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Tyndale Old Testament Commentary #1
Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary
Genesis is a book of origins: of the world, of sin, of God's promise of redemption, and of the people of Israel. It traces God's pledge of a Savior through Abraham's line down to his great-grandson Judah. It serves as a foundation for the New Testament and its teaching that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to save humankind from sin and death. In this Tyndale Commentary, Andrew Steinmann offers a thorough exegetical commentary on Genesis, including a reconstructed timeline of events from Abraham's life through to the death of Joseph. The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.
496 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2019
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41 people want to read
About the author
Andrew E. Steinmann
22 books3 followersAndrew Steinmann is Distinguished Professor of Theology and Hebrew at Concordia University Chicago where he has taught since 2001. Dr. Steinmann holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and is an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Dr. Steinmann's publications include over 75 articles and book reviews in national and international peer-reviewed scholarly journals and festschriften. In addition, he is a regular guest on the radio program Issues, Etc.
In September 2011 he was named to the Translation Oversight Committee for the Christian Standard Bible. His publisher is Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis through whom he has published and collaborated on more than 10 books and other material. He is currently working on a new commentary on Esther to the new Christian Standard Commentary series published by Holman.
Dr. Steinmann is married to Rebecca Steinmann, the co-editor of the sixth edition of the widely used Sheehy's Emergency Nursing: Principles and Practice (Mosby Elsivier, 2010) and a contributor to Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course: Provider Manual (Third ed.; Des Plains, IL: Emergency Nurses Association, 2004), AACN Procedure Manual for Pediatric Acute and Critical Care (St. Louis: Saunders Elsivier, 2008) and Emergency Nursing Core Curriculum (Seventh ed.; Elsivier, 2018). They and their cat Lightning live in suburban Chicago where they enjoy birding and cultural events, especially the Lyric Opera.
Dr. Steinmann's publications include over 75 articles and book reviews in national and international peer-reviewed scholarly journals and festschriften. In addition, he is a regular guest on the radio program Issues, Etc.
In September 2011 he was named to the Translation Oversight Committee for the Christian Standard Bible. His publisher is Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis through whom he has published and collaborated on more than 10 books and other material. He is currently working on a new commentary on Esther to the new Christian Standard Commentary series published by Holman.
Dr. Steinmann is married to Rebecca Steinmann, the co-editor of the sixth edition of the widely used Sheehy's Emergency Nursing: Principles and Practice (Mosby Elsivier, 2010) and a contributor to Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course: Provider Manual (Third ed.; Des Plains, IL: Emergency Nurses Association, 2004), AACN Procedure Manual for Pediatric Acute and Critical Care (St. Louis: Saunders Elsivier, 2008) and Emergency Nursing Core Curriculum (Seventh ed.; Elsivier, 2018). They and their cat Lightning live in suburban Chicago where they enjoy birding and cultural events, especially the Lyric Opera.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 21, 2023
Short and succinct but covers the main points, good middle ground between exegetical and expositional
November 4, 2019
The Bible is an intimidating book. Genesis is literally the beginning of it all. Filled with epic tales, historical narratives, and spiritual insight - it is easy to get lost and confused. The church is served well by commentaries and this entry is a worthy contribution.
Origins and Foundations
Genesis by Andrew E. Steinmann is the first volume in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. The series is started with a commitment to the text with an emphasis on engagement. It provides an up-to-date reading of the text with questions in mind that confront readers today. The series also understands that discoveries from the Ancient Near East continue to shed new light on the Old Testament.
The series is edited by David G. Firth and Tremper Longman III serves as a consulting editor. Crucial to the development of the new series is including three segments on each treatment of each section of the text. These are context, comments, and meaning. This makes for a rather enjoyable reading format as well as ease of access when the work is used for serious study.
Context and Meanings
It is clear that Steinmann has a coherent grasp and masterful control over the original language. For instance, he highlights in Genesis 2:18-20 how the word “helper” does not imply inferiority. He brings to our attention Exodus 18:4; Psalm 10:14; 27:9; 40:17; and 118:7 where God is often called a helper for humans. He is also able to pick up on Hebrew play on words. For instance, he notes in Genesis 3:1 how the description of the serpent as more cunning or clever than all the animals plays with Adam and Eve’s state of nakedness.
What I appreciate about this series is the ability to use modern Bible translations such as the CSB, ESV, and NIV. This helped me feel at home using the words and phrases I have grown familiar with reading. Additional notes outside of the commentary proper include the seven days of creation, the knowledge of the name Yahweh in Genesis, Noah and the flood account, polygamy in the Old Testament, and parallels between Joseph and Daniel.
Clarity and Detail
This commentary deserves a place on my shelf for helping me see Genesis with greater clarity and detail. Throughout the commentary are references to other passages of Scripture including the New Testament which helps me see the Bible as a whole. Genesis is foundational to our faith for many reasons, and it is imperative that we understand it to help us see God’s glory more fully in Christ.
I was provided a complimentary copy of Genesis in exchange for an honest review.
Origins and Foundations
Genesis by Andrew E. Steinmann is the first volume in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. The series is started with a commitment to the text with an emphasis on engagement. It provides an up-to-date reading of the text with questions in mind that confront readers today. The series also understands that discoveries from the Ancient Near East continue to shed new light on the Old Testament.
The series is edited by David G. Firth and Tremper Longman III serves as a consulting editor. Crucial to the development of the new series is including three segments on each treatment of each section of the text. These are context, comments, and meaning. This makes for a rather enjoyable reading format as well as ease of access when the work is used for serious study.
Context and Meanings
It is clear that Steinmann has a coherent grasp and masterful control over the original language. For instance, he highlights in Genesis 2:18-20 how the word “helper” does not imply inferiority. He brings to our attention Exodus 18:4; Psalm 10:14; 27:9; 40:17; and 118:7 where God is often called a helper for humans. He is also able to pick up on Hebrew play on words. For instance, he notes in Genesis 3:1 how the description of the serpent as more cunning or clever than all the animals plays with Adam and Eve’s state of nakedness.
What I appreciate about this series is the ability to use modern Bible translations such as the CSB, ESV, and NIV. This helped me feel at home using the words and phrases I have grown familiar with reading. Additional notes outside of the commentary proper include the seven days of creation, the knowledge of the name Yahweh in Genesis, Noah and the flood account, polygamy in the Old Testament, and parallels between Joseph and Daniel.
Clarity and Detail
This commentary deserves a place on my shelf for helping me see Genesis with greater clarity and detail. Throughout the commentary are references to other passages of Scripture including the New Testament which helps me see the Bible as a whole. Genesis is foundational to our faith for many reasons, and it is imperative that we understand it to help us see God’s glory more fully in Christ.
I was provided a complimentary copy of Genesis in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2019
Prolific commentator Andrew Steinmann has produced this replacement volume on Genesis in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (TOTC) series. As with several of these replacement volumes, they are a little thicker than those they replaced. In this case, Steinmann has replaced Derek Kidner, who is the master of the briefer commentary. That being said, Steinmann has proven to be more conservative and dependable at key points even if Kidner’s pithiness may never be matched. As great as Kidner was, I’m not sure if I ever liked him on Genesis as much as I did on other books that he wrote on anyway. As for Steinmann, this is my first foray into his works. Though he has written massive commentaries on Ezra and Nehemiah, Proverbs, and Daniel, they were part of the Concordia Commentary series of which I am not familiar. In any event, Steinmann did prove adept at matching the TOTC style.
He begins his Introduction describing the foundational place of Genesis in the Old Testament. He well explains the traditional view of the Pentateuch as being the work of Moses including his marshaling of the witness of the New Testament. To meet scholarly demands, he well describes the Documentary Hypothesis too. Though he was gentle, it’s so easy to see that that hypothesis should be relegated to the trash heap of history. He does a fine job discussing literary features and addressing the historical and archaeological issues that so often plague studies of the Book of Genesis. He uses a few helpful tables and charts before he gets into the theological themes of the book. Fortunately, he doesn’t hesitate to highlight the messianic promise of Christ. He provides a lengthy outline for analysis as well.
The commentary was conservative and wonderful. He knew how to succinctly overview scholarly thoughts before giving some guidance without pushing the book beyond reasonable length requirements. I worked through his commentary on the creation of man and the Fall and felt his comments were ideal for what this series is trying to accomplish. Pastors will love this book and it could easily be the best volume now to put in the hands of the serious Bible students in our congregations.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
He begins his Introduction describing the foundational place of Genesis in the Old Testament. He well explains the traditional view of the Pentateuch as being the work of Moses including his marshaling of the witness of the New Testament. To meet scholarly demands, he well describes the Documentary Hypothesis too. Though he was gentle, it’s so easy to see that that hypothesis should be relegated to the trash heap of history. He does a fine job discussing literary features and addressing the historical and archaeological issues that so often plague studies of the Book of Genesis. He uses a few helpful tables and charts before he gets into the theological themes of the book. Fortunately, he doesn’t hesitate to highlight the messianic promise of Christ. He provides a lengthy outline for analysis as well.
The commentary was conservative and wonderful. He knew how to succinctly overview scholarly thoughts before giving some guidance without pushing the book beyond reasonable length requirements. I worked through his commentary on the creation of man and the Fall and felt his comments were ideal for what this series is trying to accomplish. Pastors will love this book and it could easily be the best volume now to put in the hands of the serious Bible students in our congregations.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 17, 2023
A very basic commentary. It left a lot to be desired. It is a good introduction for anyone who is reading Genesis for the first time or needs a general overview. Still had some good information that I learned by going through it that I never thought about before.
January 17, 2020
Been using this commentary for a mix of study, work and pleasure. Really good introduction to Genesis, building on the old Tyndale Kidner volume, and I would imagine quite helpful for pastors!
December 11, 2022
This commentary has been helpful in writing a bible study for the women in my church. While I would have liked it to go into more depth at times, it was good overall.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews