Customer Reviews

Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15

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Gordon Wenham has written a well balanced commentary on the opening chapters of Genesis in this Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1 Genesis 1-15. Along with his translations Wenham delivers an exceptionally intriguing view of narrative ethics which seems to underline this particular commentary. While applications are never forced the way many pastoral commentaries are, one cannot help but to gleam modern applications write out of the narrative explanations. Though his dealings with the opening creation stories do at first seem to be too heavily focused upon, Wenham does manage to bring some simplicity to this otherwise complicated work. This commentary is not just scholarly (as I find Ephraim A. Speiser's commentary to be) and not just pastoral - it is a great balance.

The WBC Genesis commentary, vol. 1, by Wenham, follows the series' format, which has technical material first, then scholarly textual evaluation and criticism, finishing with the commentary. For all but the most diligent Hebrew scholars, the first section will be overkill. For those who hold a high view of scriptural inspiration, the documentary theories and sympathetic comments about late editing found int the middle section will frustrate and lessen credibility. The commentary is solidly done, and while not agreeing at every point, I find it generally very helpful and worth consulting.

I cannot imagine a less user-friendly layout than the Word Biblical Commentary Series. The series is uneven, and occasionally goes overboard in literary/source criticism. But one up-to-date, critical commentary on Genesis should be on our shelves, and this is about the best.

Very Technical and writes as such. Spends alot of time on JDEP he obviously buys the hypothesis of it..yet he uses no real archaeology or any such to make the case. His presupposition seems to be that Moses definitely didnt write it so you see absolutely no comparisons on other terminology or useages by the author to clarify different hypothesis. You dont see a whole lot of actual getting into the Hebrew terminology but we do see alot of so and so thinks this and he said this ...and modern commentators think this. Which really doesnt give me sound evidence as to why commentators have moved away from traditional interpretatons that flow better w/t he text. I guess the wrong thinking of "newer" is better...yet no one can be a great theologian unless they seem to bring something new to the table. If your looking for a commentary that seeks to flow with the rest of the Bible and actually believes plenary inspiration of the Bible...which apparently is passe to modern commentators I think you will be disappointed. This certainly isnt a Mounce , Morris, Packer, Gill or Calvin for sure!