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The Bible for Normal People #1
Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible
Given the fever-pitched controversies about evolution, Adam and Eve, and scientific evidence for the Flood, the average person might feel intimidated by the book of Genesis. But behind the heady debates is a terrific story-one that anyone can understand, and one that has gripped people for ages. If you are not a Bible scholar but want to be able to read Genesis and understand its big picture, this brief, witty book is the guide you've been waiting for. Clear summaries and thought-provoking questions provide direction for personal reflection and group discussion. Peter Enns, a Biblical Studies professor, and Jared Byas, an Old Testament professor, summarize the book's key themes and help us see Genesis as an ancient story, one with continued relevance for human experience today. Genesis for Normal People illuminates the characters that fill the book of Genesis, causing us to resonate with their choices and struggles even as we marvel at their distant world. And that's what you'll find here-not scientific proof texts or simple moral tales, but a distant world made available, and a story that is often strange, sometimes dangerous, and always filled with rich possibilities.
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT GENESIS FOR NORMAL PEOPLE:
“This book is a welcome antidote to the mystification about the book of Genesis that goes around. It is accessible for readers who want to take the plunge into this old text. It is gentle in leading readers to a critical sense of the text in response to a “late” trauma in Israel. It is imaginative in its articulation of a book that might otherwise be off-putting. The convergence of accessibility, gentleness, and imagination make this a very fine read.”
– Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Genesis for Normal People is the perfect starting point for Christians who want to read the book of Genesis more faithfully and honestly. Enns and Byas break down the history, genre, culture, and context of this fascinating book of the Bible, so that “normal people”—you know, those who can’t read ancient Hebrew—can get a better sense of its purpose, meaning and relevance. The authors manage to simplify without dumbing down, challenge without confusing, and dig for deep truth without compromising their intellectual integrity. A must–read for anyone who care enough about the Bible to want to read and understand it on its own terms.”
– Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood
“The stories in the book of Genesis are among the most well known in the Bible—so much so that it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Genesis is an ancient document from a cultural setting very different from our own. Enns and Byas have provided a highly readable volume that reminds readers of its reality while explaining the meaning and significance of Genesis in light of its ancient context. An ideal book for individual and study groups interested in understanding Genesis on its own terms.”
– John R. Franke, General Coordinator for The Gospel and Our Culture Network
“Evangelical Old Testament scholarship has come of age and is now coming out from behind the shadows of suppression and secrecy. No one represents this fresh coming of age more than Peter Enns, who, with co-author Jared Byas, makes available to any Bible reader a fresh engagement with Genesis—readable, responsible, and recognizably fresh.”
– Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT GENESIS FOR NORMAL PEOPLE:
“This book is a welcome antidote to the mystification about the book of Genesis that goes around. It is accessible for readers who want to take the plunge into this old text. It is gentle in leading readers to a critical sense of the text in response to a “late” trauma in Israel. It is imaginative in its articulation of a book that might otherwise be off-putting. The convergence of accessibility, gentleness, and imagination make this a very fine read.”
– Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary
“Genesis for Normal People is the perfect starting point for Christians who want to read the book of Genesis more faithfully and honestly. Enns and Byas break down the history, genre, culture, and context of this fascinating book of the Bible, so that “normal people”—you know, those who can’t read ancient Hebrew—can get a better sense of its purpose, meaning and relevance. The authors manage to simplify without dumbing down, challenge without confusing, and dig for deep truth without compromising their intellectual integrity. A must–read for anyone who care enough about the Bible to want to read and understand it on its own terms.”
– Rachel Held Evans, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood
“The stories in the book of Genesis are among the most well known in the Bible—so much so that it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Genesis is an ancient document from a cultural setting very different from our own. Enns and Byas have provided a highly readable volume that reminds readers of its reality while explaining the meaning and significance of Genesis in light of its ancient context. An ideal book for individual and study groups interested in understanding Genesis on its own terms.”
– John R. Franke, General Coordinator for The Gospel and Our Culture Network
“Evangelical Old Testament scholarship has come of age and is now coming out from behind the shadows of suppression and secrecy. No one represents this fresh coming of age more than Peter Enns, who, with co-author Jared Byas, makes available to any Bible reader a fresh engagement with Genesis—readable, responsible, and recognizably fresh.”
– Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary
195 pages, paperback
First published April 9, 2012
213 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Peter Enns
76 books741 followersPeter Enns is Abram S. Clemens Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Enns is a frequent contributor to journals and encyclopedias and is the author of several books, including Inspiration and Incarnation, The Evolution of Adam, and The Bible Tells Me So.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
October 3, 2019
After some initial difficulty accepting Enns' approach to the Bible, I've grown comfortable reading his work. He's essentially doing a good thing: Getting readers to read the Bible differently than mainstream evangelicalism does.
In particular, his main message is that a proper reading of the Bible (Genesis, in this case) means paying more serious attention to the initial context of authorship, and read it with the mind of the original intended audience - and not presume it was written with modern readers in mind. When was the text written, to whom? What was the world context then, and thus what what the author was trying to communicate to that audience? How do we actually put ourselves in that moment, and hear what was being said then, and make sure we do not mis-apply, or mis-interpret that now by listening with modern ears & context? Which means we have to make adjustments in our thinking as we read it.
Mainstream evangelical pastors / speakers have long used snippets or tidbits of this approach. It has been common to hear "The original word in this verse is X, which in the original [greek/hebrew] meant foo", and then go on to make a point about what they think the Bible is saying to Christians today. But Enns is trying to point out that this often doesn't work; that the reader must more closely consider the full context of the original author.
Pete is also good at collecting and organizing biblical criticism for consumption by the average ("normal") person, but makes Christian readers feel safe / comfortable because we know / think that Pete, too, is one who is trying to figure out the best way to be a good christian - instead of tearing down that belief system. And though it isn't always obvious on first listening, good listeners will start to hear that Enns is trying to give us ways to have a good relationship with the God of Christianity; that he, too, is a Christian and is trying to help.
In this book, Enns has a simple point about what Genesis is: A reassurance for ancient Israelites saying "I know it sucks that you've been exiled and what happened to that land of your own that you were promised, and all. But, take a chill-pill and don't start worshipping just some other god. The Yaweh you know is (1) the creator of the world, and (2) the savior of Israel (which you'll learn more about in the rest of the Torah / Pentateuch)."
This book is about how to "read" Genesis to see this. He first collects the current-best scholarship info to show that Genesis was not the first Bible book written; that it was written after the Persians defeated the Babylonians releasing the captive Israelites to go back "home". That was in 539 BCE, well after the reign of King David. And probably written by multiple authors compiling / editing older writings and oral traditions that had been around a long time. (Support for this made in his chapter 1.)
Second, Genesis is setting up themes that will show up in the rest of the Pentateuch. There are 10 (actually 11, according to others) technical sections that cover various arcs of Israel's history (which was super-useful to see). But that those really reflect 3 major themes about Israel's early "Genesis" (origin): How God got Israel's first ancestors started (and where they went wrong), the history of the troubles Israel gets into with God from Abraham to Jacob, then how God delivers Israel via Jacob's ("annoying") son Joseph. And this is all just the setup for the sequel, where we meet the story that Dreamworks cashes in on (Exodus).
This is all just the "story of Israel" as recipient of God's promise of people & land. Enns wants us to get ourselves into the mindset of an ancient Israelite, and see Genesis as recording Israel's national conscience about its struggle with God over people & land.
So, what do I think of that? Overall, I'm positive on it. As usual, Enns does a good job of making you look at the forest, and not the trees, and this broader perspective can't help but affect your thinking - generally to good effect. He has done a better job than other authors for me of grokking the overall structure of the book. He does a really good job of putting me in the original context, and giving me the mind of an original reader so that I can see what the author was saying then, and not make a misinterpretation for now.
The most interesting perspective he provides is that we should see this book as a text written for an exiled people returning home, who need to capture a statement of identity & values as they set up shop again after a couple hundred years of being exiles in Babylon. They need a cultural statement reaffirming what they want to be - and eliminating those things that might have crept into that sense while multiple generations came and went in Babylon. As a startup company guy I can almost see the Pentateuch as a long form of "cultural statement for the company."
The book doesn't get five stars from me because Enns can sometimes feel incomplete for me. Look - he is trying to get readers to make a major mind-shift in how they read what they view as part of their core beliefs. This takes work on the part of readers. In trying to get us to shake a lifetime of existing nuances, he needs to answer many questions that are too-often unanswered. I assume if he tried to address them all, the book would be much longer, and maybe not written for his "normal people" audience. But the lack of depth sometimes makes me wonder if these views will stand up to scrutiny.
He also relies heavily on using the word "story" as the description of what Genesis is. This makes it hard for traditional readers to preserve their belief that the Bible is the "inspired word of God". If it's just a bunch of ancient stories, where's the authorship of God in it? And if it is just ancient stories, why should we believe it has relevance to how a believer relates to God today? (He does make this case, but you kind of have to tease this out in the end.)
I've also read much better work on how to view the biblical creation narrative. A terrific one (that uses Enns' approach of "reading differently") comes from John H. Walton in The Lost World of Genesis One. Walton is super-scrupulous in providing a "Read Genesis differently" approach, and goes further to present a more complete case than Enns - one that I can actually buy & share with others with confidence.
So, my summary about this book is that it is one most evangelicals (in 2019) will struggle with - as I did - until they decide to give space to Enns' general approach of looking at the Bible. Doing so is scary; it makes one worry whether you're being true to your beliefs.
But whether you decide to go along with his way of reading or not, it is healthy to read this kind of approach.
One final note: I don't think this is the first book by Enns that people should read, because it builds on his general approach to reading. And you best learn that first. So first read Pete Enns' book How the Bible Actually Works. Then read this (Genesis) book.
In particular, his main message is that a proper reading of the Bible (Genesis, in this case) means paying more serious attention to the initial context of authorship, and read it with the mind of the original intended audience - and not presume it was written with modern readers in mind. When was the text written, to whom? What was the world context then, and thus what what the author was trying to communicate to that audience? How do we actually put ourselves in that moment, and hear what was being said then, and make sure we do not mis-apply, or mis-interpret that now by listening with modern ears & context? Which means we have to make adjustments in our thinking as we read it.
Mainstream evangelical pastors / speakers have long used snippets or tidbits of this approach. It has been common to hear "The original word in this verse is X, which in the original [greek/hebrew] meant foo", and then go on to make a point about what they think the Bible is saying to Christians today. But Enns is trying to point out that this often doesn't work; that the reader must more closely consider the full context of the original author.
Pete is also good at collecting and organizing biblical criticism for consumption by the average ("normal") person, but makes Christian readers feel safe / comfortable because we know / think that Pete, too, is one who is trying to figure out the best way to be a good christian - instead of tearing down that belief system. And though it isn't always obvious on first listening, good listeners will start to hear that Enns is trying to give us ways to have a good relationship with the God of Christianity; that he, too, is a Christian and is trying to help.
In this book, Enns has a simple point about what Genesis is: A reassurance for ancient Israelites saying "I know it sucks that you've been exiled and what happened to that land of your own that you were promised, and all. But, take a chill-pill and don't start worshipping just some other god. The Yaweh you know is (1) the creator of the world, and (2) the savior of Israel (which you'll learn more about in the rest of the Torah / Pentateuch)."
This book is about how to "read" Genesis to see this. He first collects the current-best scholarship info to show that Genesis was not the first Bible book written; that it was written after the Persians defeated the Babylonians releasing the captive Israelites to go back "home". That was in 539 BCE, well after the reign of King David. And probably written by multiple authors compiling / editing older writings and oral traditions that had been around a long time. (Support for this made in his chapter 1.)
Second, Genesis is setting up themes that will show up in the rest of the Pentateuch. There are 10 (actually 11, according to others) technical sections that cover various arcs of Israel's history (which was super-useful to see). But that those really reflect 3 major themes about Israel's early "Genesis" (origin): How God got Israel's first ancestors started (and where they went wrong), the history of the troubles Israel gets into with God from Abraham to Jacob, then how God delivers Israel via Jacob's ("annoying") son Joseph. And this is all just the setup for the sequel, where we meet the story that Dreamworks cashes in on (Exodus).
This is all just the "story of Israel" as recipient of God's promise of people & land. Enns wants us to get ourselves into the mindset of an ancient Israelite, and see Genesis as recording Israel's national conscience about its struggle with God over people & land.
So, what do I think of that? Overall, I'm positive on it. As usual, Enns does a good job of making you look at the forest, and not the trees, and this broader perspective can't help but affect your thinking - generally to good effect. He has done a better job than other authors for me of grokking the overall structure of the book. He does a really good job of putting me in the original context, and giving me the mind of an original reader so that I can see what the author was saying then, and not make a misinterpretation for now.
The most interesting perspective he provides is that we should see this book as a text written for an exiled people returning home, who need to capture a statement of identity & values as they set up shop again after a couple hundred years of being exiles in Babylon. They need a cultural statement reaffirming what they want to be - and eliminating those things that might have crept into that sense while multiple generations came and went in Babylon. As a startup company guy I can almost see the Pentateuch as a long form of "cultural statement for the company."
The book doesn't get five stars from me because Enns can sometimes feel incomplete for me. Look - he is trying to get readers to make a major mind-shift in how they read what they view as part of their core beliefs. This takes work on the part of readers. In trying to get us to shake a lifetime of existing nuances, he needs to answer many questions that are too-often unanswered. I assume if he tried to address them all, the book would be much longer, and maybe not written for his "normal people" audience. But the lack of depth sometimes makes me wonder if these views will stand up to scrutiny.
He also relies heavily on using the word "story" as the description of what Genesis is. This makes it hard for traditional readers to preserve their belief that the Bible is the "inspired word of God". If it's just a bunch of ancient stories, where's the authorship of God in it? And if it is just ancient stories, why should we believe it has relevance to how a believer relates to God today? (He does make this case, but you kind of have to tease this out in the end.)
I've also read much better work on how to view the biblical creation narrative. A terrific one (that uses Enns' approach of "reading differently") comes from John H. Walton in The Lost World of Genesis One. Walton is super-scrupulous in providing a "Read Genesis differently" approach, and goes further to present a more complete case than Enns - one that I can actually buy & share with others with confidence.
So, my summary about this book is that it is one most evangelicals (in 2019) will struggle with - as I did - until they decide to give space to Enns' general approach of looking at the Bible. Doing so is scary; it makes one worry whether you're being true to your beliefs.
But whether you decide to go along with his way of reading or not, it is healthy to read this kind of approach.
One final note: I don't think this is the first book by Enns that people should read, because it builds on his general approach to reading. And you best learn that first. So first read Pete Enns' book How the Bible Actually Works. Then read this (Genesis) book.
April 28, 2020
Straightforward, concise overview of Genesis that emphasizes some important historical-critical basics you probably weren't taught in Sunday school (if you were, kudos to those SS teachers). Examples: how the Genesis creation & flood narratives compare with those of neighboring peoples, or how Genesis was likely edited into its final form during the exilic period/why that matters for modern readers. Overall this is a helpful primer that introduces the reader not just to Genesis but to good reading habits that apply to the entire Old Testament.
October 21, 2023
Great short introduction to the Ancient Literature interpretation of Genesis. It would be a great book for high school students to read alongside other interpretations, or for anyone who wants to understand it a bit more. And the title is a nice touch.
May 19, 2022
A good introductory level work to the book of Genesis. In this book, Enns and Byas talk about the overarching theme of the book of Genesis as a whole; it's the story of Israel. Enns and Byas propose that Genesis was written in the exilic period or post-exhilic period (i.e when Israel was in Babylonian Captivity) with the purpose of showing them how, even though their ancestors routinely messed up, God was still faithful to them and carried on with the plan of building the nation anyway. The moral flaws of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are highlighted in Genesis, but so is their faithfulness, and the author has shown that God was good to his promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. Moreover, what the author is doing in some of the earliest parts is subverting Babylonian theology. For example, Genesis 1 exhaults Yahweh as the supreme Creator of all and ascribes to him some things ascribed to the Babylonian God, Marduk. And goes one step further. For example, Marduk had to overcome a chaos dragon named Tiamut before he created the heavens and earth. This was not so with Yahweh. Yahweh simply showed up over "The Deep" (i.e Tiamut's place of residence) and the chaos dragon was nowhere to be found. God just showed up and got to work. No battle needed (of course, later books such as Job and the Psalms do depict God going to war with a sea dragon of chaos, but Genesis depicts such a fight as God showing up to the ring and his opponent being too scared to show his face). He just shows up and starts bringing functions to the universe.
Given his book "The Evolution Of Adam", which left a bad taste in my mouth, I didn't expect to agree with Enns as much as I did. I expected to find myself disagreeing with about half of it, but I read the book to glean what I thought Enns probably would get more or less right. After all, nobody is 100% wrong about everything they write, and you can even learn from people you disagree with. However, to my surprise, Enns' book was surprisingly informative.
It wasn't quite as in depth as I would have liked, but it wasn't designed to do that, and the authors admit up front that this was going to just be a broad overview of the book. Now, I said that "Enns and Byas propose that Genesis was written in the exilic period or post-exhilic period". This is true. They adhere to what is known in layman's terms as "The Documentary Hypothesis" or, to use the more scholarly term, JEDP. But while I disagree that Moses had NO hand whatsoever in the composition of the Torah, I'm willing to concede that someone else might have written Genesis, and especially the parts near the end of the Torah that record Moses' unsurpassing humility and his death. I would hold to what Michael Heiser calls "A Mosaic Core" view. Maybe all Moses wrote down were the laws and regulations. Maybe he recorded none of the historical narrative at all. Or maybe he wrote only two of the five books. But Moses had to have SOME impact on the shaping of the Torah. Why? Because Jesus said so! Everytime Jesus talks about what the Torah says, He will talk about it as Moses being the one who wrote what is in the scriptures.
Given his book "The Evolution Of Adam", which left a bad taste in my mouth, I didn't expect to agree with Enns as much as I did. I expected to find myself disagreeing with about half of it, but I read the book to glean what I thought Enns probably would get more or less right. After all, nobody is 100% wrong about everything they write, and you can even learn from people you disagree with. However, to my surprise, Enns' book was surprisingly informative.
It wasn't quite as in depth as I would have liked, but it wasn't designed to do that, and the authors admit up front that this was going to just be a broad overview of the book. Now, I said that "Enns and Byas propose that Genesis was written in the exilic period or post-exhilic period". This is true. They adhere to what is known in layman's terms as "The Documentary Hypothesis" or, to use the more scholarly term, JEDP. But while I disagree that Moses had NO hand whatsoever in the composition of the Torah, I'm willing to concede that someone else might have written Genesis, and especially the parts near the end of the Torah that record Moses' unsurpassing humility and his death. I would hold to what Michael Heiser calls "A Mosaic Core" view. Maybe all Moses wrote down were the laws and regulations. Maybe he recorded none of the historical narrative at all. Or maybe he wrote only two of the five books. But Moses had to have SOME impact on the shaping of the Torah. Why? Because Jesus said so! Everytime Jesus talks about what the Torah says, He will talk about it as Moses being the one who wrote what is in the scriptures.
October 17, 2022
Enns und Byas führen die Lesenden auf knapp 150 Seiten durch die Genesis. Es ist sehr leicht geschrieben und bricht den akademischen Forschungsstand für den Normalo runter. An manchen Stellen hätte man sicherlich andere Schwerpunkte wählen können, aber insgesamt ein wertvolles Buch.
January 9, 2025
Outstanding. Christian academics who view and analyze Genesis through the lens of Hebrew scripture and not typology.
Also, I listened to this as an audiobook, but that’s not an available edition in goodreads. Dear Mr. Bezos, less work on your rocket and more work on improving this app. Thank you.
Also, I listened to this as an audiobook, but that’s not an available edition in goodreads. Dear Mr. Bezos, less work on your rocket and more work on improving this app. Thank you.
July 24, 2023
(I actually read the 2nd edition of this book, for the record. But I can’t find it on Goodreads.) I wish I had been exposed to this beautiful view of Genesis many years ago. I can’t wait to share this book with others!
March 12, 2024
Almost done teaching through this on Sunday morning. Such a good digestible commentary on how to responsibly read and understand scripture, in this case Genesis. Looking forward to begin the journey of "Exodus for Normal People" next month!
May 19, 2013
Peter Enns and Jared Byas have written a brief (104 pages plus an 18-page Guide for Group Discussions) guide to reading the entire book of Genesis as the story of the nation of Israel, as told through a later (post-exile) point of view, and on how to read it through ancient rather than modern eyes. Throughout the book, the authors point out how details of the biblical stories in Genesis reflect the realities of a later period of time.
The authors expand on the theme that the story of Adam and Eve isn't about the first human beings, but is instead a story of Israel in miniature. Just as Adam and Eve were banished from the garden for disobeying God, so was Israel exiled from the promised land for disobeying God.
The authors go on to suggest that the emphasis on the flood story is not about how (reporting facts of history), but about why God sent a (local) flood, and why the Canaanites deserved everything they got. The authors also point out how Abraham's trip to and from Egypt mirrors the Exodus story. At the end of Genesis, a difficult period of growth is about to begin, just as at the end of the Babylonian captivity. Instead of thinking of this as distorting history, the Israelites saw it as connecting the present with the past.
The authors conclude by again pointing out that the book of Genesis wasn't set up to settle the timing and order of creation, but to answer ancient questions for ancient Israelites.
This book is an excellent, fun-to-read introduction to the entire book of Genesis, although the "Further Reading" page is much too short. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Old Testament.
The authors expand on the theme that the story of Adam and Eve isn't about the first human beings, but is instead a story of Israel in miniature. Just as Adam and Eve were banished from the garden for disobeying God, so was Israel exiled from the promised land for disobeying God.
The authors go on to suggest that the emphasis on the flood story is not about how (reporting facts of history), but about why God sent a (local) flood, and why the Canaanites deserved everything they got. The authors also point out how Abraham's trip to and from Egypt mirrors the Exodus story. At the end of Genesis, a difficult period of growth is about to begin, just as at the end of the Babylonian captivity. Instead of thinking of this as distorting history, the Israelites saw it as connecting the present with the past.
The authors conclude by again pointing out that the book of Genesis wasn't set up to settle the timing and order of creation, but to answer ancient questions for ancient Israelites.
This book is an excellent, fun-to-read introduction to the entire book of Genesis, although the "Further Reading" page is much too short. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Old Testament.
February 16, 2017
This is a great little overview of the book of Genesis for anyone from pastors to, as the title says, "normal" people. Rather then getting sidetracked by questions of science and evolution, the authors put Genesis in its ancient context seeing it as the beginning of the story of Israel. Thus, Adam the first Israelite is faced with the same choices later Israel had. This ancient context also puts in focus the Babylonian exile, with Genesis 1 taking swipes at Babylonian religion ("You worship the sun, moon and stars? Our God invented those and is greater then them, take that!").
It is a good little book which will frustrate those who see the Bible as completely opposed to evolution. Such readers will see the authors as skirting such questions and giving up too much. But to other readers, it will offer welcome answers that make sense of how the Bible does and does not relate to modern science.
It is a good little book which will frustrate those who see the Bible as completely opposed to evolution. Such readers will see the authors as skirting such questions and giving up too much. But to other readers, it will offer welcome answers that make sense of how the Bible does and does not relate to modern science.
November 11, 2020
I read this for a class at church and it was perfect for that. Short, yet enjoyable. Once I had a grasp of the book’s thesis — that Genesis was written by ancient people for ancient people and we must try to read the book through this lens rather than through a modern lens — it shows up again and again. It really drove the message home for me but was hard to engage with by the end (even though the end of Genesis has my absolute favorite story!). I will say, however, that for someone who didn’t always pay attention in Sunday school, the summaries for each story are really readable and full of important detail, even though Enns and Byas can’t get to every story. More than anything, this book served as a great primer for the book of Genesis that made me really interested in seeking out more in-depth scholarship.
October 18, 2023
I didn't know what to expect from this one, other than I respect Peter Enns, and was pleasantly surprised. He and his coauthor take the typical understanding of Genesis (the typical evangelical view) and very quickly and very smoothly debunks and replaces it with an informed view of the text. He points out very simple evidences that show different truths and then moves on to quickly explain what it probably is meaning instead. Being familiar with all of the informed views, I was pleased to see how easily he replaced misinformation. Very well done.
April 22, 2024
Wow. Thankful for this book. I’ve been introduced to this way of looking at Genesis before, but I really appreciated so many of the specific teachings and examples they use to make the book, and the themes being conveyed, really come to life.
The first half is just beautiful. I would say the second half, just because of the sheer amount of content it is covering, was less brilliant, but still a very well done synopsis with helpful comments on what the heck is going on in the book of Genesis.
Would recommend to anyone willing to read with an open mind.
The first half is just beautiful. I would say the second half, just because of the sheer amount of content it is covering, was less brilliant, but still a very well done synopsis with helpful comments on what the heck is going on in the book of Genesis.
Would recommend to anyone willing to read with an open mind.
January 11, 2025
Easy to understand and helpful to comprehend the bigger picture.
February 14, 2025
Started this book yesterday as an audiobook on Spotify. It was a great and short read but informative all at the same time.
January 16, 2026
great explanation.
July 4, 2022
This book is definitely not something conventional, and many would even found it offensive. Yet anyone with an open mind, believers and nonbelievers alike, would appreciate its educational values. A must read for anyone who are interested in ethnogenesis or nation-building.
January 1, 2025
a great but brief introduction
i liked this. i found it both informative and accessible. the book covers an introduction to Genesis in broad historical and overview form. this is a fantastic read for people who are just starting to study and read the bible on their own.
i liked this. i found it both informative and accessible. the book covers an introduction to Genesis in broad historical and overview form. this is a fantastic read for people who are just starting to study and read the bible on their own.
April 12, 2020
This was a good, short book for helping me see the larger message of Genesis, and what it would have meant to Israelites when it was originally written.
The book takes the perspective that Genesis, along with the whole Torah, took final shape during and after the Babylonian Exile (~587-539 BC). They make a strong case for why reading Genesis with this backdrop in mind best explains the book, and I have to say–I'm largely convinced. They also take pains to say this doesn't mean these stories were made up–they were almost certainly based on oral or written stories with ancient origins. They're just pointing out that the current structure of Genesis, and the themes being emphasized, were "written in light of national trauma, to encourage continued faithfulness to God." Everything they say stems stems from this premise. It makes for a great argument, and it's well-written in a really funny but informative tone. I finished it in a couple of hours, and left with a better sense of what this sacred scripture is all about.
Great book. Well-written. 4/5
The book takes the perspective that Genesis, along with the whole Torah, took final shape during and after the Babylonian Exile (~587-539 BC). They make a strong case for why reading Genesis with this backdrop in mind best explains the book, and I have to say–I'm largely convinced. They also take pains to say this doesn't mean these stories were made up–they were almost certainly based on oral or written stories with ancient origins. They're just pointing out that the current structure of Genesis, and the themes being emphasized, were "written in light of national trauma, to encourage continued faithfulness to God." Everything they say stems stems from this premise. It makes for a great argument, and it's well-written in a really funny but informative tone. I finished it in a couple of hours, and left with a better sense of what this sacred scripture is all about.
Great book. Well-written. 4/5
January 25, 2022
How can a thoughtful person take meaning from Genesis in light of modern science, archaeological evidence, and constantly unfolding Biblical scholarship? This book answers that question in (almost too) simple language. It reads easily, even humorously at times. The tone is very similar to Pete Enns' and Jared Byas' podcast "The Bible for Normal People." I came away with new knowledge and perspective on the book of Genesis.
Crucial to the task of reading a book in the Bible (or any book for that matter) is recognizing its authorship. Enns and Byas propose a strong case that Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch was compiled/written during the Babylonian exile, millennia after the described events occurred. Any deviation from the truth of those events wasn't intentional deceit per se but rather was designed to connect the story of Genesis to the contemporary situation of Israel.
I always appreciate Enns and Byas and their honest, insightful, but still reverent treatment of scripture . I recommend this book, their podcast, and most likely anything else they put out there.
Crucial to the task of reading a book in the Bible (or any book for that matter) is recognizing its authorship. Enns and Byas propose a strong case that Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch was compiled/written during the Babylonian exile, millennia after the described events occurred. Any deviation from the truth of those events wasn't intentional deceit per se but rather was designed to connect the story of Genesis to the contemporary situation of Israel.
I always appreciate Enns and Byas and their honest, insightful, but still reverent treatment of scripture . I recommend this book, their podcast, and most likely anything else they put out there.
December 29, 2012
This book is just what the title says it is - an easy to read, non-technical commentary on Genesis. Since it is not a technical work, the authors present their own interpretation and do not spend a lot of time analyzing other views. It is a well written and concise explanation of their view (the writing was excellent). This interpretation, which centers on Genesis being compiled into the book it is now during the Babylonian captivity and speaking primarily to the Jewish people of that time, is interesting but I did not find it compelling.
June 30, 2020
A bit conflicted about this one. Enns and Byas make some great points and the book is very easy to read. I guess my only real complaint is that it is very basic and it feels like 80% of it is just stating what happens in Genesis, rather than providing much commentary. There was also a lot jumping back and forth through the stories in Genesis which was a bit frustrating. Why not just stick with one story, then move onto the next? If your audience is intended to be people who want to understand Gensis better and potentially are not very familiar with it, why all the jumping around?
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September 13, 2022This book should come with a disclaimer that it is written by Christians for Christians only. It provides an alternate understanding of Genesis where Genesis is written to an ancient people to convey greater meanings about their culture and their God. On the surface, this sound harmless, but it subtly allows the reader to dismiss aspects of the book that are inconsistent with reality, namely history and science. If you're a Christian, this is great! You don't have to worry about Genesis's scientific or historical inaccuracies because the story of Genesis is meant to convey a different message. At this point, the book serves your sense of confirmation bias and allows you to hold or establish presuppositions that may be faulty.
But if you're a critical thinker, this method of reading Genesis only serves to remove any falsifiable criteria that can be used to determine the reliability of the text. In essence, the authors allow Genesis to draw truth claims about a supernatural being and it's interactions with mankind from a story that is otherwise and repeatedly false. Can a reader reasonably assume that if the story of Genesis is false, it's still okay to accept the supernatural claims the stories tell?
Without some needed balance, this way of thinking is purely apologetics. It's finding a way to accept the unacceptable; to believe the unbelievable - particularly when there's no compelling reason or evidence to do so. Indeed the authors draw conclusions about God from Genesis, that without any criteria of falsifiability, go unchecked.
In the end, I can't tell if my issue is with the authors for proposing this method of interpreting Genesis, or with the authors of Genesis for writing a book that is inconsistent with history and science to convey cultural beliefs that are also uncompelling and inconsistent with reality. Could this be a valid way to viewing Genesis? Maybe. But the reader should be warned… Do not accept claims until there is sufficient and compelling reasons to do so or you risk believing things that aren't true.
But if you're a critical thinker, this method of reading Genesis only serves to remove any falsifiable criteria that can be used to determine the reliability of the text. In essence, the authors allow Genesis to draw truth claims about a supernatural being and it's interactions with mankind from a story that is otherwise and repeatedly false. Can a reader reasonably assume that if the story of Genesis is false, it's still okay to accept the supernatural claims the stories tell?
Without some needed balance, this way of thinking is purely apologetics. It's finding a way to accept the unacceptable; to believe the unbelievable - particularly when there's no compelling reason or evidence to do so. Indeed the authors draw conclusions about God from Genesis, that without any criteria of falsifiability, go unchecked.
In the end, I can't tell if my issue is with the authors for proposing this method of interpreting Genesis, or with the authors of Genesis for writing a book that is inconsistent with history and science to convey cultural beliefs that are also uncompelling and inconsistent with reality. Could this be a valid way to viewing Genesis? Maybe. But the reader should be warned… Do not accept claims until there is sufficient and compelling reasons to do so or you risk believing things that aren't true.
November 14, 2023
I have read a number of books by Peter Enns and I like the way that he thinks/writes. This was not my absolute favorite book of his. But it was interesting from start to finish. It provides a framework for understanding the book of Genesis in the Bible and does so in a manner that is both plausible and intriguing.
As with Enns other books, he never says, "This is the way that it is. There is only one way to understand this and I am telling you that way, so there!" He has a much more humble approach to the subject material, which I personally feel is the right way to go with material that was written thousands of years ago, in different languages, based on oral traditions from hundreds of years prior, if not longer, and based on numerous small fragments of sources that sometimes contradict each other. Such sources have been copied and changed ever since, further diluting them. So for anyone to say, "This is THE word of God, as he dictated it..." has never struck me as right.
At the same time, to say that none of it matters and it is all made up is not right either.
Enns takes a modest middle path and highlights many of the issues in controversy. He does so in a pleasing way that not only makes sense, but that I also find engaging.
I do not think that the subtitle is necessarily correct, as I think there are many other parts of the Bible that would qualify as being more controversial, misunderstood and/or abused. Revelation is just one off the top of my head. But that does not take away from the value of this book.
As with Enns other books, he never says, "This is the way that it is. There is only one way to understand this and I am telling you that way, so there!" He has a much more humble approach to the subject material, which I personally feel is the right way to go with material that was written thousands of years ago, in different languages, based on oral traditions from hundreds of years prior, if not longer, and based on numerous small fragments of sources that sometimes contradict each other. Such sources have been copied and changed ever since, further diluting them. So for anyone to say, "This is THE word of God, as he dictated it..." has never struck me as right.
At the same time, to say that none of it matters and it is all made up is not right either.
Enns takes a modest middle path and highlights many of the issues in controversy. He does so in a pleasing way that not only makes sense, but that I also find engaging.
I do not think that the subtitle is necessarily correct, as I think there are many other parts of the Bible that would qualify as being more controversial, misunderstood and/or abused. Revelation is just one off the top of my head. But that does not take away from the value of this book.
February 17, 2020
Described by the publisher as “A Brief, Witty Guide to the Book of Genesis,” this book really was fun to read. In their usual style, Enns and Byas discuss serious scholarly content in colloquial language, as in their popular podcast series, “The Bible for Normal People.” In this first book of a series by the same name, they guide us through Israel’s ancient narrative in its ancient cultural setting, as it would have been understood at the time of its telling and eventual writing, around the time of their return from captivity in Babylon. In so doing they unlock meaning and purpose behind the strange but familiar stories we heard as children, which are decidedly not children’s stories. This small book includes a discussion guide with notes for group leaders.
From respected reviewers: “It is imaginative in its articulation of a book that might otherwise be off-putting. The convergence of accessibility, gentleness, and imagination make this a very fine read.”—Walter Brueggemann.
“The authors manage to simplify without dumbing down, challenge without confusing, and dig for deep truths without compromising their intellectual integrity. A must-read for anyone who cares enough about the Bible to read and understand it on its own terms.”—Rachel Held Evans.
From respected reviewers: “It is imaginative in its articulation of a book that might otherwise be off-putting. The convergence of accessibility, gentleness, and imagination make this a very fine read.”—Walter Brueggemann.
“The authors manage to simplify without dumbing down, challenge without confusing, and dig for deep truths without compromising their intellectual integrity. A must-read for anyone who cares enough about the Bible to read and understand it on its own terms.”—Rachel Held Evans.
January 30, 2024
This commentary challenges Christians to lay aside our agendas on what we think Genesis is saying (or ought to be saying) and look at what the ancient author was actually saying to ancient readers.
If you're looking for a book to help you debate Genesis 1 theology then this book isn't it. This book is solely focused on interpretation of the Hebrew language and cultural relevance of Israel's ancient story by showing the parallels that repeat through the entire book of Genesis in order to teach one lesson: that "God looks past the inadequacies of his people to execute his plan to bring order back into a chaotic world."
Favorite quotes:
"Stories are not waiting to be molded to fit our experience. They are waiting for us to take the risk of entering their world of the story and be changed by it."
"Genesis was written to tell the Israelites that their God, and not the gods of the other nations, was the chaos tamer, and therefore, this God and this God alone was worthy of worship."
"Read the Adam story as being not about a fall down from perfection, but a failure to grow up to godly wisdom and maturity."
If you're looking for a book to help you debate Genesis 1 theology then this book isn't it. This book is solely focused on interpretation of the Hebrew language and cultural relevance of Israel's ancient story by showing the parallels that repeat through the entire book of Genesis in order to teach one lesson: that "God looks past the inadequacies of his people to execute his plan to bring order back into a chaotic world."
Favorite quotes:
"Stories are not waiting to be molded to fit our experience. They are waiting for us to take the risk of entering their world of the story and be changed by it."
"Genesis was written to tell the Israelites that their God, and not the gods of the other nations, was the chaos tamer, and therefore, this God and this God alone was worthy of worship."
"Read the Adam story as being not about a fall down from perfection, but a failure to grow up to godly wisdom and maturity."
January 2, 2022
This was the second book in the series that I have read. I love this series. Peter Enns does such a great job at helping the reader understand such an ancient record. There is SO much going on in the Old Testament and this book helps bring it alive. He even does it in an entertaining manner.
As somewhat of a "traditional" believer, it seems that this book takes more of a skeptical approach to some of the Old Testament writings. I'm not sure how fair of an accusation that is as the author supports his stance with rationale and explanation. He really leaves the reader up to his or her own beliefs.
In summary, it's a very interesting view of the Old Testament. The book may especially helpful for those who may find themselves wondering about some of the more strange contents of the book. My one complaint would be that it is a SHORT book as a commentary to such a huge work in Genesis. I wish the author could go into more depth (so I don't have to go read all the other scholarship on my own)!
As somewhat of a "traditional" believer, it seems that this book takes more of a skeptical approach to some of the Old Testament writings. I'm not sure how fair of an accusation that is as the author supports his stance with rationale and explanation. He really leaves the reader up to his or her own beliefs.
In summary, it's a very interesting view of the Old Testament. The book may especially helpful for those who may find themselves wondering about some of the more strange contents of the book. My one complaint would be that it is a SHORT book as a commentary to such a huge work in Genesis. I wish the author could go into more depth (so I don't have to go read all the other scholarship on my own)!
April 25, 2023
In The Beginning
Looking for a deeper understanding of the Bible's book of Genesis? Look no further than this book!
Enns provides a fascinating analysis of the book's most controversial and misunderstood aspects. He masterfully unpacks the nuances of the writing and how it was intended for a specific audience.
Through his insightful analysis, Enns sheds light on some of the Bible's most complex and interesting stories.
This book is easy to read and provides a fresh perspective on a classic text. Enns writes in a way that is accessible to all readers, and his analysis is both informative and thought-provoking. Whether you are a scholar or just someone looking to deepen your understanding of the Bible, "Genesis for Normal People" is a must-read.
Don't let the weight of the subject matter intimidate you - Enns breaks down the complexities of the book in a way that makes it accessible for everyone.
So if you're looking for a fresh take on Genesis, pick up this book today!
3.9/5
Looking for a deeper understanding of the Bible's book of Genesis? Look no further than this book!
Enns provides a fascinating analysis of the book's most controversial and misunderstood aspects. He masterfully unpacks the nuances of the writing and how it was intended for a specific audience.
Through his insightful analysis, Enns sheds light on some of the Bible's most complex and interesting stories.
This book is easy to read and provides a fresh perspective on a classic text. Enns writes in a way that is accessible to all readers, and his analysis is both informative and thought-provoking. Whether you are a scholar or just someone looking to deepen your understanding of the Bible, "Genesis for Normal People" is a must-read.
Don't let the weight of the subject matter intimidate you - Enns breaks down the complexities of the book in a way that makes it accessible for everyone.
So if you're looking for a fresh take on Genesis, pick up this book today!
3.9/5
September 21, 2022
The main purpose of Genesis is to set the stage for the entire Old Testament saga, which is a) ancient and b) highly specific to the nation of Israel's self-identity and self-understanding.
Drawing from internal evidence (ie, from Scripture itself), the authors show that Genesis was written down and rounded out some time after the events therein. All the Genesis stories are part of the theme of moving from chaos to order, with God coming through miraculously each time. I have to say understanding Genesis through this lens helps to make sense of some things that otherwise seem very opaque, not to mention contradictory and immoral. For instance, the story of offering up Isaac now becomes not about a capricious God, but tied to the literary theme about the Divine working through particular, usually unlikely, family lines (read the book to see how they flesh out that exact story).
Drawing from internal evidence (ie, from Scripture itself), the authors show that Genesis was written down and rounded out some time after the events therein. All the Genesis stories are part of the theme of moving from chaos to order, with God coming through miraculously each time. I have to say understanding Genesis through this lens helps to make sense of some things that otherwise seem very opaque, not to mention contradictory and immoral. For instance, the story of offering up Isaac now becomes not about a capricious God, but tied to the literary theme about the Divine working through particular, usually unlikely, family lines (read the book to see how they flesh out that exact story).
June 4, 2023
A church friend lent me Pete Enns’s How The Bible Actually Works a few years ago, and I greatly enjoyed it. From there, I began listening to Pete and Jared’s “Bible For Normal People” podcast. Now I am excited to be reading the companion books they are releasing. Genesis for Normal People matches the slightly snarky tone set in the “B4NP” podcast, but make no mistake: the Biblical scholarship here is real and respectful. (To be honest, some of the jokes work better in audio form on the podcast than they do in print.)
I only have two minor quibbles with the book. First, there seem to be quite a few typos; one more editorial pass might be in order. Second, the Discussion Guide that takes up nearly 20 pages of this already slim volume does not add much, and I wish those pages had been used instead to delve deeper into the Genesis material.
I only have two minor quibbles with the book. First, there seem to be quite a few typos; one more editorial pass might be in order. Second, the Discussion Guide that takes up nearly 20 pages of this already slim volume does not add much, and I wish those pages had been used instead to delve deeper into the Genesis material.
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