Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis

by Patrick Henry Reardon

The Book of Genesis is foundational reading for the Christian, concerned as it is with the origins of our race and the beginnings of salvation history. Its opening pages provide the theological suppositions of the entire biblical Creation, especially that of man in God's image, the structure of time, man's relationship to God, the entrance of sin into the world, and God s selection of a specific line of revelation that will give structure to history. Early Christian writers such as St. Paul saw no dichotomy between the writings of the Law, of which Genesis is the beginning, and the Gospel. Rather, the Gospel is the key to understanding the Law. In Creation and the Patriarchal Histories, Fr. Reardon shows clearly how the proper understanding of Creation and the Fall informs all of Christian doctrine, and how the narratives of the patriarchs from Noah to Joseph pave the way for the salvation history that continues in Exodus.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2008

About the author

Patrick Henry Reardon is pastor of All Saints' Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, and a senior editor of Touchstone magazine.

Father Patrick was educated at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), St. Anselm's College (Rome), The Pontifical Biblical Institute (Rome), and St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary (South Canaan, PA).

He has authored many books including: Christ in the Psalms, Christ in His Saints, The Trial of Job: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Job, Chronicles of History and Worship: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Books of Chronicles, and Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Reflections on the Book of Genesis.

In addition, Father Patrick has published over a thousand articles, editorials, and reviews, in "Books and Culture", "Touchstone", "The Scottish Journal of Theology", "The Catholic Biblical Quarterly", "Pro Ecclesia", "St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly", and other journals on three continents over the past forty-plus years.

Reviews

[Josef Muench · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most of Reardon’s biblical reflections, my only real complaint is that they’re merely reflections, and too short. He also has a tendency to occasionally note something intriguing—for example, that it has long been noticed that the tribes of Israel in some measure correspond to the Babylonian zodiac—and then leave the reader hanging, unsure of what Reardon actually expects him to make of that information. But overall, this is an easy-to-read, and unabashedly Christian, reflection on Genesis, with numerous nuggets of gold scattered throughout. Any Christian reader would find it edifying.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim volume is an Eastern Orthodox priest's reflections on the first five books of the Bible. It is accessible, and helpful to the reader. I've always liked commentary on the early books of the Bible, as I find them hard to understand on their own.

[Jodi Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up going to church, I spent years half-listening when references or readings went back to Genesis. I knew the stories by heart -- or so I thought. Fr. Reardon has brought to light things I had glossed or, given the age of the text and the reality that I read in translation, things I never understood on account of chronological and cultural differences.

[Matt Sheffield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, though it wasn't what I was expecting. What you will find here is a chapter by chapter description of the book of Genesis with reflections by the author. It seems ideal to read along side Genesis itself rather than to read straight through.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potentially would have gotten a higher rating had I not just read Father Lawrence Farley's book on the Old Testament, but an interesting discussion of the cycles of the Book of Genesis and the important lessons contained therein.

[Vinnie Santini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, but insightful. A small introduction to the book of Genesis and some helpful side notes dealing with literary style, origin debates, and Patristic insights.

[Jerusha Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic insights throughout the book of Genesis

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent short series of reflections on Genesis from a not too heavy handed Orthodox perspective.