This is a very useful little book. It is taken largely from
sermons by the two authors. Kaiser, of course, is the well-known Old Testament
scholar and emeritus president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Little
is the senior pastor of the First Congregational Church on Hamilton, MA. In the
book, they trace the theme of creation (and new creation) through Scripture by
focusing on selected texts. Obviously Genesis 1 is included, as well as such
other passages as Proverbs 8, Psalm 29, and Psalm 104. With regard to new
creation, Little deals with Matthew 1 and 2 Corinthians 4 and 5. Kaiser deals
with Isaiah 65 and 66.
The author gives an exposition of each passage, ending each
chapter with a restatement of the conclusions and a list of study and
discussion questions for small group use. The chapters are directed primarily
to the non-professional, and are written accordingly. Contrary to what some
might think, it is much more difficult to write for a popular audience than it
is for a technical one, as a great deal of attention has to be paid to keeping
the language clear, and explaining any technical terms that must be used. Both
authors are to be commended for meeting this exacting standard.
The book concludes with an appendix, which is essentially a
reprint of Kaiser’s article “The Literary Genre of Genesis 1-11,” which
initially appeared in 1969. In this article he argues for reading Genesis 1-11
as straightforward “historical narrative-prose.” I think the article is convincing.
However, such self-identified evangelical scholars as Peter Enns (formerly of
Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia) and John Walton (currently at
Wheaton College) are currently insisting that Genesis 1-11 (especially Genesis
1-3) is really myth. I think the article would have been strengthened if Kaiser
had rewritten it in order to take the views of Enns, Walton, and others into
account. But that is a relatively small complaint.
By and large, I have no hesitancy in recommending this work
for personal and/or group study on the doctrine of creation as set out in many
key biblical passages.
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