Lexham Research Commentary: Genesis 1–11

by Douglas Mangum; Miles Custis; Wendy Widder

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2012

Jumpstart Your Research

At first glance Genesis 1–11 appears to be a random, loosely related collection of stories and lists. Yet there is clearly a purpose for the placement of these chapters at the beginning of Genesis. As a prequel, Gen 1–11 provides a background to the message of the entire Bible; it introduces God, reveals His power in creation, and illuminates God’s expectations for humanity.

The Lexham Research Commentary is your starting point for study and research. Each volume gives you the tools you need to find answers quickly. This commentary is designed to do the time-consuming work of searching through commentaries, journal articles, and monographs to find the information you need, saving you valuable time by curating all of the best literature in one place—it’s a commentary on the commentaries. The annotated notes on the various viewpoints and interpretive options within the text allow you to quickly synthesize a broad range of views on a particular passage. Dense, jargon-filled research is distilled into easy-to-understand comments. As you critically study the text, the contextual notes help you place the passage within the narrow context of the biblical book and the broader context of the entire canon.

 

The Lexham Research Commentaries were formerly known as the Lexham Bible Guides.

A Smart Way to Study the Bible

• Find things fast. There’s no need to locate, read, and notate dozens of reference materials. Everything is in one spot. It’s concise enough to digest, but broad enough so you know everything’s covered.
• See connections. The overview format leads you to research topics you may have never read about or heard of. This snapshot view of the text provides an ideal starting point for sermon preparation or academic research.
• Gain perspective. You’ll get an overview of all the relevant issues related to a particular biblical passage, from exegetical topics like structure and genre, to interpretive issues presented by commentators. You’ll also find links to lexicons and commentaries for word studies in Logos, plus lots of links to related literature for further study. Everything is organized and summarized in one spot—only a click away.
• Designed digital-first. These commentaries are written from the ground up to take full advantage of Logos’ platform. The interconnectivity of the Lexham Research Commentaries within the Logos library provides you with relevant, curated content at a click. There’s no need to flip through pages, pore over commentaries, or search through dictionaries. You get access to the best content available—instantly.

 

Contents

Top Highlights

“The main theological theme of Gen 1–11 is its depiction of Yahweh as creator of all things.” (source)

“As a prequel, Gen 1–11 provides a background to the message of the entire Bible; it introduces God, reveals His power in creation, and illuminates God’s expectations for humanity.” (source)

“Genesis 1–11 is myth-like only in the sense that myths are also traditional stories explaining something’s origins” (source)

“Regardless of where the creation account ends, the section clearly functions as a preface to the book of Genesis—a big picture view of God’s power over the entire cosmos. The account that follows in Gen 2–3 is more focused and localized, describing the garden of Eden and God’s interaction with the first two people He created.” (Genesis 1:1–2:3)

“Creation itself and the biblical account in Gen 1 serve the same purpose: introducing us to God and inspiring us to worship.” (Genesis 1:1–2:3)

Contents

The Lexham Research Commentary provides the following for each literary unit:

• Customizable media slides for use in the classroom
• An introductory overview
• An outline of the unit’s structure and biblical significance
• A summary and explanation of key words, important facts, and controversial issues
• A listing and description of related literature for further study
• An application overview
• Concluding thoughts

Product Details

• Title: Lexham Research Commentary: Genesis 1–11
• Authors: Miles Custis, Douglas Mangum, and Wendy Widder
• Editor: Douglas Mangum
• Series: Lexham Research Commentaries
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2012

About the Coauthors

Miles Custis is the author of The End of the Matter: Understanding the Epilogue of Ecclesiastes, a Faithlife Study Bible contributing editor, and a regular Bible Study Magazine and Lexham Bible Dictionary contributor. He holds an MA in biblical studies from Trinity Western University.

Wendy Widder holds a PhD in Near Eastern studies from the University of the Free State, an MA in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and an MDiv from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. She is the author of Living Whole without a Better Half, A Match Made in Heaven: How Singles and the Church Can Live Happily After, and the coauthor of The Forest and the Trees: Helping Teachers Integrate a Biblical Worldview Across the Curriculum.

About the Editor and Coauthor

Douglas Mangum is an academic editor for Lexham Press. He holds a PhD in Hebrew from the University of Free State and holds an MA in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is a Lexham English Bible and Lexham Research Commentary editor, a Faithlife Study Bible contributing editor, a Studies in Faithful Living co-author, a regular Bible Study Magazine contributor, and a frequently consulted specialist for the Lexham Bible Dictionary.