How to Read Genesis

by Tremper Longman III

The third installment in Longman's How to Read... series, this volume is another worthwhile read for the Bible student. Longman provides a method on reading Genesis "with a strategy," while touching on issues as important as reading Genesis "in its own world." Rather than reading Genesis simply as historical events, he insists that Genesis be read as "God's story"—the story of Him blessing the faithful. Finally, he provides a brief guide to reading Genesis as a Christian.

To the Christian who dismisses anyone whose view of Genesis 1 may be interpreted in any way other than the traditional method ("traditional" being a suspect term, since alternate interpretations date all the way back to Augustine or earlier), you probably shouldn't bother with this book. While Longman doesn't push any particular interpretation, he is open to others, examining the pro's and con's of a couple and ultimately deciding—to the horror of some, I'm sure—"It appears that Genesis itself is not interested in giving us a clear and unambiguous understanding of the nature of the creation days" (104).

Longman also accepts the possibility of non-literal meanings of some portions of the creation account (e.g. God breathing into man, 78). His understanding of passages such as this is that they are meant to correct the false teaching of the ancient pagan creation accounts, and that their usage is more to teach about the nature of God and his creation rather than to provide a step-by-step, literal description of God’s procedure.

There are things in this book with which I disagree. And I'm sure that will be true of you as well. But you will hardly find a more thorough introduction to the book of Genesis written by a conservative scholar of high repute. Read it with caution—as you would any other book. And read it with an open mind. But certainly, if you're planning to study Genesis, read it.

The Editors do not advocate everything taught by the authors of the books we review. Like us, these authors are fallible humans and those who choose to read these books should measure them by the bible, the one true standard.