Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11

by C. John Collins

Overview

What does it mean to be a good reader of Genesis 1-11? What does it mean to take these ancient stories seriously and how does that relate to taking them literally? Can we even take any of this material seriously?

Reading Genesis Well answers these questions and more, promoting a responsible conversation about how science and biblical faith relate by developing a rigorous approach to interpreting the Bible, especially those texts that come into play in science and faith discussions. This unique approach connects the ancient writings of Genesis 1-11 with modern science in an honest and informed way.

Old Testament scholar C. John Collins appropriates literary and linguistic insights from C. S. Lewis and builds on them using ideas from modern linguistics, such as lexical semantics, discourse analysis, and sociolinguistics. This study helps readers to evaluate to what extent it is proper to say that the Bible writers held a "primitive" picture of the world, and what function their portrayal of the world and its contents had in shaping the community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310598572
Publisher:	Zondervan Academic
Publication date:	11/13/2018
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

C. John Collins (Ph D, University of Liverpool) is Professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary. Chair of the Old Testament translation committee for the English Standard Version, he is the author of Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary; The God of Miracles: An Exegetical Examination of God’s Action in the World; Science and Faith: Friends or Foes? and Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? Who They Were and Why You Should Care.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 1.A Historical backcloth: Benjamin Jowett and 19th century literalism 1.B James Barr, Jowett’s heir 1.C Why do I think Lewis can help? 1.D My own background and stance 2. What is happening in Literary Communication 2.A The Big Idea: How to approach any work of art 2.B Linguistics, rhetoric, literary criticism 3. Types of Language and Biblical Interpretation 3.A Speech Act Theory and Biblical rhetoric 3.B Lewis’ essay, “The language of religion” 3.C Metaphor, thought, truth 3.D Examples of exegesis 3.E Is there a role for analytical language? 3.F Conclusions 4. Good Faith Communication 4.A How does communication work? 4.B What is “good faith communication”? 4.C What is the connection between world picture and worldview? 4.D Sense, referent, rhetoric, and truth 5. What do we have in Genesis 1–11? 1: Context 5.A Cohesion and coherence 5.A.1 Internal cohesion 5.A.2 Cohesion with Genesis – Deuteronomy 5.A.3 Connected but separate 5.B Shared world context 5.B.1 Other nations’ origin stories 5.B.2 Audience criticism and “rhetorical situation” 5.B.2.a Date of Genesis 5.B.2.b Implied audience 6. What do we have in Genesis 1–11? 2: Function 6.A The Pentateuch as “constitution” 6.B Genesis and worldview story 6.C Anachronism and history 6.D Literary style and language level 6.E Literary style and architecture of Genesis 1–11 7. Genesis 1–11: A rhetorical-theological reading 7.A Creation and fall (Genesis 1–4) 7.A.1 Creation (Genesis 1–2) 7.A.2 “Fall” and consequences (Genesis 3–4) 7.B From Adam to Noah (Genesis 5) 7.C The Great Flood 7.C.1 The set-up (Gen. 6:1–4) 7.C.2 Flood Story proper (Gen. 6:5–9:17) 7.C.3 The sequel (Gen. 9:18–29) 7.D All the families/clans of the earth (Gen. 10:1–11:9) 7.D.1 Table of Nations (Gen. 10:1–32) 7.D.2 Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1–9) 7.E From Shem to Abram (Gen. 11:10–26) 8. What have other qualified readers seen in Genesis 1–11 (Old Testament, New Testament, Jewish, Patristic) 8.A The Big Story 8.B Creation of material ex nihilo 8.C Relation of Genesis 1 and 2 8.D Human origins and fall 8.E The Flood 8.F Genesis and Hellenistic science 9. Genesis 1–11, World picture and worldview 9.A What is the shape of the world? 9.B Does the sun “rise”? 9.C Where does the rain come from? 9.D A three-decker universe? 9.E Hasn’t explaining become explaining away? 9.F How should we read God’s action in creation? 9.G Where the conflict really lies 10. Genesis 1–11: A humane moral vision for Israel and the world 10.A Redemptive history as worldview story 10.B “Heirs” of this story 10.B.1 Israel 10.B.2 Christians 10.C Conclusion: Reading Genesis 1–11 well

Editorial Reviews

Every student and scholar of Scripture should read Collins’s Reading Genesis Well. It is that rare piece of biblical scholarship that manages to be thoroughly conversant in the wide-ranging scholarship relevant to its subject, while managing to be quite readable and intuitive. In the process, it offers a fresh and compelling way of reading the Bible and the opening texts of Genesis with integrity. Collins has found a way through the interpretive thicket that frustrates ordinary Christians and misleads many prominent biblical scholars. Whether you have studied the Bible for decades or just want to read it more carefully, you will benefit from this book.

Catholic University of America Jay Wesley Richards Assistant Research Professor

Since I first came across Jack Collins’s work (some twenty-odd years ago), it stood out for me as a model of honest and respectful interaction between reading the Bible and science. I’ve always been impressed by his way of combining respect for the Bible’s teaching, willingness to let the Word of God speak for itself (without superposing foreign categories on it), insights from modern linguistics, and a thorough concern for dialogue with science.

Lydia Jaeger Directrice des etudes

In Reading Genesis Well, C. John Collins teaches us how to be good readers of Genesis 1–11. Collins guides conservative readers between the twin errors either of interpreting the text in a woodenly literalistic fashion or of segregating Genesis and science into entirely different realms. Rather, he leads the reader to approach Genesis with linguistic and literary tools provided by C. S. Lewis. The result is an excellent theological reading of the first chapters of Genesis.

Kenneth Keathley Senior Professor of Theology

A trenchant and yet irenic critique of literalistic interpretations of Genesis 1–11, whether on the part of skeptics or of ‘Bible-science defenders’ . . . an impressive inter-disciplinary investigation that is both informative and thought-provoking.

William Lane Craig President

Just when I think C. John (“Jack”) Collins has had his last word on the opening chapters of God’s Word, he goes and outdoes himself! In Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Science, Poetry, and Truth, Collins invites us to sit at the feet of a literary genius—C. S. Lewis—and learn how to read Genesis 1–11 wisely. Drawing insight from the disciplines of linguistics, literary study, and rhetoric, and with help from Lewis, Collins guides us toward a critically rigorous reading strategy that applies not only to Genesis 1–11 but to any and all texts. Become a better reader of Genesis 1–11 by becoming an apprentice of C. S. Lewis—what a novel idea! What a great book! I highly recommend!

The Center for Pastor Theologians Todd A. Wilson President

Jack Collins provides the kind of work on Genesis 1–11 we need today: a careful, balanced analysis that will guide readers of good will to greater understanding. Collins cuts through liberal and conservative rhetorical politics to help readers see what is really in this great summative passage.

Paul House Professor of Divinity

An intelligent and well-informed discussion about reading the Bible sensibly and sensitively, especially the early chapters of Genesis. Collins brings the delightful common sense of C. S. Lewis to this confused and controversial area, and the result is a book that not only develops a coherent approach to reading but is also entertaining to read. There is an overwhelming amount of literature on the topic of how to read Genesis: It is worth taking time for this one.

Kristen Birkett Lecturer in Ethics

This new book from the pen of Jack Collins is a treasure, representing the coming together of Collins’s multiple interests and competencies in a compelling case for how the early chapters of Genesis should be read. Well written and wide ranging, this book is about much more than just Genesis 1–11 or even the interplay of Bible and science; it is a guide to how to read the Bible as it is meant to be read. Collins asks the right questions and puts his readers on the path of discovering well-founded answers.

V. Philips Long Professor of Old Testament

This book is full of good sense about biblical interpretation. Readers who work through the principles and examples in the early chapters will be prepared for an approach to Genesis that prioritizes the intended message of the sacred text rather than modern disputes. Those who want the Scriptures to set the agenda regarding creation will benefit from this careful appropriation of C. S. Lewis’s literary wisdom. Jack Collins has the spiritual sensitivity, exegetical skill, and theological savvy to be a trustworthy guide.

Wheaton College Graduate School Dan Treier Knoedler Professor of Theology and Ph D Program Director

What does it mean to be a faithful reader of the Bible? How are we to understand the creation account and the early chapters of Genesis? How does God’s revelation in the Word illuminate his created world? How do Christian faith and science relate? These are critical questions facing Christians today. C. John Collins has been at the forefront of giving faithful answers to these questions for years, and with this groundbreaking book, Reading Genesis Well, he remains there. Collins gives attention to the text of Scripture and how we are best to read and understand God’s revealed, authoritative account of creation. Situating himself in Genesis 1–11, Collins adeptly navigates through this labyrinth by addressing vital issues that impact reading the biblical text well, by focusing on history, poetry, science, and, ultimately, truth. Grounded in the inerrant and authoritative Scriptures, affirming the literal sense along with literary sensitivities, Collins builds on the conventional tools of exegesis by including the literary and linguistic insights of C. S. Lewis. This is a brilliant move to use Lewis as a conversation partner and glean from his literary insights as a gateway to a better understanding of Genesis, along with hermeneutical methods that shed light on reading other texts of Scripture as well. This is a must-read for pastors, biblical scholars, theologians, and scientists. And once you have read the book, teach the material to others. Superbly done!

Greg Strand Executive Director of Theology and Credentialing

As a religious Jew, I found Jack Collins’s Reading Genesis Well to be a highly erudite and fascinating exposition by a religious Christian of the foundational stories of Genesis 1–11. The author is a superior scholar—thoughtful, cautious, measured, and ethically sensitive. I appreciated very much the wealth of information on Christian perceptions of Genesis. It was also encouraging to learn that, both in terms of his methodology of analysis and religious understanding, a considerable fortuitous overlap exists between Christian and Jewish comprehensions. For all the reasons mentioned above, I heartily recommend the book.

Professor Jeremiah Unterman Herzl Institute and author of Justice for All: How the Jewish Bible

We know what Genesis says. But how many of us are confident that we know what it means? In this insightful and imaginative volume, Jack Collins gives us the tools we need to understand these vital opening chapters of the Bible. With C. S. Lewis as a conversation partner, Collins walks us through contested terrain with the settled step of a seasoned trail guide. His writing is precise but not pedantic, learned yet practical. Reading Genesis Well delivers even more than it promises, teaching us skills and principles that also apply to the entire Bible.

Grove City College Rebecca Rine Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies

Reading Genesis Well is a book aptly titled. Jack Collins once again shows himself to be a careful exegete and wise guide. He skillfully examines the biblical text with an eye attentive to both its ancient Near Eastern setting and its divine revelatory content. His treatment of the relevant biblical, theological, literary, historical, and scientific questions is masterful and judicious.

Paul Copan Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics

In the beginning and throughout the process of reading, there is interpretation. This is true of all books but especially of the Bible. The peoples of the earth have for centuries been reading Genesis according to their own hermeneutical kinds. And God saw that it was not always good. I therefore thank God for Jack Collins’s masterful guide to reading Scripture’s good-faith communication in good faith, with literary sensitivity, an ear to the history of interpretation, and an eye on the present scientific context. Reading Genesis Well lives up to its title and then some. The first third treats biblical interpretation in general and is itself worth the price of the book. The rest of the book puts his reading strategy to work. He builds on C. S. Lewis’s critical and imaginative approach to reading then offers a contextually sensitive account of just what the author of Genesis is saying and doing in chapters 1–11. It’s important for reading the rest of Scripture to get the beginning right, and Collins here provides the resources for doing just that.

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Kevin J. Vanhoozer Research Professor of Systematic Theology

This is a book to be read by theologians and scientists alike. Using C. S. Lewis as his guide, Collins brilliantly synthesizes ideas from modern linguistics to show what the much-debated opening chapters of Genesis do say and what they don’t. Taking these chapters of Genesis as the introduction to the big story of the Bible, meant to shape the worldview of ancient Israel and their heirs (the church), Collins credibly argues that interpreting these chapters as ancient science is misguided and rooted in the mistaken idea that scientific language is the most accurate and therefore the most truthful kind of discourse. I highly recommend this book to fellow scientists as it has deepened my own understanding of the frontiers of biblical scholarship, increased my appreciation for the complexity of textual interpretation, and invited me to develop a much more nuanced understanding of the features of Genesis 1–11 and their relation to science.

Wheaton College Arend J. Poelarends Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Anyone struggling to relate Genesis 1–11 to modern knowledge should welcome Collins’s work. His literary, rhetorical, and theological analysis breaks the bonds of literalism that bind many scholars and fundamentalists, showing how the text ‘gives the faithful the divinely approved way of picturing the events and that there are actual events that the pictures refer to.’ His approach, indebted to C. S. Lewis, allows modern readers to appreciate the familiar ancient stories more richly—to read them well!

The University of Liverpool Alan Millard Emeritus Rankin Professor of Hebrew & Ancient Semitic Languages

A trenchant and yet irenic critique of literalistic interpretations of Genesis 1-11, whether on the part of skeptics or of 'Bible-science defenders' . . . an impressive inter-disciplinary investigation that is both informative and thought-provoking.--William Lane Craig President, Reasonable Faith, and Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology and Houston Baptist University

An intelligent and well-informed discussion about reading the Bible sensibly and sensitively, especially the early chapters of Genesis. Collins brings the delightful common sense of C. S. Lewis to this confused and controversial area, and the result is a book that not only develops a coherent approach to reading but is also entertaining to read. There is an overwhelming amount of literature on the topic of how to read Genesis: It is worth taking time for this one.--Kristen Birkett Lecturer in Ethics, Philosophy, and Church History, Oak Hill Theological College

Anyone struggling to relate Genesis 1-11 to modern knowledge should welcome Collins's work. His literary, rhetorical, and theological analysis breaks the bonds of literalism that bind many scholars and fundamentalists, showing how the text 'gives the faithful the divinely approved way of picturing the events and that there are actual events that the pictures refer to.' His approach, indebted to C. S. Lewis, allows modern readers to appreciate the familiar ancient stories more richly---to read them well!--Alan Millard Emeritus Rankin Professor of Hebrew & Ancient Semitic Languages, The University of Liverpool

As a religious Jew, I found Jack Collins's Reading Genesis Well to be a highly erudite and fascinating exposition by a religious Christian of the foundational stories of Genesis 1-11. The author is a superior scholar---thoughtful, cautious, measured, and ethically sensitive. I appreciated very much the wealth of information on Christian perceptions of Genesis. It was also encouraging to learn that, both in terms of his methodology of analysis and religious understanding, a considerable fortuitous overlap exists between Christian and Jewish comprehensions. For all the reasons mentioned above, I heartily recommend the book.--Professor Jeremiah Unterman Herzl Institute and author of Justice for All: How the Jewish Bible Revolutionized Ethics

Every student and scholar of Scripture should read Collins's Reading Genesis Well. It is that rare piece of biblical scholarship that manages to be thoroughly conversant in the wide-ranging scholarship relevant to its subject, while managing to be quite readable and intuitive. In the process, it offers a fresh and compelling way of reading the Bible and the opening texts of Genesis with integrity. Collins has found a way through the interpretive thicket that frustrates ordinary Christians and misleads many prominent biblical scholars. Whether you have studied the Bible for decades or just want to read it more carefully, you will benefit from this book.--Jay Wesley Richards Assistant Research Professor, Catholic University of America

In the beginning and throughout the process of reading, there is interpretation. This is true of all books but especially of the Bible. The peoples of the earth have for centuries been reading Genesis according to their own hermeneutical kinds. And God saw that it was not always good. I therefore thank God for Jack Collins's masterful guide to reading Scripture's good-faith communication in good faith, with literary sensitivity, an ear to the history of interpretation, and an eye on the present scientific context. Reading Genesis Well lives up to its title and then some. The first third treats biblical interpretation in general and is itself worth the price of the book. The rest of the book puts his reading strategy to work. He builds on C. S. Lewis's critical and imaginative approach to reading then offers a contextually sensitive account of just what the author of Genesis is saying and doing in chapters 1-11. It's important for reading the rest of Scripture to get the beginning right, and Collins here provides the resources for doing just that.--Kevin J. Vanhoozer Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

In Reading Genesis Well, C. John Collins teaches us how to be good readers of Genesis 1-11. Collins guides conservative readers between the twin errors either of interpreting the text in a woodenly literalistic fashion or of segregating Genesis and science into entirely different realms. Rather, he leads the reader to approach Genesis with linguistic and literary tools provided by C. S. Lewis. The result is an excellent theological reading of the first chapters of Genesis.--Kenneth Keathley Senior Professor of Theology, Jesse Hendley Endowed Chair of Biblical Theology, and Director of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture

Jack Collins provides the kind of work on Genesis 1-11 we need today: a careful, balanced analysis that will guide readers of good will to greater understanding. Collins cuts through liberal and conservative rhetorical politics to help readers see what is really in this great summative passage.--Paul House Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Just when I think C. John ("Jack") Collins has had his last word on the opening chapters of God's Word, he goes and outdoes himself! In Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Science, Poetry, and Truth, Collins invites us to sit at the feet of a literary genius---C. S. Lewis---and learn how to read Genesis 1-11 wisely. Drawing insight from the disciplines of linguistics, literary study, and rhetoric, and with help from Lewis, Collins guides us toward a critically rigorous reading strategy that applies not only to Genesis 1-11 but to any and all texts. Become a better reader of Genesis 1-11 by becoming an apprentice of C. S. Lewis---what a novel idea! What a great book! I highly recommend!--Todd A. Wilson President, The Center for Pastor Theologians

Reading Genesis Well is a book aptly titled. Jack Collins once again shows himself to be a careful exegete and wise guide. He skillfully examines the biblical text with an eye attentive to both its ancient Near Eastern setting and its divine revelatory content. His treatment of the relevant biblical, theological, literary, historical, and scientific questions is masterful and judicious.--Paul Copan Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and coauthor of Creation out of Nothing: A Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration

Since I first came across Jack Collins's work (some twenty-odd years ago), it stood out for me as a model of honest and respectful interaction between reading the Bible and science. I've always been impressed by his way of combining respect for the Bible's teaching, willingness to let the Word of God speak for itself (without superposing foreign categories on it), insights from modern linguistics, and a thorough concern for dialogue with science.--Lydia Jaeger Directrice des etudes, Institut Biblique de Nogent, Nogent-sur- Marne, France

This book is full of good sense about biblical interpretation. Readers who work through the principles and examples in the early chapters will be prepared for an approach to Genesis that prioritizes the intended message of the sacred text rather than modern disputes. Those who want the Scriptures to set the agenda regarding creation will benefit from this careful appropriation of C. S. Lewis's literary wisdom. Jack Collins has the spiritual sensitivity, exegetical skill, and theological savvy to be a trustworthy guide.--Dan Treier Knoedler Professor of Theology and PhD Program Director, Wheaton College Graduate School

This is a book to be read by theologians and scientists alike. Using C. S. Lewis as his guide, Collins brilliantly synthesizes ideas from modern linguistics to show what the much-debated opening chapters of Genesis do say and what they don't. Taking these chapters of Genesis as the introduction to the big story of the Bible, meant to shape the worldview of ancient Israel and their heirs (the church), Collins credibly argues that interpreting these chapters as ancient science is misguided and rooted in the mistaken idea that scientific language is the most accurate and therefore the most truthful kind of discourse. I highly recommend this book to fellow scientists as it has deepened my own understanding of the frontiers of biblical scholarship, increased my appreciation for the complexity of textual interpretation, and invited me to develop a much more nuanced understanding of the features of Genesis 1-11 and their relation to science.--Arend J. Poelarends Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Wheaton College

This new book from the pen of Jack Collins is a treasure, representing the coming together of Collins's multiple interests and competencies in a compelling case for how the early chapters of Genesis should be read. Well written and wide ranging, this book is about much more than just Genesis 1-11 or even the interplay of Bible and science; it is a guide to how to read the Bible as it is meant to be read. Collins asks the right questions and puts his readers on the path of discovering well-founded answers.--V. Philips Long Professor of Old Testament, Regent College, Vancouver

We know what Genesis says. But how many of us are confident that we know what it means? In this insightful and imaginative volume, Jack Collins gives us the tools we need to understand these vital opening chapters of the Bible. With C. S. Lewis as a conversation partner, Collins walks us through contested terrain with the settled step of a seasoned trail guide. His writing is precise but not pedantic, learned yet practical. Reading Genesis Well delivers even more than it promises, teaching us skills and principles that also apply to the entire Bible.--Rebecca Rine Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Grove City College

What does it mean to be a faithful reader of the Bible? How are we to understand the creation account and the early chapters of Genesis? How does God's revelation in the Word illuminate his created world? How do Christian faith and science relate? These are critical questions facing Christians today. C. John Collins has been at the forefront of giving faithful answers to these questions for years, and with this groundbreaking book, Reading Genesis Well, he remains there. Collins gives attention to the text of Scripture and how we are best to read and understand God's revealed, authoritative account of creation. Situating himself in Genesis 1-11, Collins adeptly navigates through this labyrinth by addressing vital issues that impact reading the biblical text well, by focusing on history, poetry, science, and, ultimately, truth. Grounded in the inerrant and authoritative Scriptures, affirming the literal sense along with literary sensitivities, Collins builds on the conventional tools of exegesis by including the literary and linguistic insights of C. S. Lewis. This is a brilliant move to use Lewis as a conversation partner and glean from his literary insights as a gateway to a better understanding of Genesis, along with hermeneutical methods that shed light on reading other texts of Scripture as well. This is a must-read for pastors, biblical scholars, theologians, and scientists. And once you have read the book, teach the material to others. Superbly done!--Greg Strand Executive Director of Theology and Credentialing, EFCA, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology, TEDS

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