Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview [Paperback]

Meredith G. Kline (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2006

As intimated by the subtitle, Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview, the immediate literary focus of this study is the book of Genesis and its account of the formative ages in the eschatological movement of the kingdom of God from creation to consummation. As also indicated by the subtitle, our biblical-theological commentary on Genesis is designed to uncover the foundations of God’s covenantally administered kingdom with its major historical developments and its institutional structures and functions. In this way Kingdom Prologue seeks to provide an introductory sketch of the over-all shape of the biblical worldview and the character of biblical religion.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Meredith G. Kline is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He received his B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and his Ph.D. degree in Assyriology and Egyptology from Dropsie College. Professor Kline maintains an active writing and teaching ministry, serving at present on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California. He is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The collection of essays in the recently-published Creator, Redeemer, Consummator, a festschrift written in honor of Dr. Kline, attests to the indelible influence his work has exerted on contemporary biblical and theological scholarship. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers (February 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597525642
• ISBN-13: 978-1597525640
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books out there on Genesis, January 5, 2006

By 

FBRobertson "fbrobertson2" (SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview (Paperback)

As a (starting out) seminary student, I find that there are many books out there on the subject of Genesis...from all kinds of points of views, from the strong 24-hour to theistic evolution. I myself am a literalist, in that I feel the Bible is a literal message of God to us written throughout Genesis through Revelation. But I am humble enough to admit that even I get lost in the shuffle of books that surround me, especially those dealing with the Old Testament. That is why I wish to tell anyone and everyone that if you need one book on Genesis, this book by Kline is the best one out there IMO (I would also suggest How to Read Genesis, which is also an A+ book, but should be read after Kline's). Kline goes into detail not in terms of whether or not it was 24 hours, or whatnot, but instead explores the meaning and the theology and (redemptive) history behind Genesis. You could say that Kline helps one to look at it through the eyes of the entire Bible, along with the culture at the time of Moses' writings of Genesis and the other books that make up the Torah. We must realize that the Bible was not written to battle Evolution, which I believe is false but that is beside the point, nor was it written in the eyes of how we today in the 21st century view historical writing. Instead, you might say, Kline helps you study and understand Genesis in such a way that you are given the understanding (and much much more) of Genesis through the eyes of those that Moses would have read it to, along with later generations of those Jews who would hold faith in God, leading up to Jesus Christ, the very image of God. If you want a better understanding of Genesis, if you want something that will help you through seminary studies and in the long run, you must find this book and keep it and treasure it.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind blowing, November 11, 2003

By 

Michael S Gregga (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview (Paperback)

Although this book is available for free online in .pdf format, books are forever. Meredith Kline's understanding of the Bible includes his Fiat/fulfillment theory, which has greatly increased my understanding of many aspects of theology, and not just creation. Buy this book if you want to learn.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covenantal View by a Hebrew Master, August 2, 2009

By 

D. Gardner (NYC US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview (Paperback)

How grateful I am to see that Dr. Kline finally got his works published. I had him as a hermeneutics professor 20 years ago in Seminary, and am extremely gratified to find the manuscript texts I lost some years back (during a move between cities), here.

Kline's best work came with the first 6 chapters of Genesis. Even in 1988, he had spent some 30 years of his life studying the first chapters of Genesis in great detail--in the original ancient Hebrew (etc).

Though his wording can be thick and "theologically stilted" (ie. tough to wade through and brainy), it also provides an illuminating view of the foundational truths of the one, living, Creator-God, and His dealings with His Creation--especially man.

While some have posted negative reviews, it is unlikely that they have spent 30-50 years of their lives studying such texts in their original languages, and teaching in so much depth--as Kline did. Nor have they known his instruction first-hand, as I have.

Kline is a true conservative, and strictly orthodox in his approach to Scripture. Some here, have accused him of fitting his interpretation of Scripture to his own mental framework (eisegesis), rather than building a framework from his deep knowledge of the original texts (exegesis). They'd be wrong.
[Geerhardus Vos, himself, called Kline: "The Prince of Exegetes" (and that's no small thing), but Kline played such things down, pouring himself, instead, into God's Word.]

I can't say that I agree(d) with Dr. Kline in all respects, but I did always respect him. He made me think, and question what I believe in relation to the text--God's words. So, I am glad to purchase this this text, and wade through it again.

When I knew him, his best & favorite work (by his own admission) had been through Genesis chapter 6, though his treatment through Abram/Abraham is also thought-provoking.

So, if you're up to wading through some thick, but thought-provoking material, have a go at this. Your time won't be wasted.

[Oh, and the thought that Kline was not reformed or a Calvinist (or even a heretic, as proposed by some leaving reviews) is laughable. Kline was so reformed/such a Calvinist, he squeeked.]