Exploring Genesis

John Phillips Commentary

by John Phillips

Books in the John Phillips Commentary Series are designed to provide pastors, Sunday school teachers, and students of the Scripture with doctrinally sound interpretation that emphasizes the practical application of Bible truth. Working from the familiar King James Version, Dr. Phillips not only provides helpful commentary on the text, but also includes detailed outlines and numerous illustrations and quotations. Anyone wanting to explore the meaning of God's Word in greater depth—for personal spiritual growth or as a resource for preaching and teaching—will welcome the guidance and insights of this respected series.

Genres: Theology

379 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2001

About the author

Dr. John Phillips was born in Britain. He served in the British Army in Palestine where he saw many of the events which led to the birth of the State of Israel. After the War he joined the Bank of Montreal and went to Canada. In the Canadian north-west he founded and pastored a small church in a bi-vocational capacity. He served as assistant director of the Moody Bible Institute's Correspondence School and became well known as a Bible teacher in the Moody Evening School and over the Moody Radio Network. For four years he directed the Emmaus Correspondence School, one of the largest in the world at that time with courses available in over 100 languages. Returning to Moody Bible Institute he traveled widely as an itinerant Bible teacher for the Institute's Extension Ministry. He is best known for his EXPLORING and INTRODUCING books. He has written on all the New Testament books and on numerous Old Testament books including EXPLORING GENESIS, EXPLORING PSALMS (2 vols), EXPLORING PROVERBS (2 vols) and EXPLORING THE MINOR PROPHETS. Dr. Phillips' resources have been the companions of pastors, teachers and Bible students everywhere who have turned to them for instruction, illumination, and illustration.

Reviews

[Timothy Benefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading the book of Genesis, it's easy to get lost in all the confusing genealogies, unclear passages, and uncomfortable records of sin. But at its core, Genesis is a story. It is more than a history book, but it is not less. John Philips always reminds the reader of that story no matter how "weird" or "boring" the passage might seem. Comparing Scripture with Scripture (and using some sanctified imagination) he excels at bringing the text to life.
I disagree with him on some of these minor interpretive issues, but for the most part, this was a very interesting and enlightening book. Highly recommend it if you're studying Genesis, or if you simply want a solid understanding of the book.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that goes in-depth into the first book of the Bible--Genesis, at such a level that it enriches one's understanding and appreciation for God's plan for His people through Israel and for all who follow Him. The author makes connections with other parts of Scripture--both Old and New Testament--which helps provide further clarity in how Scripture connects so beautifully.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

While holding many good points and encouraging notes, I found John Phillips to be overly critical on several of the Biblical characters such as Ishmael and Abimalech, while praising the Patriarchs and those of the Messianic line almost to the point of ridiculousness. One must be cautious about over-spiritualizing every aspect of the Genesis account, while understanding that even the Bible's greatest men and women had human failings.

[Addison S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent commentary on Genesis!

[Marbeth Skwarczynski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exploring Genesis by John Phillips was given to me and has been on my library shelves for years. I decided to read it as a way to delve deeper into my yearly read-through of the Bible. I was only three pages into the actual text when the author used a strawman argument. It stopped me cold. I grabbed a pencil and made a note. Then I made another note on his postulation based on the strawman argument and yet another on his conclusion. This began my conversational journey through Genesis with a commentator who brings in so much personal "flair" that it reads like pure fantasy in spots. There are places where he appropriately comments on the Scripture at hand, and there are a few points he makes that are insightful and biblically astute (I noted them as well). In other places, he strays so far away from the Bible and into his imagination that his commentary is not biblically sound. Phillips even wanders into the realm of novelization, assigning inner thoughts, feelings, and even extended scenes of dialogue between his characters. Taking on the responsibility of writing a commentary compels the author to focus specifically on what the Bible says, its historical and cultural background, and its influence on the future. This commentary is centered more on Phillips and his ideas than on the Bible. On the upside, reading this book while writing copious notes in the margins helped me focus on the truth of Scripture rather than on the writer's interpretation—excellent mental exercise.

[Ryan French · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, I consider every book in the Phillips commentary set to be a good resource. He writes in common vernacular and purposely keeps things simplistic. That is both a critique and a compliment. Sometimes the simplicity is refreshing and at other times I find it too anecdotal (and trite). However, a good solid (conservative) resource for preachers, lay ministers, and anyone wanting to further their understanding of the Bible. For those using a Bible software program (I highly recommend Accordance), this entire series is available for download. I've enjoyed having this series in my Accordance library for quick study reference.

[Amanda Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this commentary somewhat, but I'll probably not read anything else by this author. While there were certainly some very good notes inside, the author tended to dramatize large amounts of the stories with his own little additions of how the key characters must have felt or how they responded to such and such and it drove me crazy! (One example: Adam and Eve maybe took young Cain and Abel on picnics to the outskirts of Eden and recounted what they had done in the garden...so much speculation and improvisation). Still, very interesting points at times and I did enjoy it overall.

[Courtney Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the cover calls this “an expository commentary” it feels more like a novel based on scripture. Dr Phillips makes many assumptions regarding feelings, motives, and storyline without an citation of scripture or extra biblical texts. I’ve read several commentaries and would not recommend this particular one to anyone.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book that got me hooked on the series!