Reading for Unity in Genesis 1:1-11:9

Reviews / Votes

Genesis has long fascinated Christian (and Jewish and other) readers because of its vision of the universal human experience of creatureliness before God, and its instantiation of that universality in the particular stories of recognizable human individuals and families. The Bible's first book exudes the dynamic tension between unity and diversity that also characterizes the church's life. In this learned and beautifully lucid book, a team of skilled authors and editors explore the possibilities of healthy unity emerging from the encounter between committed readers and the ancient biblical text. They exhibit not only the richness and variety of Christian readings responding to Genesis 1-11, but also the possibilities such readings raise for the church's ongoing life as a body experiencing its unity from a common baptism while also seeking deeper and more visible expressions of that unity in its irreducible diversity. A highly stimulating book, much to be commended. * Mark W. Hamilton, Robert and Kay Onstead Professor of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University * Biblical studies are flourishing, with renewed attention to figurative and theological interpretation deepening our grasp of Scripture. In this volume, Stark and Oden gather leading scholars to explore Genesis 1-11 through the lens of the whole canon, uncovering its enduring theological significance. This cohesive collection advances hermeneutics and doctrinal theology alike, offering rich insights for scholars, theologians, and students committed to faithful exegesis. * Myk Habets, Senior lecturer in Theology, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand * These thought-provoking and imaginative studies in the hermeneutics of unity model a species of mediation-the laying of a biblically informed wisdom for the deep pastoral task of reconciliation in an often fractured and polarized church. As a pastor and a teacher, this important volume will continue to encourage and inspire me to pursue a loving and truthful unity that is animated by the Spirit of Pentecost. * William Olhausen, Adjunct Associate Professor, Trinity College Dublin *