Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, And Theological Commentary
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Overview
Much controversy surrounds the opening chapters of Genesis. They are front-loaded with all manner of vital topics—such as God's work of creating the world and mankind; what it means to be human; why our present experience is so different from what we find in Genesis 2; how we come to know God and to be sure of his love.
Collins employs a literary-theological method informed by contemporary discourse analysis in order to read passages as coherent wholes. He shows how later biblical and inter-testamental writers have used Genesis 1–4 and reflects on how these chapters shape a Christian worldview today.
- Comments on the first four chapters of Genesis
- Explains the content in a literary production methodology
- Aims for the attention to linguistic and literary details within its larger context
- A Discourse Oriented Literary Approach
- Genesis 1-4 in Its Literary Context
- Genesis 1:1-2:3: The Creation Week
- Genesis 2:4-25: The Garden of Eden
- Genesis 3:1-24: The Man and Woman Disobey
- Genesis 4:1-26: After Eden
- Sources, Unity, and Authorship
- The Communicative Purpose of Genesis 1-4
- Genesis 1-4, History, and Science
- Seeing the World through the Eyes of Genesis 1-4
From every standpoint—methodological and theological, structural and syntactical, linguistic and literary, apologetic and worldview—this expository survey is a model of ‘good reading’ of the text. Here you have a landmark treatment of Genesis 1–4 as canonical communication from God, a work of detailed scholarship that no serious student or honest teacher will henceforth be able to ignore
J. I. Packer
What does it mean to be human? Why are we here? What’s wrong with us and our world? How can things be made right? And what’s God got to do with the whole business? Collins demonstrates that the opening chapters of Scripture are crucial in answering these worldview questions, and thus essential to a faithful engagement with life in God’s world. He gives us a commentary that is both exegetically exacting and theologically relevant for the modern church.
Michael D. Williams
Jack Collins is a most promising candidate to provide wise guidance in the interpretation of Genesis 1–4. He brings to the discussion a background in science and text-linguistics, advanced degrees in theology and the languages and literatures of the Bible, and a long-standing involvement with the early chapters of Genesis. The result is a clearly written and insightful treatise on this crucially important part of the Bible.
V. Philips Long
- Title: Genesis 1–4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary
- Author: C. John Collins
- Publisher: P&R
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 318
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. O.T. Genesis 1-4 › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9780875526195, 0875526195
- Resource ID: LLS:GNSS14THLGCLCMM
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-30T21:05:38Z
Reviews
4 ratings
Hans Stout
7/4/2024
In my estimation, this book is a masterful, intellectually rigorous, clear, and accessible treatment of the first four chapters of Genesis. So lucid and well written, in fact, that I'd gladly gobble up a commentary by Collins on the entire book of Genesis. In terms of an intense aversion to Collins' book (that's rooted in his views on the merits of a 6-day 24 hr. view of creation account), it would be quite odd to judge the merits of an entire volume on a single matter such as this. If this were prudent to do, we'd be obliged to turn our nose up at Augustine's monumental work, "The City of God", because he fails to endorse a 24/6 view of creation in his classic work. At any rate, this book is both a gem and a keeper, and a masterclass in clear thinking on the Word.
Roland J. Ledoux
1/4/2023
Some people read books to gain more insight, knowledge and hopefully wisdom; to increase their God-given understanding of the Word of God. Others read books to try and justify their own beliefs whatever those are. Since I am a pastor who doesn't know it all, I will take my chances that the Lord in His wisdom will lead me to some new understanding. Short creation or long creation? We are saved by grace through faith and when we have accepted that, I guess we can ask the Lord when we finally meet face-to-face. Thanks Logos for your pursuing to offer whatever is available to God's creation for our individual study! I wish I would have known about your services when I was younger!Robert N
1/2/2023
Considering the import and foundational importance of Genesis 1 and how an author approaches it, it is a poor review or description that does not upfront answer the question, Did God create everything in 6 literal 24 hour days? This author does not believe in a literal 6 day (24 hr days) creation. Logos needs to be up front about this in their description of any work discussing Genesis 1. It should also be disclosed if the author does not address this issue. Just answer the question.. Did God create in 6 days of 24 hour duration or not? This author does not, from what I can tell believe God created in 6 literal 24 hour days.Glenn Crouch
9/29/2022
Just re-read this after 10 years, and I still appreciate the author’s approach and find much value in his analogical understanding of Genesis 1. Highly recommended.
