Reading Genesis Well

C. John Collins (PhD, 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.

• 1.Introduction1.AHistorical backcloth: Benjamin Jowett and 19th century literalism1.BJames Barr, Jowett’s heir1.CWhy do I think Lewis can help?1.DMy own background and stance2.What is happening in Literary Communication 2.AThe Big Idea: How to approach any work of art2.BLinguistics, rhetoric, literary criticism3.Types of Language and Biblical Interpretation3.ASpeech Act Theory and Biblical rhetoric3.BLewis’ essay, “The language of religion”3.CMetaphor, thought, truth3.DExamples of exegesis3.EIs there a role for analytical language?3.FConclusions4.Good Faith Communication4.AHow does communication work?4.BWhat is “good faith communication”?4.CWhat is the connection between world picture and worldview?4.DSense, referent, rhetoric, and truth5.What do we have in Genesis 1–11? 1: Context5.ACohesion and coherence5.A.1 Internal cohesion5.A.2 Cohesion with Genesis – Deuteronomy5.A.3 Connected but separate5.BShared world context5.B.1 Other nations’ origin stories5.B.2 Audience criticism and “rhetorical situation”5.B.2.a Date of Genesis5.B.2.b Implied audience6.What do we have in Genesis 1–11? 2: Function6.AThe Pentateuch as “constitution”6.BGenesis and worldview story6.CAnachronism and history6.DLiterary style and language level6.ELiterary style and architecture of Genesis 1–117.Genesis 1–11: A rhetorical-theological reading7.ACreation and fall (Genesis 1–4)7.A.1 Creation (Genesis 1–2)7.A.2 “Fall” and consequences (Genesis 3–4)7.BFrom Adam to Noah (Genesis 5)7.CThe Great Flood7.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.DAll 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.EFrom 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.AThe Big Story8.BCreation of material ex nihilo8.CRelation of Genesis 1 and 28.DHuman origins and fall8.EThe Flood8.FGenesis and Hellenistic science9.Genesis 1–11, World picture and worldview9.AWhat is the shape of the world?9.BDoes the sun “rise”?9.CWhere does the rain come from?9.DA three-decker universe?9.EHasn’t explaining become explaining away?9.FHow should we read God’s action in creation?9.GWhere the conflict really lies10.Genesis 1–11: A humane moral vision for Israel and the world10.ARedemptive history as worldview story10.B“Heirs” of this story10.B.1 Israel10.B.2 Christians10.CConclusion: Reading Genesis 1–11 well

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.