Genesis 1-11 Through the Centuries

Bradley C. Gregory explores how interpreters from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions have engaged with the Primeval History, tracing its influence from the Second Temple period through Late Antiquity, the medieval world, the Renaissance and Reformation, and into modernity. Each chapter examines pivotal questions, creation ex nihilo, the nature of humanity, the problem of evil, and reveals how these texts have been read, contested, and reimagined in sermons, commentaries, visual art, music, and literature. By situating interpretations within their historical and cultural contexts, Gregory illuminates the assumptions and theological frameworks that have shaped responses to Genesis across two millennia. This work offers a comprehensive resource for understanding the enduring significance of Genesis 1–11, balancing major interpretive trajectories with lesser-known readings, highlighting the creative ways communities have filled narrative gaps and negotiated meaning. Gregory invites readers to consider why these ancient stories continue to animate conversations about origins, identity, and the divine.