Genesis 1-25A [with CDrom]

by Kathleen M. O'Connor

This commentary views the book of Genesis as a sacred text that, in conjunction with other biblical books, enabled the people of Judah/Israel to begin anew after the nation’s destruction by the Babylonian Empire.

In Genesis, the Creator God brings forth life by the Word alone. Stories of disaster and destruction, often a crux of interpretation, find new resonance when set against the backdrop of a nation scattered and in disarray, for they reflect the suffering and theological dilemmas of invasion and warfare. The promises of God to Abraham form the heart of the book and offer more than mere survival; they promise abundant life, children beyond counting, overflowing blessings, and life begun again in the land. Genesis is a profound resource of faith for all communities and individuals who have known loss and seek new life.

408 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

Kathleen M. O'Connor is author of several books including The Wisdom Literature (Liturgical Press, 1990), Jeremiah: Pain and Promise, and Lamentations and the Tears of the World. She is the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, emerita, at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia, and also taught at the Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, New York. She is active in the Catholic Biblical Association of America and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Reviews

[Tyler Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read parts of this commentary for my Genesis course at Nazarene Theological Seminary under Dr. Jennifer Matheny. It reads Genesis through the lens of trauma studies. I found it to bring an intriguing new perspective to my reading of Genesis. While it should not be the only resource anyone consults, it is an interesting and potentially helpful companion to more traditional and historic readings of Genesis.

[E Vance Shearin · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It was ok" is an apt description of this commentary. While laid out well and technically well written. I just was disappointed on some of the interpretations of the Biblical text, esp. in regard to the lack of relevance to modern issues that the author seemed to advocate through much of the book. For historical or linguistical information it does fine, but for insightful interpretation look elsewhere.