Genesis: The Movie

by Robert Farrar Capon

The creation story stands as one of the most familiar in Scripture. But, says best-selling author Robert Farrar Capon, most of us misconstrue it. The reason? We have fallen into the habit of reading Genesis the way we read all Scripture - as a manual of religious instructions. To break this (bad) habit, Capon here offers a whimsical yet fruitful approach - watching the Bible as a historical movie whose director is God.
Though Capon does have fun with this concept, he's very serious about its liberating effects. "When you watch a movie," he says, "you never ask questions about whether the events depicted actually happened. Instead, you accept the history the director shows you on the screen." And, as Capon points put, we typically suspend judgement of a film until we've seen all of it, letting later scenes inform and enrich earlier ones. That, he says, is exactly how we need to see Genesis - as just the beginning of the whole movie of Scripture.
Using this novel approach in Genesis, the Movie, Capon develops a commentary of theological scope and depth on the first three chapters of Genesis. He gives every verse as it appears in the Hebrew, the Septuagint, and the Vulgate, as well as in the KJV, RSV, and NRSV versions of the Bible. Making extensive use of Augustine's commentary of Genesis in his Confessions and De Genesi ad Litteram, Capon also shows the interpretive freedom with which the church's fathers and mothers approached Scripture.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Robert Farrar Capon was a lifelong New Yorker and served for almost 30 years as a parish priest in the Episcopal Church. His first book, Bed and Board, was published in 1965 and by 1977 left full-time ministry to devote more time to writing books, though he continued to serve the church in various capacities such as assisting priest and Canon Theologian. He has written twenty books on theology, cooking and family life.

His lifelong interest in food intersected with his writing and led to his becoming food columnist for Newsday and The New York Times and also teaching cooking classes.

Reviews

[Jason Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that I could give a one and a five at the same time. He can switch from atrocious to fantastic in two sentences in this nontraditional commentary on the first section of genesis and a commentary on Augustine's commentary on Genesis. He wants to try and have the historicity of the bible not be important, but still be able to interpret it historically(blech). yet his comments are often very profound and moving and display that he is wonderfully moved by the text of Genesis that he loves. He is a bit like the son who says that he isn't going to obey, but then does anyway.

[Josh Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Capon is always delightful to read because of his wittiness and ability to see an old thing in a new way. Nevertheless, for me, "Genesis: The Movie" didn't measure up to other Capon works like "The Romance of the Word" or his trilogy on the parables (both of which I loved). This book is basically a commentary on a commentary (St. Augustine's commentary on Genesis). That bogged it down a bit for me, as Capon quotes liberally from Augustines's works, often using the Latin.

The author tries to have his cake and eat it too by insisting that Genesis is historically true, but that we can't really answer questions of historicity. Maybe I'm just too dense to "get it," but it seems to me that he just plays the side he wants to on any given issue (and takes GREAT pride in not falling fully into liberal or conservative camps). Nevertheless, what really knocks the book down for me is Capon's insistence that God has always intended death to be the engine of life in our world. It's a view that flies in the face of Romans 5:12-15, and I'm unable to get on board with it. Capon's interpretation requires you to throw out an awful lot of verses in the New Testament, where Death is portrayed as the enemy.

[Carl Holmes]

Meh. Whitty, but kinda flat. I expected more.

[Eric Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An infuriatingly delightful read. This is Capon at his best/worst/best again. A lengthy commentary on Genesis 1-3 where Capon invites readers to watch and see the creation and fall cinematically. Capon heavily interacts with Augustine's De Genesi ad Litteram, which makes for an interesting blend of contemporary and ancient exegesis. At times this was a fun read, occasionally exhausting, sometimes maddening, a few points where it soared. It's classic Capon. It's not the first Capon read I'd recommend. But it's certainly not one to miss.

[JonM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really only skimmed through this book after the fourth chapter. But what I had time to read was great. Capon is a brilliant author. He carries some quasi-controversial views about atonement, but if the reader just runs along with the way he theologizes a story--and narrates biblical theology--the book remains an edifying (and surprisingly helpful) commentary on the beginning of Genesis. It's not a straight forward commentary though. It's more like listening to the director (Capon) of a film pitch a script to a room of investors about an amazing, one-of-a-kind film: Genesis The Movie.

[Allen Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much to ponder as you read this book. Capon is always orthodox, but challenges much of contemporary comfort in the understanding of the Genesis text (first three chapters). The big challenge will be to rethink good and evil, both as essential to creation...

[Ree · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!! Pretty enlighting book.