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How to Read Genesis, By Tremper Longman III

How to Read Genesis

How To Read Series

Second Edition

by Tremper Longman III

How to Read Genesis
Paperback
$23.99
  • Length: 224 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.25 in
  • Published: April 15, 2025
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • ISBN: 9781514002834
Other Formats:

A New Updated Edition of a Beloved Favorite!

Within the realm of sacred texts, Genesis stands as a pillar—a foundational book that shapes the Torah, the Old Testament, and ultimately the entire Christian Bible. Through its rich tapestry of stories and images Genesis often leave readers pondering the deeper meanings hidden within its verses. In the latest installment of the bestselling How to Read Series, Tremper Longman III offers an enlightening path to grasping what Genesis is meant to communicate to both its original readers and contemporary audiences.

How to Read Genesis, 2nd Edition gives readers an invaluable guide that:

  • Examines the various lenses through which Genesis can be viewed, enriching comprehension and appreciation of its narratives.
  • Delves into the cultural backgrounds that influenced Genesis, providing a fuller picture of its significance and teachings.
  • Uncovers the layers of history and authorship that contributed to the creation of Genesis.
  • Explains the background of the literary forms and structural elements that make Genesis unique.
  • Offers an understanding of how Genesis fits into the broader context of the Bible, connecting its themes and messages to the entire Christian narrative.

Building upon historical, cultural, and literary context, How to Read Genesis, 2nd Edition will not only enhance your knowledge, but will also foster a deeper connection with the text and its timeless wisdom.

"Longman has long been known for his ability to analyze disparate literary genres and historical elements of scripture while crafting a solid Christological perspective–and on this point, he does not disappoint. That is, he seeks to provide space for Genesis as literature, myth, history, and at last, ways to read Genesis as a Christian, a perspective that he identifies as "preposterous and distorting," and yet, not only prompted by Jesus himself (as in Luke 24) but absolutely needed in the context of current Christian teaching and preaching. ... This is a short, valuable, and timely look at a misunderstood book." – Library Journal Review, February 2025

REVIEWS

"In this accessible introduction to Genesis, Longman provides a workshop in hermeneutics, helping Christian readers hone their historical, literary, and theological skills in order to appropriate the message of this ancient book for contemporary contexts. This work emerges from a distinguished career of honestly grappling with biblical texts and provides a starting point for those seeking guidance in how to read Scripture."Mark J. Boda, professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Ontario
"Tremper Longman knows what the questions are that people ask and what the questions are they need to ask about Genesis. He is skilled at providing answers that make sense and that take people forward in their understanding of this vital but argued about and often misunderstood part of the Scriptures. He is good at making complicated questions as intelligible as they can be, and he takes scholarly questions seriously without losing track of the reason why people are reading the Scriptures. Further, he is good at providing answers to questions in a way that encourages readers to do their own reading and thinking. It's therefore excellent that he has brought out this new edition of his valuable introduction, which takes into account key scholarly works of the last twenty years. A whole new generation of readers can profit from it!"John Goldingay, senior professor of Old Testament and David Allan Hubbard Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary and author of Biblical Theology and The First Testament
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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments to the First Edition
Acknowledgments to the Second Edition
Introduction
Part 1: Reading Genesis with a Strategy
1. Understanding the Book of "Beginnings"
Part 2: Reading Genesis as Literature
2. Who Wrote Genesis?
3. The Shape of the Book of Genesis
Part 3: Reading Genesis in Its Own World
4. Myth or History? Genesis and the Enuma Elish
5. Noah and Utnapishtim: Whose Flood Story Should We Trust?
6. Abraham and Nuzi: Patriarchal Customs in Their Cultural Context
Part 4: Reading Genesis as God's Story
7. The Primeval History: Genesis 1–11
8. The Patriarchal Narratives: Genesis 12–36
9. The Joseph Story: Genesis 37–50
Part 5: Reading Genesis as Christians
10. The Christological Difference

Appendix 1: Commentaries on Genesis
Appendix 2: The Compositional History of the Pentateuch
Notes
General Index
Scripture Index

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ABOUT Tremper Longman III

Tremper Longman III

Tremper Longman III (PhD, Yale University) is Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He is the author or coauthor of over thirty books, including How to Read the Psalms, How to Read Proverbs, Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation, and Old Testament Essentials.

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