Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account [Paperback]

John Sailhamer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

No matter what your position or background, you will be challenged to test your understanding of the Bible's critical opening sentences and reexamine your beliefs about the creation of the world through Genesis Unbound.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880708689
• ISBN-13: 978-0880708685
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #818,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John H. Sailhamer is professor of Old Testament at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Brea, California and was formerly senior professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His other works include An Introduction to Old Testament Theology and The NIIV Compact Bible Commentary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biblically Consistant and Intellectually Satisfying, September 6, 2001

By 

Michael Walker (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account (Paperback)

Dr. Sailhamer is one of the world's foremost Hebrew Scholar's. His scholarship is only surpassed by his devotion to the Biblical text. Dr. Sailhamer is committed both to the authority and the inerrancy of the original manuscripts. His book is an honest, in depth, scholarly study of the Biblical texts of creation geared toward the layman. He views the creation account as a literal, historical account and the days of creation as literal 24 hour days. The essence of Dr. Sailhamer's book is that Genesis 1:1 describes the creation of the universe during an indeterminate amount of time; Genesis 1:2-2:4a describe the preparation of the land (the Garden of Eden/Promised Land) over six literal days. This is NOT a variation on the GAP Theory, nor is it an attempt to twist the Scriptures into compliance with contemporary views of science. It is the attempt of a brilliant and godly man to wrestle with the Scriptures in order to gain a better understanding of the meaning of the text. His interpretation is always based on the Hebrew text, its grammar, syntax and, most important of all, its context. Any honest scholar will admit that no interpretation of the Genesis account is entirely satisfying; all are to a greater or lesser degree problematic. Dr. Sailhamer's work comes closest to providing a satisfying solution, a solution that is consistent with the context of Genesis 1:1-2:4a, as will as the context of the entire book of Genesis, the Pentateuch and the whole of the Scriptures. If you would like a more in depth study of Genesis I would highly recommend Sailhamer's commentary on Genesis in the "Expositor's Bible Commentary" and his book "Pentateuch as Narrative". Sailhamer's works on Genesis and the Pentateuch have replaced Umberto Cassuto's writings as my most valued secondary sources for the study of the Pentateuch.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WELL WORTH READING, May 13, 2000

By 

Charles E. Meadows (Milton, WV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account (Paperback)

this is definitely one of the more memorable theological books i've read. i'm sure sailhamer has gotten some flack for his departure from the "orthodox". basically he suggests that Genesis 1 may be more a descrition of God's prepararion of the promised land rather than simply a literal (if not brief) synopsis of the creation of the universe. whether one believes, hates, or passively accepts the various assumptions of "evolution", one must at least wonder how we (as Christians) are to view scientific facts and theories that conflict with the biblical message (or at least our perceptions thereof). sailhamer's suggestion is not a new one. this can be found as well in earlier work by j lightfoote as well as some older rabbinic writings. anyway, this is a fast read and will be worth the time!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh look at an old story, May 8, 2000

By 

kevin ross (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genesis Unbound: A Provocative New Look at the Creation Account (Paperback)

This book challenged almost everything I have been told or thought about the Genesis account of creation. The author asserts that modern translations, including the King James Version, suffer from cosmological presuppositions that bias our reading of the ancient account. Very compelling.