Genesis for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-16

by John E. Goldingay

Following on the heels of the successful New Testament for Everyone commentaries by acclaimed scholar and author N. T. Wright, Westminster John Knox is pleased to announce the first volumes in the all new Old Testament for Everyone Bible commentary series. John Goldingay, an internationally respected Old Testament scholar, authors this ambitious series, treating every passage of Scripture from Genesis to Malachi, addressing the texts in such a way that even the most challenging passages are explained simply and concisely. Perfect for daily devotions, Sunday school prep, or brief visits with the Bible, the Old Testament for Everyone series is an excellent resource for the modern lay reader. The book of Genesis is a lively read featuring familiar biblical tales such as the creation of the world, Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit, Noah and the flood, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, the Tower of Babel, and Sodom and Gomorrah. While readers may know the facts of these stories, Goldingay's work will instill in them a deeper understanding of their spiritual and theological significance. True to the For Everyone series' goal, Goldingay writes in a thoroughly accessible and engaging style with chapter titles such as "Friday Lunchtime," "Bigamy, Music, Technology, Murder," "Babylon becomes Babble-on," "Stuff Happens," and "Two Guys Who Need Their Heads Banged Together."

Genres: Old Testament, Biblical Studies, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Religion, Devotional

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2010

About the author

John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. An internationally respected Old Testament scholar, Goldingay is the author of many commentaries and books.

Reviews

[Tim Chesterton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of small paperback commentaries which John Goldingay has written on every book of the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. They are designed to be read as daily reading guides, slowly, one passage at a time. I have a few things to say about this book, but these comments will also apply to the series in general.

First, these books are written to be accessible to the general reader. Goldingay doesn’t offer a verse by verse exposition, nor does he give a lot of source material. He simply divides the material into bite-sized portions, gives his own translation of the Hebrew original, and then explores it, explaining details and ideas that may be obscure, and taking special care to fit it into the culture and background of ancient Israel.

Second, the translation: it’s quite literal, and where the original is obscure, Goldingay doesn’t try to fix that. Personallty i like that; if I want a smoother feel I’ve got the NRSV or the NIV on my shelves, but here I find something more like the Hebrew original, in all its strangeness and difficulty. The name ‘YHWH’ is presented throughout as ‘Yahweh’, not ‘the LORD’ as in most English translations. (This translation is also available as a stand-alone book; it’s called ‘The First Testament’ by John Goldingay, and it is also published as part of ‘The Bible for Everyone’ by John Goldingay and Tom Wright. Note that in the stand-alone edition Goldingay has slightly revised the translation from the commentaries).

Third, the view of scripture. Goldingay was principal of an evangelical theological college in the UK and then taught at another one in California, but he is not a fundamentalist and does not believe that every passage should be interpreted literally. In many cases, passages make more sense if they are read in other ways. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t take the text seriously; in fact, in some places he takes the text so seriously that he lets it lead him away from standard orthodox interpretations (for instance, he seems open to the idea of God learning from his unsuccessful experiment of using a flood to deal with the problem of human wickedness—although he also doesn’t seem to believe that the flood is historical). He is aware of Christian interpretations of the texts, but insists that the Hebrew scriptures be allowed to speak with their own voice and be interpreted in their own context. I like this.

I have read a lot of John Goldingay’s work and regard him as my favourite Old Testament scholar, so I may be biased, but I give this book five stars out of five. I’m about to start reading part 2!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all the "...for Everyone" commentaries of the New Testament by NT Wright and really enjoyed them. The friend who gave me the New Testament commentaries recommended I start on the Old Testament "...for Everyone" books by JOhn Goldingay. Goldingay, is a Brit, like NT Wright, but he now lives in California and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary. I appreciate his British take on things (like Wright), but his residency in America, gives his examples a little more resonance with me.

Goldingay has an interesting interpretation of events in Genesis. He reads the creation story as parabolic, rather than historic. He sees Noah's story in much the same way. He refers to Plans A, B, and C in Genesis, which at first seemed a bit heretical to me. What I found slightly uncomfortable, but ultimately refreshing, is that Goldingay doesn't see parabolic OT stories as underminding God's authority. His view of God allows for some more mystery than my view does (or did). Goldingay's wife suffers from MS and is in a wheelchair. He mentions this in various examples and I think it gives him a different perspective than other theologians. He has questioned God and his faith has persevered.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

How strange that I feel that I've come to know John Goldingay through his Old Testament Is For Everyone series. After each section of scripture, his commentary begins with personal stories, in which he often writes of the experience of caretaking for his wife who suffered from a debilitating illness. I've come to learn that Goldingay has seen enough of life and God's mysteriousness that he is not going to explain away difficult things, and that's why I generally trust him enough to walk through the Old Testament with him. He does not stand in front of scripture feeling the need to defend it from his reader's objections or questions. Instead, he lets it speak for itself and admits when a passage is difficult or unclear. Each section of scripture is translated by him, and he aims to give you a feel for what the actual language reads like. The down side is that the translations are awkward and unnatural, but you can pick up your NIV for a smooth translation if that's what you're looking for. Some of the things he writes need explaining, like saying the New Testament writers have a distinct way of dealing with Old Testament scriptures. He also is more comfortable with the idea that certain things may not be literal (the flood story, Sarai's advanced age) than more conservative readers. Goldingay is not ultraconservative, but it would be a mistake to label him liberal because he very much takes the scriptures seriously.

[Eric Morrissey]

Not quite sure how to feel about this book. I’m reading this to get an overview of Genesis, before I’ll be digging into everything further. Goldingay presents some ideas I’ve never heard before (and wasn’t particularly convinced by), but it was still good to have some beliefs challenged I suppose. He seems very egalitarian and appears to make scriptures be that way, whether they like it or not. Also his view of the creation story and the flood as a “historical parable” seems… unconvincing. There were no footnotes so it was hard to double check what he said when he made some sweeping statements like “culturally, they would’ve understood _____ to mean ____.” I would categorize it as a below average read, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the second part of Genesis in this series. I may look elsewhere.

[Skipr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible. Fun to read. Doesn't avoid the hard questions. Goldingay, a respected professor of Old Testament, is an excellent guide for those who believe that you don't have to interpret every passage in the Old Testament literally to believe that every passage is truth, inspired by God. I particularly like it when, despite having devoted his life to the study of the Old Testatment, he writes regarding some passages, "We're just not sure what this means." In my book that's a more honest and humble answer than constructing a flimsy, contrived answer to shore up one's theology.

[Allan Bevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am planning to read through Goldingay's OT for Everyone. If this first volume is a preview, I am in for a real treat. John's writing is easily accessible, and he puts Genesis front and center in daily life through helpful explanations and contemporary stories.

I am looking forward to the next volume.

[Louise]

Appropriate for Everyone

Whether you are reading Genesis for the first time or for the umpteenth time like me, this commentary will keep your attention and give you a fresh perspective on the biblical text. I can't wait to start Part 2.

[ISH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic, but very good and welcome insights. Interesting take on Genesis 1-11, where he looks at it as a parable. Whether or not you agree with him, there is still much to learn and enjoy. The creation story as a poem or song about the sovereignty of God, you gotta love that... :-)

[Preston Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the success of N.T. Wright’s brilliant New Testament for Everyone series, starting with the first sixteen chapters of Genesis, John Goldingay attempts to accomplish a similar feat here with his first entry into the Old Testament counterpart series. While not an awful book by any means (as Goldingay sometimes provides good insights), he doesn’t always do a great job connecting the text to the reader.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldingay's Genesis for Everyone (Chapters 1-16) feels a little more rough and unpolished than Wright's New Testament series. Some is probably the writer, but the text matters as well, with the stark stories and genealogical lists of early Genesis providing a lot less purchase for personal application than the gospels or epistles. Like Wright, Goldingay is English and as an English Anglican/evangelical his concerns are not the same as most American evangelicals when approaching Genesis (thank God). He is quite fine seeing most of Genesis 1-11 as parable and not requiring it to be history. Like Wright he begins each lesson with a story - Goldingay's seem more personal, about his wife with MS, his move to the US, his teaching, and as a result I feel like I know much more about him than I do about Wright. His pericopes are sometimes long and sometimes only a sentence and his points can be uniform or various. He connects texts well and brings in related New Testament passages on occasion but not habitually. A good companion with fresh eyes through some texts that sometimes seem too familiar.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

N.T. Wright's New Testament for everyone series is practical and accessible. Certainly it is sparse on detail but it simply could not be a 'for everyone' commentary if it spilled ink toward every exegetical conundrum. When you look at his other commentaries and writings (outside the series) you know he has done his homework.

Goldingay is a good compliment to Wright. He has written one of the best Old Testament Theology's as well as some great commentaries (I love his Psalm commentary published by Baker). Like Wrights volumes, this is more pastoral construed than your typical commentary, often beginning comment on passage with personal anecdotes. Great for devotional use, or as suggestions for how to preach the passage.

I only wish that Christopher Wright wrote for this series, because I love to refer to him as

[Darwin Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Goldingay is obviously a great scholar, as shown by the ease with which he can navigate the technicalities of the narrative. As important, though - even more so, for the intent of this "For Everyone" series - scholars of his stature seldom know how to talk to ordinary people, but the ease with which Goldingay can also bring the elements down to the level of the ordinary person, to engage him or her personally, is awesome to behold! Every student of Genesis should begin with this painless overview, before delving into the more academic commentaries.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is perfect for devotional reading, while not neglecting key historical, exegetical and theological matters. Goldingay writes from the perspective of a left leaning British evangelical Anglican living in California. His writing is zany and insightful, sometimes surprising, but always leading you into deeper love for God and greater interest in the Bible. I look forward to working through this series.

[Casey Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't always end with the devotional bang of the old Barclay devotional commentaries, or even the bang Tom Wright usually manages with his New Testament series, but great insights about the biblical text. I'll likely read the rest.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldingay writes like he teaches: easy-going, accessible, wise, insightful, and witty. A great introduction to Genesis and the Bible itself.