The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One: A Multi-Layered Approach

by Gregg Davidson

See and celebrate the multilayered grandeur conveyed by the first chapter of Genesis

The first chapter of the Bible's first book lays the foundation for all that follows about who God is and what God is like. Our technology-age fascination with the science of origins, however, can blind us to issues of great importance that don't address our culturally conditioned questions. Instead, Genesis One itself suggests the questions and answers that are most significant to human faith and flourishing. Geologist Gregg Davidson and theologian Ken Turner shine a spotlight on Genesis One as theologically rich literature first and foremost, exploring the layers of meaning that showcase various aspects of God's
• Song
• Analogy
• Polemic
• Covenant
• Temple
• Calendar
• Land

Our very knowledge of God suffers when we fail to appreciate the Bible's ability to convey multilayered truth simultaneously. The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One offers readers the chance to cultivate an openness to Scripture's richness and a deeper faith in the Creator.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

Gregg Davidson has been a professor of Geology & Geological Engineering since 1996, specializing in hydrology and geochemistry, and serving for many years as the department chair. His professional writing is divided between the purely scientific (usually tied in some way to water), and the intersection of science and Christian faith. On the strictly science side, he loves to get away from the office with some regularity, whether wading chest deep in a cypress swamp, or rushing to the levee when the mighty Mississippi spills over its banks. On matters of faith and science, Gregg has a passion for understanding and communicating the harmony (or at least lack of conflict) that exists between the Bible and modern science.

Gregg’s works of fiction are the product of an early morning routine that includes a hot mug of coffee and an hour of self-indulgent writing. No contracts or deadlines. Just the fun of starting with the barest idea of a story, and becoming a participant in the plot as it unfolds in unexpected ways.

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: An layered approach to the meaning of Genesis 1, focusing on what this reveals about God and God’s intentions for the flourishing of his creation and the human beings created in God’s image.

Genesis 1 is often the focus of controversy over scientific theories of origins and how to reconcile these with the biblical account. The two authors of this book, a geologist and an Old Testament professor, think that in doing so, we miss the richness of this account, and more than that the glory of God and the wonder of God’s creation. More than that, they contend that this account is so meaning laden that it may only be fully grasped in a layered approach that approaches scripture from different angles or through different lenses. They defend the idea that this multi-layered approach is both consistent with biblical inerrancy and sound hermeneutics, arising as it does from exegesis of Genesis 1 itself.

They identify seven layers to which they devote a chapter to elaborate. The layers are:

1. Song. Many have noted the poetic character of Genesis 1, yet it defies poetic forms known elsewhere in scripture. The authors note the formlessness of creation and how days 1-3 give it form, and they note the emptiness of creation and how days 4-6 fill what God has given form. Noting all the repeated language in the days, they contend that this well may have been a sung account in which the beauty of the text reflects the beauty of the Maker.
2. Analogy. The form of a week of seven days, of work conceived, executed, and appraised, the bringing of order from disorder, and the rest on the seventh day serves as an analogy that teaches us the goodness of work, that celebrates creativity, and serves as the basis for keeping the sabbath rest.
3. Polemic. Genesis 1 is polemic. It shows there is no god like the LORD. The LORD has no backstory, no company of gods. Creation by intent and not accident. God sustains humans; they do not sustain him.
4. Covenant. While the word is not used, the framework of covenant is evident: a suzerain-vassal, a royal land grant, blessings and curses, and loss of the land grant for disobedience.
5. Temple. They note the many parallels with other Ancient Near East texts of gods and their temples in the language of Genesis: a garden on a mountain facing eastward, cherubim that guard the entrance, the tree of life (lampstand), the tree of knowledge, the mentions of lands with gold and gemstones, the source of rivers, and most of all, a place of God’s dwelling.
6. Calendar. In addition to the creation week structure, the mention of the luminaries in day four to be “for signs and appointed times,” and “for days and for years.” This look forward to the yearly calendar of festivals that follow planting and harvest and commemorate the great events of the Exodus.
7. Land. The land prepared for the first couple and lost, anticipate the land promises to Israel, their fulfillment, and the land lost in exile, and the hope of restoration.

Many of these layers are both rich in themselves and anticipatory of future works of God. The authors admit that not all the arguments for a particular layer are strong, but the cumulative case for the layers is. For me, the argument for “calendar” seemed the most tenuous, and yet not without basis.

I’ve long believed that to teach any important biblical truth, you have to start with the early chapters of Genesis. This book underscores this truth by demonstrating how so much that we see in the scriptures is evident in one or another of the layers of Genesis. The authors uncover rich treasures in Genesis that have nothing to do with origin controversies and everything to do with God and God’s ways. Manifold beauty indeed!

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Mike Fendrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding and thoughtful book. The depth and riches of Genesis 1 should delight every Christian. It is neither a chronological journalistic nor detailed scientific account of the origins of the universe and everything in it but a multifaceted explanation of the Christian metanarrative; creation, fall redemption and glorification.

There are some layers that I didn't appreciate as much as others but the authors anticipate this and acknowledge that the seven layers they present are not dependent on each other to the degree that it invalidates everything because the reader rejects one. Objections are helpfully acknowledged and addressed by the authors to clarify the position taken.

I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging in better understanding the "depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!"

Highly recommend

[Kathleen C]

Note to self: consider rereading in a physical book.

I did this one a disservice by reading it on ebook, and by taking so long with if. Ebook made the charts hard to follow, and by reading one layer and then taking a fiction break, I didn't get a great sense of the layers going together.

[Genni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davidson and Turner do a fantastic job of rescuing Genesis 1 from myopic discussions of literalism. They present seven "layers" as complementary views, reminiscent of Scot McKnight's concept for soteriology in "A Community Called Atonement", with the hope of serving as a "balm on the open wounds that Christians have inflicted on other Christians."

Some of these layers are well-known, some brand-new (to me) but, using sola scriptura hermeneutics, all insightful. It is truly eye-opening to contemplate that this one, single chapter holds so much. The authors also have a gentle reprimand for those on all sides of the creation debate for reducing this text to a secular understanding of science and journalism. It is so much more than that!

The work struggles a bit because it covers so much theological ground in comparatively few pages. In particular, the calendar-narrative perspective (brand-new to me) is incredibly complicated and covered in a mere 19 pages. The temple perspective similarly struggles from being unable to answer the charge of a "backward reading" of Scripture. The NT as a whole engages in backward reading, and it can be applied to several perspectives offered here, but not to the temple idea.

However, the authors acknowledge that not "all understandings are valid or equally defensible," demonstrating epistemic humility. The love the authors have for God the Creator and Jesus the Messiah is evident throughout. When seen as a springboard for further study, beginning here (no pun intended) is highly recommended by yours truly.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful presentation of various views of Genesis 1 - portrayed in a complimentary way, like layers of an onion or refractions of light.

Taking a strong stance against reading the chapter scientifically, or with other modern cultural blinders, they attempt to illuminate the ways in which ancient readers might have viewed it.

What this book lacks in depth, it makes up for in breath. It may not be the definitive or most exhaustive book on any one of the topics, but it presents them winsomely and introduces them effectively, to encourage further study.

[Kristine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like there is a deep divide in Christian circles on how to understand Genesis 1. I’ve read books from a variety of perspectives and some books that compare and contrast multiple different points of view. This book is different in that it explores 7 complementary views, each of which can be accepted on its own and each is compatible with the others. This multi-layered approach explores the beauty of the text without getting bogged down in conflicts around creationism.

The book has an introduction section followed by a chapter for each of the 7 layers and a conclusion plus a couple of appendices and indices. Each chapter explains the layer, addresses some objections, and ends with a few discussion questions which would make this a great book for a book club. In the first part of the book, the authors describe several passages in the Bible that are understood to have multiple meanings. They look at cultural context, tackle common concerns, and review what is known and can be learned from biblical genealogies.

Layer 1: Song: The first chapter/layer in the book is “Song” which explores the grand beginning of Genesis, the idea of formless and empty (tohu wabohu), the framework of 3 days forming the formless into realms of light/dark, sea/sky, land & plants followed by 3 days of filling the empty realms with sun/moon & stars, fish/birds, animals & humans. The song concludes with the completion of heaven and earth with God resting on the 7th day.

Layer 2: Analogy: The second layer looks at a number of analogies in the Bible starting with the parables and teachings of Jesus. Since God is not human, there was not a need for him to take hours, minutes, days, eons, or any time at all to create. He chose to create through time in a way analogous to a human workweek. This week includes work, reflection, and rest, and brings order from disorder.

Layer 3: Polemic: The polemic layer looks at Genesis 1 compared and contrasted with the contemporary creation accounts of neighboring near eastern peoples. The authors show how polemics in the New Testament and Old Testament are similar and yet radically different from nearby cultures.

Layer 4: Covenant: In the Bible, covenants are a big deal. In fact, the Bible is divided into 2 major sections based on covenants. This chapter explores various covenants and their importance, particularly creation covenant and royal land grant (including exile) and how that relates to Genesis 1.

Layer 5: Temple: Creation is God’s temple; God rules from his throne in heaven and earth is his footstool. The ancient near eastern audience would have viewed Genesis 1 as a temple text in which the temple is consecrated in a 7-day ceremony. Once I started thinking about temple texts in the Bible, I gained a much deeper understanding of a number of biblical passages.

Layer 6: Calendar: The people of Israel held multiple festivals throughout the year which corresponded to their agricultural calendar. Celebrations both commemorated past events and were opportunities to share news and labor resources. Similar to Thanksgiving or Easter, the celebrations occurred with the planting seasons rather than the specific anniversary date. Genesis 1 is a celebration of the agricultural year in a week.

Layer 7: Land: The final layer looks at the importance of land for the Israelites. Their story started in Eden and ends in the Promised Land with a period of exile for unfaithfulness. The story of Adam is the story of Israel, unfaithfulness resulted in exile from paradise to captivity with hope for a future restoration.

Conclusion: The conclusion comes full circle showing how the layers compliment each other. It is not necessary to accept all of the layers to appreciate the book and gain understanding. The book ends with a hope that redirecting the focus of reading Genesis 1 to understanding these (and perhaps more) layers can bring about a greater appreciation of the splendor of the Genesis 1 text and reduce the hurt many have experienced when Christians argue over the age of the earth and evolution.

This is a lovely and warm book with great insight and encouragement. It’s refreshing to look at the text itself without trying to squeeze or extract some scientific notions out/in of it. I too hope this book can have the intended result and be an encouragement to many.

I had the opportunity to interview the authors of the book and was blessed by our conversation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSkkz...

[Caleb Fendrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a tremendous amount of substance in this book but it manages to never feel overwhelming. Continuous references to scripture, and the authors' willingness to address head on some of the challenges to their propositions, instills confidence in the integrity of their arguments and conclusions.

As they themselves address in the closing chapter, whether or not you agree with all seven of the layers to Genesis one that are presented, the authors' hope is that your view of scripture will deepen and be expanded. If my experience can be used by way of example, then they have certainly achieved their mission.

A must-read.

[Kyle Dunham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creation studies show no sign of abatement as interpretive disputes on the meaning of Genesis 1–2 persist. These authors propose a via media by focusing on the allegedly diverse perspectives provided by the biblical creation account. Gregg Davidson is professor and chair of the geology department at the University of Mississippi, while Kenneth Turner is Professor of Old Testament at Toccoa Falls College. The pairing of a geology professor with an Old Testament professor furnishes a clue as to the authors’ shared perspective on the earth’s origins. This is confirmed by the endorsements in the frontispiece from scholars such as Tremper Longman III, John Walton, Richard Averbeck, and C. John Collins, prominent for their alignment of Genesis with old-earth origin models. Davidson has previously published a book arguing for the essential harmony between Scripture and modern science when the former is interpreted properly in its literary and historical contexts (Friend of Science, Friend of Faith: Listening to God in His Works and Word [Kregel, 2019]). Davidson and Turner contend that Genesis 1 constitutes “theologically rich literature” providing multiple layers of perspective on God’s work of creation. Divine creation, they suggest, is narrated through seven interpretive lenses that include song, analogy, polemic, covenant, temple, calendar, and land.

The authors begin by expressing their regret over the “acrimony” and “verbal wars” that too often characterize discussions of origins (3). They suggest further that “much of this conflict derives from a failure to fully embrace what the church has long affirmed about the nature of the Bible as a whole,” namely, that Scripture is multi-dimensional and open to a variety of interpretive conclusions (3–4). This early claim strikes the reader as somewhat disingenuous given the consistency of Jewish and Christian interpretations through history as to the meaning of Genesis 1–2. Rather, the inference that because some parts of Scripture are prone to multiple interpretations therefore any part of Scripture must be open to multiple interpretations is the fallacy of composition, which often leads to hasty generalizations (see Gula, Nonsense: A Handbook of Logical Fallacies, 85). To advance their tack, however, the authors propose that the Bible presents “layers of truth” that avouch multiple perspectives as simultaneously valid (4, emphasis theirs). The original cultural context of Scripture must be held supreme (7–8). Concerns that their work undermines the perspicuity, authority, and inerrancy of Scripture miss the mark, they contend, as their approach is “free of any obligations or deference to science” and that their book is not “just a clever ploy to dismiss the historical veracity of the Bible” (12).

The first chapter builds on the introduction by suggesting ways in which Genesis 1 might offer multiple perspectives, using the analogy of genealogy. Biblical genealogies seem to be “a plain and straightforward documentation of history” (15) but in fact carry rich literary devices and theological nuances. They feature literary devices structured to aid memory, cultural accommodations addressed to theological errors, and symbolic numbers highlighting higher truths (17–21). In the same way, they contend, Genesis 1 carries a number of anomalies that point to “something more than a straightforward (literalistic) reading” (22). These features include the separation of light from darkness on two different days (Gen 1:4, 18); the mysterious act of “separating” light from darkness, when technically the latter is simply the absence of light; the notion of evenings and mornings on a sphere (on a rotating planet evening and morning are constantly occurring somewhere in the world); and the seemingly symbolic use of the number seven (22–24).

The next seven chapters deal consecutively with the interpretive lenses mentioned above. The authors make a case for their reading and then answer potential objections. The chapters conclude with discussion questions for further reflection. The first layer is song. The authors contend that due to the literary framework and parallelism evident in Genesis 1, the creation account is best read as a liturgy or hymn (33). Such an approach, allegedly, does not dismiss the text’s historical claims but nuances them in a way that allows for figural readings. The second layer is analogy. The authors argue that biblical typology, including Paul’s putative allegorization in Galatians 4 of the Sarah and Hagar narrative, provides precedent for understanding the creation narrative as typical. Here they focus on the Sabbath rest as a hermeneutical key in that it was not strictly necessary for God but rather a clue to the deeper significance of creation (47–50). The third layer is polemic. Davidson and Turner argue that Genesis 1 serves as a polemic against ancient Near Eastern creation mythologies. These polemical elements include the eternality of Yahweh vis-à-vis the theogonies of the ANE; monotheism versus polytheism; the distinction between the Creator and the created order with no deification of creation; intentional order in creation rather than chance or chaos; the value of humans as image-bearers; and creation as a divinely assessed good (65–72).

The fourth layer is covenant. The authors argue for a creation covenant or Edenic covenant as integral to the opening Genesis narrative. They unpack this covenant as a suzerain-vassal agreement and royal land grant. Part of their argument—and this point is crucial for an old-earth origin model—is that due to this originating covenant the nature of the earth did not substantively change as a result of the sin-curse. In other words, there were earthquakes, storms, floods, diseases, pests, and even death from the inception of creation: “Nature did not change. Rather, people’s experience with nature was transformed from something positive to something negative” (90). Thus, lions eating wild animals was not a problem before the fall, but lions eating humans or their flocks became a painful result of the sin-curse. The fifth layer is temple. Here the authors tap into the popular themes of temple and cosmology motifs in creation, correlations advanced by numerous scholars such as Walton, Wenham, Alexander, and others. In this construal, creation furnished a sanctuary for God to dwell in as evident in the many parallels to tabernacle/temple imagery.

The sixth layer is calendar. Davidson and Turner argue that God’s act of creation constituted times, seasons, and festivals. Thus, creation holds a liturgical paradigm for humanity. The seventh and final layer is land. The authors draw here upon the work of John Sailhamer to argue that creation prepared a land for people to inhabit, cultivate, and populate. The garden of Eden was to extend to the ends of the earth, and Adam, as Israel, was to serve as a king-priest extending God’s reign. The final chapter is a conclusion in which the authors summarize their main points, tying each of their lenses to some aspect of God’s (and Christ’s) character. Thus, creation as song emphasizes God as artist; analogy: God as farmer; polemic: God as “I AM”; covenant: God as suzerain; temple: God as presence; calendar: God as sabbath; and land: God as redeemer. They conclude with some final points reiterating their desire for irenic interactions amongst believers who hold to divergent views.

The strengths and weaknesses of the book are several. The authors write engagingly and accessibly, providing a popular-level introduction to scholarly discussions about a variety of themes in creation. Several corollaries mentioned seem plausible and helpful, such as the chapters explaining temple imagery in creation (although this is perhaps better nuanced in opposite terms: the temple reprises creation rather than the converse) as well as the one highlighting liturgical seasons as marked out by creation.

In spite of these strengths, however, several weaknesses merit mention. First, despite the authors’ many claims that the book is not an attempt to harmonize the biblical text with modern science, in the end this seems to be precisely what they are aiming for. Jeremiads about verbal acrimony often come from proponents of a minority position who are attempting to stretch the Overton Window for acceptance of their views. Such calls for a truce usually amount to a red herring. Would the original audience have conceived of the meaning of Genesis 1 in the way these authors construe without a predisposition to modern scientific theories?

Second, the book creates a false dilemma which underscores the first point. That is, because themes such as time, sanctuary, or kingdom are present in Genesis 1, does this mean that the narrative cannot or does not also present the actions as straightforward history? If we see these themes in the text, must we also espouse a figurative reading of the creation? I would counter that this creates a false dilemma. The creation account presents straightforward, actual history but also sets a trajectory for biblical-theological themes which find development across the canon of Scripture. Third, some of the lenses are not persuasive as legitimate themes in Genesis 1–2. For example, Steven Boyd has conclusively proved elsewhere that the opening chapters of Genesis bear the hallmarks of normal Hebrew prose and should not therefore be interpreted as poetry or song (see Boyd, “The Genre of Genesis 1:1–2:3: What Means This Text?” in Coming to Grips with Genesis, 163–92). Also, the authors do not persuade that the opening chapters of Genesis establish a covenant with creation despite the arguments advanced. Was a divine covenant necessary before the advent of human sin? Moreover, positing the presence of death before the fall runs contrary to the entire train of Scripture (e.g., Ezek 18:4; Rom 5:12; 6:16, 23; 8:19–21; 1 Cor 15:21–22; Jas 1:15).
In the end, this book will likely appeal to those readers who, as the authors, are eager for writings that confirm their already-held views on the earth’s age. The discerning reader may benefit from some of the discussions on themes in the creation account, as long as he or she reads the book in a way that one of my old professors compared to eating a watermelon: keep the good parts but spit out the seeds.

[Peter Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was cautious and curious when I picked up The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One: A Multi-Layered Approach by Gregg Davidson and Kenneth J. Turner. I was encouraged to see that the authors affirmed The Chicago Statement on Inerrancy (10). That meant – to me – that wherever the authors were going, they were going to affirm the text as the True Word of God.

The authors break down each chapter addressing their points and concerns that readers might have, and each chapter ends with questions for reflection and study. The reading is not geared for the average layperson, but for the college student, seminarian, and pastor.

The authors identify the seven layers as song, analogy, polemic, covenant, temple, calendar, and land. The authors identify these layers as within the text, but neither opposed to the text or each other. These are additional facets of the text that one may find and study to flesh out the beauty of the text and the fullness of the meaning already there.

In presenting the layers, the authors look at the linguistic uses within the text, other Ancient Near Eastern parallels to the text – not to say that the Bible is a copy of their texts, but to make the point that God has condescended to present His True Word to us in a language and structure that we can understand.

This is an example of the parts being greater than the whole. The book looks small from the outside, but it is filled and becomes fuller as one reads the text and applies it in Genesis one and considers the use of the layers in other texts. It is an interesting and useful approach to gain more of what is already in the text.

Within the text, an assertion is made that floored me: humans bringing of sin into the world did not change the Creation, only our experience of it (90). How can this be right?

Paul writes, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:19-21, ESV).

If sin didn’t change the Creation, then what is the “futility” and “bondage” that it longs to be freed from?

Other issues such as seeing the days of Creation from the “framework” position and support for the idea of animal death in the Garden just don’t make sense to my reading of the Scripture.

So, I would say this book has value in showing how the text can be opened like and onion to bee seen to the further glory of God and our joy in seeing its beauty. However, I find some of their conclusions/interpretations of the text problematic. Use this book with care.

The book ends with a bibliography, author index, and Scripture index. (Footnotes appear throughout.)

[This review appears on my blog, Amazon.com, Kregel.com, and Goodreads.com].

[Ryan Bebej · Rating 5 out of 5]

How someone interprets the opening chapters of Genesis is often at the heart of disagreements about how to relate modern science and Christian theology. The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One, co-written by a geologist (Gregg Davidson) and an Old Testament scholar (Kenneth Turner), focuses on the opening chapter of Genesis and offers a novel approach to engaging with the text. Rather than advocating for one particular interpretation being the best way to read Genesis 1, they argue that the true theological richness of the text might only be apparent if we recognize that there may be multiple complementary layers to the text that can accentuate different ideas simultaneously. Their approach does not seek to simply harmonize Genesis 1 with modern science; in fact, they engage with science very little throughout the book. Instead, they engage with Genesis on its own terms and in the ancient Near Eastern cultural context in which it was written.

After a couple of introductory chapters, they devote individual chapters to seven different layers of Genesis 1: song, analogy, polemic, covenant, temple, calendar, and land. Each chapter involves a careful, yet accessible, exposition of how this layer is apparent in the text and what it emphasizes. The authors make frequent connections to other biblical texts to make their case for the validity of each approach. They end each chapter by anticipating and responding to common objections to that particular interpretation, in addition to providing a handful of questions for discussion. The concluding chapter nicely summarizes the various layers, including additional paragraphs about how each perspective signals the person of Jesus Christ in some way. They note throughout the book that the reader does not necessarily need to accept each layer, or even all aspects of a given layer, for their main thesis to be valid. One can come to recognize that Genesis 1 may be simultaneously speaking truth on multiple levels, even if readers do not necessarily agree with every idea put forth in the book.

As a practicing scientist with a vested interest in articulating the compatibility of Christian faith and modern science, I have read many commentaries, books, and articles over my career that demonstrate different ways of approaching Genesis and the various theological doctrines that are rooted in it. The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One covers some ground that I have traversed many times before, but it also demonstrates some new pathways through the text that I had never encountered before. I found that these approaches provided me with novel insights into biblical passages that I have read countless times before. This book reminded me that scripture has limitless depth and an ability to speak to readers in a multiplicity of ways, if only we are open to it. This book would be an excellent read for anyone interested in engaging with Genesis 1 in a new way and would be perfectly suitable for small group discussions. I highly recommend it.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American world seems to delight in arguments about Genesis One – is it history? Is it science? Is it myth, or symbolism? And is it even possible to question it, since surely only the church can interpret the Bible? Of course, that was a really old question, back in the day when they questioned whether plebs like us should be allowed to read the Bible in case we misunderstood, but the world has a way of bringing things full circle. Davidson and Turner, on the other hand, don’t try to square circles, but instead take all these questions deeper and show how something as huge as “the word of God” must surely be more than just printed translations on the page and one man’s “interpretation.”

History, science, myth, symbol? Those words are so simple, but these authors take readers deeper into the text, to find song, analogy, polemic, covenant, temple, calendar, and land (the headings of their seven layers). In each chapter, they offer a new way (new to many readers, anyway) of reading the text, with Biblical references to other parts of the Bible that show a deeper relevance, all tied to scriptural truth and the history and arguments of our time as well as those of times before.

My favorite chapter deals with Genesis as Covenant, and pleasingly satisfies my (personal) sense that God delights in the wildness of lions even more than I do in watching them on TV.

Well-planned tables and well-drawn clarify the meaning. Well-argued examples draw the reader in. And the “challenges and responses” together with discussion questions at the end of each section invite the reader to make their own minds up and question their preconceptions. It’s a beautifully presented book, a delight to read, truly thought-provoking, and deeply faithful to the text of the sacred Book. Yes, we can ask questions. Thank you Gregg Davidson and Kenneth Turner.

Disclosure: I was lucky enough to be given a copy, and I’m recommending it to all my friends.

[Buddy Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors hit a home run here. The controversies over "which view is correct?" overshadow the rich theological treasure found in the opening chapters of the Bible. By comparing the "layers" found in Genesis 1 with a fluorite crystal viewed under different conditions, the authors make a persuasive case that just as the fluorite appears differently when viewed differently, Genesis 1 appears differently when seen from different perspectives, yet never ceases to be Genesis 1. Although Scripture remains clear in its most essential message, seeing it from different perspectives adds a depth of understanding and a sense of marvel that cannot happen otherwise.
The book is not a science-faith book and that is important, as Genesis 1 is not about science. it can be read by both layman and by trained clergy alike and especially notable is the willingness of the authors to concede that not everyone will agree that every "layer" highlighted in the book is what the author had in mind. Furthermore, that is OK! The footnotes are helpful without being a distraction and the authors address potential objections at the end of each chapter. Discussion questions are included for group study.

I found the connection between the early chapters of Genesis and the remainder of the Pentateuch extremly helpful and got an enriched understanding that the five books are more inter-related than I had realized. I also found Davidson and Turner's work has me thinking more about other interconnected themes throughtout the entirety of Scripture, including the New Testament.

[Jim Gulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davidson and Turner have written an insightful and theologically deep book on the creation story in Genesis 1. The authors remind us that the Bible was written FOR all peoples of all eras but TO a specific people in the ancient near east. Part of the scholarship of the book is to give readers a context of how Genesis was understood by its original Israelite audience.

This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in a Biblical and exegetical view of the creation story in Genesis.

[Eryn Lynum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful for an entire book devoted to the first chapter of the Bible! After reading, I feel I'm better equipped to study the rest of Scripture with a clearer context of God's heart in creation and for Sabbath rest. I highlighted so many great takeaways and will be revisiting it as a much-needed resource for my personal Bible study and in my writing and teaching.

[Kyle McDoulett · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can tell a lot of research and study went into this book. I enjoyed it and it made me think about Genesis differently. I will have to go back and read Genesis 1 and think about these themes while I do.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rather nice little book - drawing together some of the multitude of scholarship on Genesis 1-3, sorting it, and presenting it readable and with tables/preachable stuff.

[Randy Mccracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Manifold Beauty of Genesis One (hereafter referred to as Manifold Beauty) is a recent book by Gregg Davidson, professor of geology, and Kenneth J. Turner, professor of biblical languages and Old Testament. The authors desire is to explore the richness of the text of  Genesis 1. Many in our time, especially in America only turn to Genesis 1 when it comes to the debate about Creation and Science. The authors, rightly in my opinion, want to draw readers back to the theology of Genesis 1. Their contention is not only that the theology of Genesis 1 is rich, but that it has many different layers to it. Hence the subtitle of the book, "A Multi-Layered Approach." (The rest of the review is available here at this link:https://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2...