Craig Keener: “Saving a Lot: Abram fights slave traders—Genesis 14” (March 22, 2016).

While Christian theologians today debate whether God demands pacifism or allows just war, at least in the Old Testament we see one just war that is not explicitly noted to have been carried out at God’s command. This was a war to liberate slaves.

Craig Keener: “Abram’s Growing Faith—Genesis 15-16” (March 29, 2016).

We rightly think of Abraham as our ancestor in faith, but his faith began small, just like all of ours. The faith necessary for God to count him righteous (Gen 15:6) was much less than the extraordinary faith demonstrated when he offered up Isaac years later (22:3). Abraham’s faith, like ours grew over the years. It was not something that he worked up by the strength of his will or by fertile imagination; it grew in response to witnessing God’s faithfulness over the years. He learned increasingly more deeply that God can be trusted, and he learned this because he had a relationship with God, where God spoke clearly and Abraham obeyed fully.

Craig Keener: “God heard her cry: God and Hagar in Genesis 16” (April 5, 2016).

God uses weak and fallible people—the only kind of people there are.

Craig Keener: “The deceiver gets deceived—Genesis 29” (February 8, 2016).

What Jacob did to others, Jacob now endures from others—though in the long run—sometimes the very long run—God will bless Jacob and more than make up for his suffering.

Craig Keener: “God’s favor matters most—Genesis 29” (February 15, 2016).

Have you ever felt discriminated against for matters outside your control? As Jacob’s parents showed favoritism toward particular sons, so Jacob showed favoritism toward a particular wife (29:30-31). Jacob was the younger brother of two and favored the younger sister of two, but God’s reversal of the birthright in some cases shows that God himself does not show favoritism based on birth order.

Craig Keener: “Jacob’s wives agree with his plan—Genesis 31:14-16” (February 29, 2016).

In Jacob’s culture, husbands held the final say. Further, God has spoken, and since Jacob has heard him, Jacob must do what God has commanded. Nevertheless, Jacob carefully presents the case to his wives. Jacob’s wives then weigh in as if he is consulting them in 31:14-16.

Craig Keener: “Different perspectives—Genesis 31:42-43” (March 15, 2016).

What we see sometimes depends on the lens through which we view reality. What is right in our eyes may be wrong; what matters is how things appear in God’s eyes, for his standard is truth.

Craig Keener: “Be careful whom you trust—Genesis 34:1-3” (March 7, 2016).

The narrator of Genesis tells the story of Jacob and the Shechemites partly to remind Israel that they had a history earlier in the land than the conquest, and partly to warn them against trusting Canaanite morality.

Craig Keener: “Rachel’s death in childbirth—Genesis 35:16-20” (February 22, 2016).

In 35:16-20, Rachel dies in childbirth. This person who dies in childbirth is the same person who earlier demanded of her husband, “Give me children or I will die!” (30:1).

“To get God’s blessing is different.”

John Goldingay, Genesis for Everyone Part One: Chapters 1−16 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), 197 pages.

John Goldingay, Genesis for Everyone Part Two: Chapters 17−50 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), 186 pages.

Genesis for Everyone lives up to its name. This two volume contemporary commentary of the book of Genesis is a refreshing and straightforward read of the creation account and the Genesis stories. John Goldingay is a prominent Old Testament scholar and theologian whose wealth of knowledge and insight contributes greatly to the understanding of these narratives. He writes in such a way as to inspire readers to engage in the spiritual and theological concepts of the book of Genesis in a modern context. Goldingay has written extensively on Genesis and Old Testament theology. However, this two volume commentary is worlds apart from his trilogy, Old Testament Theology that represents his magnum opus. Both works do give readers an appreciation for an Old Testament theologian whose rigorous readings of the final form of the text produce significant insights for both the church and the academy. Goldingay has benefited from the resurgence of Brevard Child’s canonical approach and from the possibilities of contextualized interpretation influenced by postmodern epistemologies. His long and prestigious career is marked by a keen methodological reflection and creative insights of the text with a commitment to the academy, as well as the contemporary church.

This two volume work is specifically targeted for the lay church audience. This commentary is not concerned with textual or critical methodological approaches. The author’s purpose is to highlight the importance of what he prefers to name “The First Testament” and the depth of understanding God’s ways through these Scriptures. Its aim is to provide the historical and theological implications to assist lay readers with the interpretative process for the book of Genesis. Goldingay’s respect for the Jewish sources is apparent within his interpretations of various texts; although, not explicitly cited. However, Goldingay treats the Hebrew canon from a Christian canonical context and incorporates the New Testament into his reading. The volumes are user friendly with key historical and theological terms in bold corresponding to a glossary at the end of each volume. Goldingay divides the volumes by chapters instead of by content for a practical split.