The Legends Of Genesis

by Hermann Gunkel, W. H. Carruth (Translator)

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Genres: Religion, Old Testament, Theology, Christianity

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

German Old Testament scholar, founded form criticism. He also became a leading representative of the history of religions school. His major works cover Genesis and the Psalms, and his major interests centered on the oral tradition behind written sources and in folklore.

Reviews

[Jim Puskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly and yet eminently readable. Gunkel accomplishes the remarkable feat of reconciling fundamentalist belief with historical and scientific truth, simply by clarifying that those two realms serve entirely different ends; and there is no need for them to agree because they cover completely different ground. Gunkel handily breaks his discussion down into easily grasped ideas and comments, with a complete absence of theological argument, never becoming tedious or pedantic. He has no “axe to grind” concerning religious creeds.
A desire for answers is a compelling trait common to all humans: Where do we come from and what is our destiny? What will become of us after we die? Why does the world around us behave as it does and who, if anyone, controls it? Hence, all civilizations from earliest times have created for themselves sagas, myths, legends, deities to offer answers or at least speculations to satisfy their curiosity. Those legends become a part of each society’s culture and continue to live alongside that society’s history as it evolves. One does not negate the other.
Gunkel views legend as being poetic by nature, whereas history, a form of science based on known facts, is by nature prose. Stories and legends are oral tradition, harkening back to ancient times, before a society began recording real-time events; those recounting the legend could not have been present when the events they tell about may have taken place. They are shrouded in mystery with the passage of time. The purpose of legends is explanatory and they need to be evocative, often allegorical, offering rich imagery and symbolism to appeal to the listener.
All of the foregoing does not mean that legend is trivial, irrelevant or misleading; far from it. Legend becomes an important aspect of a society’s understanding of itself; it helps to make the society work. But legend should not be mistaken for a historical account of events.
Thus, Gunkel concludes that much of the Old Testament is equivalent to the legends of any other culture — and indeed it tells many of the same stories as are to be found in the ancient legends of Greece, Egypt or Mesopotamia.

[Eddie LaRow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for dissertation. 1901 early historical critical work. Helpful in seeing the early kernel of what would grow into full on redaction criticism (of which I do not subscribe). Too much speculative J, E, and P mishmash for me.

[Phillip Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a short overview of Genesis with literary and textual criticism. If you want to take a critical look at the old testament, this is a good place to start.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like writing style, gave up.

[Guillaume Bourin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gunkel's influential approach to Genesis is a must read for anyone interested in OT studies. This volume contains valuable insights, even for the most conservative reader.

[Laura S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is no more than 1/2 an inch thick but it took me long time to wade through. I thought it’d be more about Midrashic tales, instead it’s an academic book connecting Genesis with legends from other cultures. Gunkel dissects the feature of legend: structure, characters, chronological considerations, etc.

[Wyatt Houtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful perspective to dogmatic and presumptuous in his conclusion. Read after Karl Barth's engagement of gunkel in his CD III/1

[Ευλαμπία Τσιρέλη · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study. Very illuminating and helpful for any scholar studying Genesis.