Genesis: A New Commentary

by Meredith G. Kline, Jonathan G. Kline (Editor), Michael Scott Horton (Foreword)

Now available for the first time from renowned author, teacher and scholar Meredith G. Kline is a brief never-before-published commentary, A New Commentary . This posthumously published commentary on Genesis was written just after the late scholar finished his magnum opus, Kingdom Prologue , and distills his mature views on the book of Genesis and, indeed, on Scripture as a whole.

Following an introduction that addresses the canonical function, literary-thematic framework, theological story, and authorship of Genesis, Kline separates the text into 10 structural divisions, offering insightful interpretation of each. The commentary has been edited by Kline\'s grandson Jonathan G. Kline and contains a foreword by Michael S. Horton. A New Commentary will appeal to students, pastors, and laypeople who, like so many in the Reformed community, have admired or been transformed by Kline\'s teaching and writings.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Theology

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2016

About the author

Meredith G. Kline was Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He received his B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and his Ph.D. degree in Assyriology and Egyptology from Dropsie College. Professor Kline maintained an active writing and teaching ministry, serving on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California. He was also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The collection of essays in the recently-published Creator, Redeemer, Consummator, a festschrift written in honor of Dr. Kline, attests to the indelible influence his work has exerted on contemporary biblical and theological scholarship.

Reviews

[William Schrecengost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much a commentary as it is “Kline’s notes on Genesis” that his son must’ve found in the margins of his Bible or in a notebook. Some of his points were good, but the whole of the book was choppy and incomplete. Fortunately his son filled the footnotes with related references to his other books. But I don’t think Kline ever intended for this to be published

[Laurent Dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and usefull, contains the essential insight of Kline on Genesis. For a more extended commentary on Genesis (only to Abraham) go to Kingdom Prologue (418 pages).

[Mitch Bedzyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and Christ-centered. Kline is so helpful when it comes to understanding OT passages in light
of their canonical context and redemptive history.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Hendrickson Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Upon reading this book, I was somewhat surprised that this was the first book I remember reading from the noted and late Presbyterian theologian. Upon reading, for example, his breakdown of the chiasmic structure of the book of Genesis, I was immediately reminded of previous readings of books likely influenced by his instruction of other conservative Presbyterians [1] in decades of faithful teaching work. Given the fact that this work was a very refreshing and thoughtful commentary on the book of Genesis, although given that Kline has been dead for eight years, it is hard to tell how new this commentary is in some senses, it is likely that this will not be the last book I read from this author by any means. Perhaps I have more of an interest in the book of Genesis than many readers of this book do [2], but in reading this book I got the distinct feeling that anyone who enjoys reading the study notes of a bible like the Geneva Bible and who enjoys reading thoughtful and brief commentaries on verses that focus on overall biblical patterns and the wit and wordplay of the Hebrew scriptures will likely appreciate this book.

In terms of its structure, this short book (at only about 140 pages or so) is made up of a series of short comments that are organized by the author's structure of Genesis as a book, in which there are clear patterns based upon the comments the book makes about an account being made of the generations of someone. Kline notes thoughtfully that the book of Genesis is organized around characteristic but not complete lists of generations and that within the structure of the book as a whole time is spent talking about those people whose lines were rejected before picking up on the discussion of the covenant people of the Bible--the Sethite line ending in Noah and his family, the Shemite line going through Peleg to Terah and his descendants through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This contrast between accepted and rejected peoples, and Kline's characteristic interest in common grace and in the way that godly people show concern for the well-being of the ungodly realms in which they are a part, are part of what make this particular book such a lovely one to read. One gets the sense that Kline would have been an amazing seminary instructor, a man who combined deep intellectual knowledge about the Hebrew language and its sense of wordplay and ambiguity and also someone particularly interested in encouraging among believers a seriousness about our obligations to the gentile realms in which we live and serve others.

This combination of head and heart makes this book a very worthwhile commentary on Genesis and a worthy addition to the library of anyone who wishes to find good material for articles and messages about Genesis and its place in the larger structure of the Bible. It is all the more impressive that Kline manages this achievement despite the fact that the book was a fragmentary one that did not receive any attention for publication until after his death. Among the more noteworthy aspects of this book that is worthy of comment is the fact that Kline is conservative in multiple ways. This book gives a firm rebuttal to misguided documentary theories, but also shows its author to be a temperamental conservative who points out the limits of sound interpretation when it comes to dealing with the creation and flood accounts. The author's unwillingness to exceed the firm foundation of his text and his generally charitable attitude towards the reader make this book feel like one is listening to the author give a friendly graduate seminar or a conversation over dinner while pouring over the Bible in English, Hebrew, and the Greek. While such an experience is no longer possible in this life, this book is the next best thing and a worthy introduction to the works of a worthy biblical scholar.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

[John Kight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few things should be more exciting to contemporary readers of the Bible than a previously unpublished work by Meredith G. Kline. Kline was an influential American Old Testament scholar and a formative voice of Covenant theology within the Reformed tradition. Kline received a ThB and a ThM from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Dropsie University. With a teaching career that stretched over five decades and a list of publications that is equally as impressive, it is hard to imagine exactly how far the influence of Kline has reached. Nevertheless, Genesis: A New Commentary, edited by Kline’s grandson, Jonathan G. Kline, is yet another shining reminder of a legacy that sought nothing more than to illuminate the Savior through an unquenchable passion for the Old Testament Scriptures.

Genesis: A New Commentary is in many ways a brief, more distilled companion commentary to Kline’s well-known magnum opus Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview. It contains roughly 150 pages of content, large font, and a spacious verse-by-verse format that is easy to follow. For a commentary on Genesis it’s small, and thus, some may deem it as insignificant because of its size. But, as they say, “never judge a book by its cover.”

Three things should be noted here. First, those familiar with Kline’s work will be well aware of his unusual ability to pack sizable amounts of information into just a few sentences. This commentary on Genesis likely displays Kline’s ability more consistently than many of his other writings. Second, for the busy pastor or teacher, the brevity of this commentary will actually yield more fruit than some of the larger and more technical works. This is not to discourage the use of larger and more detailed commentaries. In fact, the opposite is true. However, Kline’s keenness and sensitivity to the larger covenantal picture is beyond the scope of most commentaries, and to get that in such a small and readable package guarantees many years of fruitful reflection. Lastly, the editor has also provided footnotes with references to relevant articles and books written by Kline to further illuminate difficult or important themes in the commentary. This welcomed addition to the commentary allows the reader to explore the depths of Kline’s insight, which often times is established on a more detailed treatment elsewhere.

Those who have enjoyed and benefited from the writing and teaching ministry of Meredith G. Kline are no doubt rejoicing at the publication of this significant little commentary. Kline’s insights are rich and thought provoking, and while many readers may differ with him at points (I am thinking specifically here about his understanding of the initial chapters of Genesis and his Reformed/Covenantal presuppositions), his breadth of understanding is truly breathtaking and worthy of engagement. As mentioned above, Genesis: A New Commentary by Meredith G. Kline guarantees many years of fruitful reflection. My appreciation goes out to Hendrickson Publishers and Kline’s grandson, Jonathan G, Kline, for making this important work available to the public. It should be on the shelf of every serious student of Genesis.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Kline is someone I've not really read much, but was intrigued as I have read several things mentioning the insight and even uniqueness of his writings. This volume turns out to be a posthumous work where his grandson, Jonathan Kline, found this manuscript in his grandfather's things and lovingly edited it for publication.

Though this book is clearly not written as a major commentary, it is a pithy help on Genesis that reflects the mature judgments of an influential scholar in the twilight of his career. Unlike some modern commentaries, this book is not dry. Even better, he is not afraid to see Christ and His glorious Gospel revealed on the pages of Genesis. For that matter, he even sees Moses as the author, which is unfortunately too uncommon in our day.

I couldn't personally agree with all his thoughts on the covenant, nor a few of his thoughts in Genesis 1, but if you prefer a volume that spurs thinking rather than trying to do it all for you, you might want to look up this little jewel.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Isaac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed, expected something better. Does not make thorough arguments, more notes and unexplored assertions on the text. The part I read (commentary on Gen 1-2:3) was basically a surface level description of what the text already said, a few unexplored interpretations, and lacking any really penetrating insight.