religions. In other words, they postulate that Genesis was written to correct the record (so to speak) and argue for the true God. I preached a sermon on this very idea earlier this year.

The guy who strays the most from the interpretation as a rebuttal is Todd Beall who is a 7 day creationist and takes Genesis 1 and 2 as a purely historical account. While I disagree with Beall (and the other scholars do as well), his case is certainly arguable from the text and he is very well studied on the passages of Scripture.

Most impressive to me was Tremper Longman who focuses on the question of, within the historical context that the beginning of Genesis was written, what exactly is the text teaching? What did it mean to the people who wrote down this account who had no knowledge of Charles Darwin? I had been impressed before with Longman’s scholarship on Ecclesiastes and probably will seek out more books by him.

John Walton is an accomplished scholar as well and his contribution, while persuasively argued, seems a little far out there to me. Of course, he views reading Genesis 1-2 as ancient cosmology but ties in the creation accounts to the Israel temple. When God rested on the seventh day, he argues this was common in that time to view a god anthropomorphically as resting in the temple. Interesting reasoning but the conclusion seemed a little ways out from how I interpret the text.

All in all, for anyone interested in the opening chapters of the Bible, I would highly recommend this book that shows some of the diversity of opinion even within Evangelical scholarship (which is pretty narrow compared with the breadth of Christian thought). The options are not just young earth creationism, theistic evolution or creationism but an old universe. Thousands of years after Genesis was written, the inspired account still speaks to us as we wrestle to interpret it’s deep truths and meaning.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the result of Bryan College's 2011 symposium of the same title. I grieve the death of the Bryan community that I knew that could have gracious, albeit dissenting conversations like this one without calling into question one's faith . . . but I digress.

The book itself consists of 5 position papers by five Old Testament scholars on their views of Genesis 1 & 2. Todd Beall represents the traditional (literal) YEC interpretation and the rest (Richard Averbeck, C. John Collins, Victor Hamilton, Tremper Longman & John Walton) all have various "non-traditional" approaches. In addition, each of them contributed a response to their fellow author's paper. The papers themselves are brief introductory overviews, but there are a multitude of footnotes for further study. Some chapters were more engaging than others depending on the author's writing style. I did get a little bogged down by all the Hebrew grammar, a boring but necessary discussion. ;) I especially appreciated the thought provoking last two chapters (by Ken Turner and Jud Davis), and came away with lots of inspiration for future study.

Overall, this is a great overview of a variety of biblical interpretations of Genesis and it is a good place to 'wet your feet' if this is a topic you're interested in.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good introduction to some of the different views on Gen. 1-2 from really legit biblical scholars, all of them intent on preserving biblical inerrancy. I doubt this will convince anyone to abandon their viewpoint on creation, and it probably won't even decide the issue for the undecided, but it's an excellent "safe" space to be exposed to viewpoints from scholars who are trying hard to reconcile Gen. 1-2 with the rest of the biblical narrative, other ANE sources, and science. In my opinion, the best part of the book wasn't one of the views at all (in chaps. 1-5), but chap. 6, in which a professor at a Christian college explains how he approaches teaching these chapters to a bunch of introductory students. The author's (whose name I can't remember) humility and emphasis on not getting sidetracked from the theological focus of Gen. 1-2 is really helpful, and super formative for me, as I love getting swept away in minor debates.

Overall, super good. Read it if you want a "fair and balanced" introduction to this topic.

Love,
Sam

[Mark Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent exchange of ideas and mutual critique from five major scholars, each with a unique overall view of how Genesis 1-2 should be interpreted. Many highlights, many ideas, many points of interest. Theology and debate at its very best. Loved the format, loved the clarity of thinking, loved the scholarly perspectives.

[Maria Sprunger · Rating 2 out of 5]

The diversity of arguments and the casual writing style made this book interesting! I think it was helpful for my Genesis class but would not read for fun!

[Paul Bruggink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a book from which people new to and people already familiar with the subject matter can benefit.

It begins with five chapters written by five Old Testament scholars (in alphabetical order) defending their respective positions on how to best interpret Genesis 1-2: (1) Richard E. Averback on a literary approach, (2) Todd S. Beall on a literal approach, (3) C. John Collins on analogical days, (4) Tremper Longman III on what Genesis 1-2 teaches and what it doesn’t, and (5) John H. Walton on reading Genesis 1 as ancient cosmology.

Each essay is followed by brief responses from the other four scholars, in which they politely point out the differences in their views, e.g., Beall referring to Longman’s “uncritical acceptance of what seem to be very dubious scientific hypotheses.” (p. 134), or Longman stating in his response to Beall’s essay: “The bottom line is that it is wrong to equate narrative automatically with history and certainly not with literal, precise history, or poetry with figure and fictions. Poetry can be historical (see Exod 15 and Ps 136) and narrative, using normal prose syntax, can be fictional.” (p. 66)

Walton has a particularly good conclusion to his comments on Beall’s essay: “Sometimes new advances in science do make us go back to the biblical text to see if we have been working on some wrong assumptions. Otherwise we would still believe that the sum revolved around the earth. This does not mean that the Bible is submitting to science, only that we are always ready to recognize that our interpretations, however long they have been around, are fallible and subject to reconsideration.” (p. 72)

In Chapter 6, Kenneth J. Turner discusses how to make creative use of the hermeneutical issues in Genesis 1 when teaching an undergraduate Old Testament survey class at a Christian college.

In the final chapter, Jud Davis raises and discusses his seven obstacles to joining the current evangelical majority: (1) the need for greater interaction with Jesus’ view of creation, (2) the need for greater interaction with Paul’s view of creation, (3) the need for greater interaction with ancient, medieval, and modern commentators on Genesis 1-11, (4) the need for more work on ancient texts and translations of Genesis 1-2, (5) the need for greater clarification on inerrancy and nontraditional views, (6) the need for more work on ‘yom echad’ in the Pentateuch and Genesis 1, and (7) the need for more discussion on Christians in science who hold recent creation.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the debate on how to interpret the early chapters of Genesis. There are good insights in every chapter.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book at the recommendation of my pastor, and I'm so glad I did.

Here's why: five believers (professors, pastors, and the like) debate their views on Genesis 1-2. Is the creation story literal? Figurative? Some of both? But I don't love it because I somehow gained more ammunition for my point of view so that I could defeat my enemies in online debates. I love it because of the manner it was carried out.

Each of the debaters was respectful and loving. Not only that, it was this way despite disagreement (sometimes vehement disagreement).

I came out of reading this book more excited that God created the world, regardless of how precisely he did so. You could really sense how highly each of the debaters held the Bible and God's word... while one or two believed in evolution, some believed in a literal six days, a couple thought the six days were a poetic framework, and one posited that it was more about bringing order and purpose to chaos that God previously created. They all acknowledged the true purpose of Genesis 1-2: God created everything, and God is sovereign.

In other words, I'm less sure of how God created the world, but this book refocused my attention on the purpose and meaning of his creation. There is much beauty in the creation story.

I wish this is how all debates would go.

There's more, but I'll just say: definitely worth your time.

[Matthew Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good introduction to how OT scholars view the first two chapters of Genesis. There were a good number of differing opinions in the book, John Collins' chapter was not as strong as I had hoped though I believe in his treatment in his Genesis 1-4 commentary is probably more sufficient. The literal 24 hour view always seems to be the weakest chapter in these books, but I thought Todd Beall did a good job of defending this view (although I would not agree with it). Longman's chapter was helpful in some ways, but for the most part could have been left out of the book. Longman puts forth Walton's view with a few minor changes. I thought a framework proponent would have been better served in place of Longman. All in all it a good book to read through and the discussion dialogue is very respectful and well done.

[Amy Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edited volume is well worth your time if you have any interest in the origins debate within the fields of Christian Theology and Biblical Studies. It is not a book written by scientists but rather a book that provides a broad range of interpretation on the first 2 chapters of Genesis. I recommend this book to those who want to gain an understanding of what the debate covers. The volume acts as a springboard into the discussion and provides the names, publications, ideas and controversies that one could then use to further your own research into the topics of creation, evolution, the cosmic temple and the historical Adam.

[Matthew Grotheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction into the debate behind different readings/interpretations of the first two chapters of Genesis. The presentations in this book can be a bit technical for one not very familiar with Hebrew though the arguments remain mostly navigable. Whether one is seasoned in the debate or has just been opened up to it, this book will be quite helpful! Even by those with who I disagree on overall framework, I was helped by different analyses of the Biblical text. Genesis 1-2 is filled with treasures just waiting to be mined if one is willing to take the time to do so.

[LNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. The chapters are written as essay and response from professors of Bible colleges about the creation in Genesis 1&2. The contributors - all men, this is an evangelical book - have different view points about the chapters. I found it a helpful book because I grew up hearing only 6 literal days - my parents are old earth yet the church was young earth - so it is nice to learn that Christians can think other ways.
A great book for those interested in the bible and the handling of creation.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really good. I have not delved much into this issue but this seems to present a good variety of opinions while remaining within the Evangelical "camp." The chapter on teaching Genesis 1-2 was the best here and could be a primer on teaching anything whose interpretation is controversial or open to debate.

[Lyf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and colorful collection of essays that vary substantially in understanding and deconstructing Genesis 1-2. Well worth the read!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to five different interpretations of Genesis 1-2 with a respectful dialogue between the authors of each interpretation.