In the Beginning: A Commentary on Genesis and Its Reception in the New Testament

An innovative commentary on Genesis that illuminates the book’s relationship to the rest of the biblical canon

In the Beginning provides historical and critical exposition of the Hebrew text of Genesis while also explaining the book’s theological significance within the biblical canon as a whole. The result is a beautifully nuanced perspective―not only of the memorable events and colorful characters within the first book of the Bible, but also of the book’s place in the larger story of Scripture.

For each chapter of Genesis, author James R. Edwards offers a faithful reading that includes three elements: synopsis, exegesis, and kerygma. The synopsis briefly outlines and introduces the contents of the chapter; the exegesis develops a full discussion of the history, meaning, and purpose of the chapter; and the kerygma explores the influence of the various elements of the chapter on later Jewish tradition in the Old Testament and especially on Christian tradition in the New Testament. The commentary thus attends to “the whole counsel of God” by expounding Genesis in the context of salvation history as fulfilled in the subsequent history of Israel and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Distinctive for its combination of depth and breadth, In the Beginning will be a valuable resource for students, pastors, and general readers interested in the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

James R. Edwards is Bruner-Welch Professor Emeritus of Theology at Whitworth University, where he taught for nearly two decades. His book Is Jesus the Only Savior? won the 2006 Christianity Today Book of the Year award in apologetics. His other books include The Hebrew Gospel and the Development of the Synoptic Tradition, In the Beginning: A Commentary on Genesis and Its Reception in the New Testament, and commentaries on the gospels of Mark and Luke.