Rethinking Genesis 1–11: Gateway to the Bible

by Gordon J. Wenham

Genesis 1-11 contains some of the best-known stories in the world. To modern Westerners they may look like no more than entertaining tales that children can enjoy, but modern adults cannot take seriously. However, when read in the context of the ancient Orient, Genesis 1-11 looks very different. It turns out to be a truly revolutionary document. In retelling the history of the ancient world, it puts a new spin on it by introducing an all-powerful, all-knowing, unique God whose greatest concern is human welfare.

The God who appears in Genesis 1-11 is the God presupposed by all the Old Testament writers, indeed by the New Testament as well. The gripping tales of Genesis thus provide the theological spectacles for a sympathetic reading of the Bible. They are the gateway to a valid understanding of its message and can even help modern believers construct a worldview that integrates both the discoveries of modern science and the insights of Christian theology.

"In this revisiting of Genesis 1-11 by a leading commentator on Genesis, the main foci of discussion are the creation narratives and the account of the flood. Wenham skillfully utilizes the opportunity to concentrate on the main features of the narratives, in their own right and in comparison with relevant ancient Near Eastern traditions. The result is an impressive statement of the message, abiding value, and significance for the whole biblical canon, of the 'Genesis protohistory.'"
--Robert Gordon, emeritus Regius Professor of Hebrew, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

"Another book on Genesis 1-11! Are these chapters myths? Are they borrowed from Babylon? Gordon Wenham builds on his notable Word commentary to focus on central ideas. He demonstrates the literary art in them and traces themes present at first, resurfacing later, then integral throughout Scripture to its fulfillment. Oft-emphasized similarities with Babylonian stories fade beside differences, notably in theology. . . . This small volume deserves to be added even to laden bookshelves."
--Alan Millard, emeritus Rankin Professor, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

Gordon Wenham studied in the universities of Cambridge, London, Jerusalem, and Harvard and taught fulltime at the universities of Belfast and Gloucestershire. He is now adjunct professor at Trinity College Bristol. He is best known for his commentaries on Genesis, Leviticus, and Numbers.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Old Testament, Nonfiction, Religion

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2015

About the author

Gordon J. Wenham was a Reformed British Old Testament scholar and writer. He has authored several books about the Bible. Tremper Longman has called him "one of the finest evangelical commentators today."

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bang per buck (or bang per word-count), this is tremendous. I’m pretty sure my Pentateuch lectures in seminary relied heavily on this, and if I ever lecture on Genesis 1-11, I will definitely come back.

Wenham recaps his views on Genesis 1-11, fronting ANE parallels and literary analysis.

[Mitchell Traver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound is the word. I’ve been immersed in a decent portion of literature during my study of the Pentateuch, and without question, this little book on Genesis 1-11 was not only most enjoyable but most incisive. I admire Wenham’s Doctrine of Scripture here at work in exegeting the first eleven chapters of Genesis. I also appreciated very much the epilogue and some very modest comments made regarding typical modern debates arising from these chapters. Without question, my favorite part of this book is the way in which Wenham engages the ANE texts and how they relate to both the composition *and theological intent* of Genesis. Said more simply, Wenham uses strong exegesis and a deep understanding of the ANE to show that sometimes our greatest issue amidst biblical interpretation is that we are asking the wrong questions! Better is to let the Word of God speak for itself, through the authors and their own immediate context. Again, Wenham’s Doctrine of Scripture at work here is one that I both admire and share. A splendid book.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little introduction to the Ancient Near Eastern context of Gen 1-11. Wenham explains mythic parallels, and provides an historically appropriate hermeneutic for interpreting Gen 1-11 in a responsible manner. Wenham does not advocate a literal interpretation of Gen 1-11 (a la Ken Hamm and biblical fundamentalists), which I count as a positive--though to be fair he doesn't discredit them much either. Rather, he focuses on showing that the narratives are well crafted theological claims about the supremacy of the God of the Hebrews in relation to the theological claims of their Ancient Near Eastern neighbors.

This is great for the more inquisitive church-goer, or for the person trying to find an alternative to a harmful literal interpretation of Gen 1-11.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of essays on the first chapters of Genesis, but Wenham doesn't waste words. Building on his work in the WBC series, Wenham gleans good insights from the literary structures of the text as well as the literature and worldviews of the cultures adjacent to ancient Israel.

[Shane Goodyear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very handy short book based on his much bigger commentary on Genesis with the same verses.

He seeks to get to the main theological point of the verses and what they teach us and how we can apply it today

He argues that Gen 1-11 is a steady retelling of ancient Near Eastern myths which seek to show the ancient world who the true God is

For instance God is one and there is not many gods

God is almighty and creates everything by the power of his word

God cares for humanity and gives them an abundance in the world that is made for them. Unlike ancient myths where humans where made to feed the gods and do all the work

It shows us how humans where meant to procreate and this was a good thing. Ancient Near Eastern myths saw this as a bad thing and say this is why the flood happened

However Genesis says the flood happened due to human sin and the growing of violence due to the fool and this is why the flood happened

Genesis says the humans beings have brought divine judgment on there selves not because the gods where caprice which the ancient epics suggest

A good little bit at the end how Genesis 1-11 fits into biblical theology and modern scientific thinking

Overall a good small book on the theology of these verses

[John B. MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review first appeared on ‘living theology’ at johnbmacdonald.com

This short book (86 pages) is the substance of the 2013 Didsbury Lectures. Gordon Wenham is also the author of a well-received two-volume commentary on Genesis.

Wenham proposes that “Genesis 1-11 can provide us with the theological spectacles with which to read the Bible both sympathetically and appropriately.” He then examines 1:1-2:3, showing the patterns for reading the rest of Genesis—if not the whole Bible.

The author demonstrates the parallels between the Creation account and the Flood account, between Adam and Noah as the second Adam. Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

In the epilogue, Wenham shows how a good reading of Genesis 1-11 fits with biblical theology (including the New Testament) and modern science-based models of origins. All-in-all a valuable and readable overview of the first eleven chapters of the Bible.

You can see this review and other helpful articles on ‘living theology’ at johnbmacdonald.com

[Connor Haskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and thoughtful, the comparisons with ANE material are constructed well and laid out accessibly. However, Wenham falls short (as with Jacoby/Copan, 'Origins') of providing any type of real synthesizing of the material and comparisons with the ANE into a systematic approach for how a believer should view the text of Scripture. What elements were historical? What elements were not? How do the polemic and ancient elements work (or not work) with inerrancy? How do Jesus's and Paul's views of the Hebrew Bible come into play?

The book functions more as a survey than a proposal, which is disappointing, despite its useful collection of historical comparisons.

[J. J.]

Wenham, in these lectures, has given us a gift. Nuanced, thoughtful, and built on a close reading of the text. He serves us most by helping us look at the text through the eyes of the first ANE audience—helping us be surprised by what would have surprised them and be chastened by what would have chastened them.

[Tim Wilder]

Good summary of what was in his commentaries.

[Will Standridge, II · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dense, but some really fun insights into Genesis 1-11 I hadn’t seen before.