How to Read Genesis
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
These are just a few of the episodes that Genesis conjures up. But we miss the point if we focus on what seems strange to us. And we distort the message if we demand that this book answer questions that are strange to it.
To read Genesis intelligently, we must consider the questions, the literature and the times in which Genesis was written. In How to Read Genesis Tremper Longman III provides a welcome guide to reading and studying, understanding and savoring this panorama of beginnings--of both the world and of Israel. And importantly for Christian readers, we gain insight into how Genesis points to Christ and can be read in light of the gospel.
Honored in 2006 as a "Year's Best Book for Preachers" by Preaching magazine.
- Provides a welcome guide to reading and studying Genesis
- Explores how Genesis points to Christ
- Examines how Genesis can be read in light of the gospel
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- 1. Understanding the Book of "Beginnings"
- 2. Who Wrote Genesis?
- 3. The Shape of the Book of Genesis
- 4. Myth or History? Genesis and the Enuma Elish
- 5. Noah and Utnapishtim: Whose Flood Story Should We Trust?
- 6. Abraham and Nuzi: Patriarchal Customs in Their Cultural Context
- 7. The Primeval History: Genesis 1--11
- 8. The Patriarchal Narratives: Genesis 12--36
- 9. The Joseph Story: Genesis 37--50
- 10. The Christological Difference
- Appendix: Commentaries on the Book of Genesis
Part 1: Reading Genesis with a Strategy
Part II: Reading Genesis as Literature
Part III: Reading Genesis in Its Own World
Part IV: Reading Genesis as God's Story
Part V: Reading Genesis as Christians
Top Highlights
“One important principle of interpretation is to recognize that not all of our questions can be answered.” (Page 20)
“The book of Genesis is not a history-like story but rather a story-like history.” (Page 28)
“PRINCIPLE 1. RECOGNIZE THE LITERARY NATURE OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS” (Page 23)
“Question 4. What can we learn about Genesis from comparable ancient Near Eastern literature?” (Page 24)
“In essence, the Bible’s primary purpose is to picture God and our relationship with him.” (Page 27)
Longman does a good job of addressing critical arguments about author and date in an accessible way . . .Longman deserves praise for giving laymen the tools to engage the Bible more thoughtfully.
—Modern Reformation
[How to Read Genesis] is written in a way that allows any minister or teacher of the Word as well as any educated layperson to enter the world of contemporary Old Testament scholarship.
—Daniel R. Hyde, Calvin Theological Journal
Longman sheds fresh light on overly familiar stories in an interesting and readable manner. He presents competing theological understandings of Genesis fairly (in my opinion). Most importantly, he leads the reader into actually reading Genesis, after reading about it.
—Dolores Klinsky Walker, National Church Library Association
Tremper Longman III is an Old Testament scholar and the Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Prior to joining Westmont in 1998, Longman taught for 18 years at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He received his MDiv from Westminster and a PhD from Yale University. In addition, he is one of the main translators of the popular New Living Translation, and has served as a consultant on other popular translations of the Bible, including The Message, the New Century Version, and the Holman Standard Bible.
