Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives

by Peter C. Bouteneff

What are we missing when we look at the creation narratives of Genesis only or primarily through the lens of modern discourse about science and religion? Theologian Peter Bouteneff explores how first-millennium Christian understandings of creation can inform current thought in the church and in the public square. He reaches back into the earliest centuries of our era to recover the meanings that early Jewish and Christian writers found in the stories of the six days of creation and of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Readers will find that their forbears in the faith saw in the Genesis narrative not simply an account of origins but also a rich teaching about the righteousness of God, the saving mission of Christ, and the destiny of the human creature.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, History, Biblical Studies, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows us how the earliest Christians read the creation accounts (Genesis 1-3), which makes it nearly a must-read in the never-ending debates about origins that continue in our culture. Bouteneff begins with how the text itself came together and its role in pre-Christian Judaism. Perhaps surprising to most people, Genesis 1-3 plays practically no role in the rest of the Old Testament; it begins to get more attention in the intertestamental period. Chapter two is about Paul's use of the creation narratives, followed by a chapter on the second-century apologists (Justin Martyr, Melito of Sardis, Theophilus of Antioch and Irenaeus of Lyons), Origen (and Tertullian), and the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, with a mention of Cyril of Jerusalem and Athanasius).

Bouteneff shows that these ancients held in common a focus on Jesus Christ. They never interpreted the creation stories for their own sake, but always in light of Jesus Christ who is the center of history. If nothing else, this is something that Christians should keep in mind before being drawn into debates about Genesis. Following the fathers, we should ask if what is normally debated really matters? When these Christians interpreted the six day creation story they focused on what it told us about the Creator rather than the specifics of how God created. The story of Adam and Eve in paradise (Gen. 2-3) was mined for much more theology and in various ways. Perhaps most interesting, none of these Christians believed Adam's sin was passed on to the rest of humanity in such a way as we are all born guilty. Instead, we become guilty for our own sins. Finally, most of the focus on Adam came from beginning with Christ and moving backwards. Again, Christ is the focus.

Bouteneff is an Eastern Orthodox theologian and thus the focus here is on the early church Fathers who are heroes to the Orthodox. For example, Augustine is not even mentioned. On that note, the book would only be enriched by including how Augustine interpreted these texts, as well as others (such as the fourth-century theologians in Antioch mentioned in the final chapter). That is the biggest flaw here.

Some evangelical Christians may wonder why we should care what the early church Fathers wrote or how they interpreted Genesis 1-3. It is important because they are our brothers in Christ whose work has stood the test of time. It is also important because none of us interpret scripture in a vacuum, we all are influenced by someone: our pastor, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Augustine, etc. Many conservative Christians are quick to listen to Ken Hamm in the debate on origins and follow his interpretations. Why not then see how the early Christians, whose work blazed a trail and stood the test of time, interpreted the stories?

Overall, I think this book is eye-opening because many Christians would assume that pre-scientific Christians understood Genesis 1 as a literal six 24-hour day creation story and that this interpretation held sway until Darwin came along. The fact is, these ancient Christians did not understand the Bible that way and there has always been a variety of interpretations of Genesis 1-3 in the church. That lesson alone is worth the price of this book.

[Neh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a full review but I'm writing just a few words just for the benefit of other potential readers...(If I were paid to write a full review, then I might do a full review but I have no more time to offer.)

It boggles the mind that it takes someone with a doctorate from Oxford is needed to make an obfuscating (even a 200-page moronic point, I might say if I'm having a bad day) about the patristic exegesis on the origins. No young earther will be persuaded by the authors' arguments; he merely emphasizes that there have been different layers interpretations of Genesis 1-3 in the church fathers. Seriously, so what. That's not the issue. Offer some substantive, stronger arguments or be humble enough to really consider that you might be wrong, dude. (Incidentally, why is it that every Eastern Orthodox writer disappoint and dissuade me from converting to EO?)

The author says at one point, basically, that we shouldn't marry our Scripture reading to the science of the age. But he himself does not even realize that he and those who concur with him are in the same pit; whereas he claims that there is danger to attach any contemporary understanding of science to Scripture reading, he does not realize that his subconscious reason for writing this book is tied to his overly reverential view of the modern versions of natural history.

All that is not to say that there isn't any recyclable material in the garbage. There is quite a bit -- Just read between the lines: wheras the author cherrypicks ahistorical remarks from the patristic writings on Genesis, you cherrypick the historical settings of the patristic writers the from this book. For example, how the NT canon was received, and how Origen was this and that. (Btw, he digs into some passages from Irenaeus, Basil etc to make them sound more like Origen. So eisegetical.) The recyclable material is the only incentive for me to give it another star to a 1-star book.

[Asher Conrad Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very, very academic book focused entirely on the early church's views on the Hexameron (the six days of creation) and the Paradise narrative, discussing Christianity's most early views on Genesis 1-3. There is nothing to fault this book for--Bouteneff engages in an academic and thorough investigation into the textual beliefs and doctrines of Paul, and the subsequent early church fathers, Origen, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Gregory of Nyssa, and many others. This was a very dense investigation, and one I certainly have learned vastly from, although I doubt that I would have ever chosen to read it had it not been required for a class, as this is definitely a book for the most passionate of biblical scholars.

[David Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at how Genesis 1-3 were viewed by its original Jewish audience, the Apostle Paul, and the Church Fathers up to the Cappadocians. If this book has any shortcomings it is that it stops with the Cappadocians and does not interact with the one Church Father who perhaps made the most use of Genesis 1-3, Augustine. Nevertheless, this book would be excellent reference for anyone working on Creation, the Fall, etc.

[Ashraf Bashir · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is extremely hard to follow the ideas of the author, he has many cross-topics per section and there is no clear topical separation in sections of each chapter. I struggled to understand what is he aiming to deliver to me as a reader! His style of writing needs many improvements, otherwise it will keep having negative impact on the academic material in the book.

[Camilla Coleman]

Um yeah so I read this for class, and it’s really boring, like it’s interesting but really boring, but at least it counts towards my goal!!

[Blake Paine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of early Christianity and how the most important thinkers approached Genesis and the story of Creation.

[Kristofer Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a struggle. Not because it is hard to read, but because the content is challenging. I find I can only read a few pages at a time because I have to take time to integrate the material. This is a good for transforming the practice of religion into true faith.

[Vinnie Santini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! Genesis is being held captive by the modern mind and needs to be set free! This book opens the creation narrative up to how it was read and used from its beginning to the cappadocian fathers.

[Marcas]

This is a very multifaceted and important work, explaining how Genesis has been viewed in many different ways, at many different times and is a wonderful corrective to a rigorous and literal interpretation of what are properly Theological and Poetic writings...Great as a reference text also.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of early church views on the first few chapters of Genesis.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended!