In this volume Butler presents the many and varied subjects so vividly portrayed in Genesis: creation, the Fall of man, the godly and ungodly lines of Adam and Eve's descendents, divine judgment upon the earth, and the greatest flood in the history of mankind, to name just a handful. He writes, "Genesis is a book of beginnings, and chapter one of Genesis is the beginning of the beginnings. This is a great place for the Bible to begin. If chapter one of Genesis is not true, then the contents of the Bible lose their value." Insightful as well as beautiful, he paints pictures with words, describing not only the meanings and foundations of scripture, but relating them to life in such a way as to be relevant to every reader. A rousing commentary sure to whet the appetites of seekers of His Word for generations to come.
John G. Butler, originally from Iowa, has been a Baptist minister for over fifty years and a pastor for over thirty-five years with pastorates in Clinton, Iowa; Williamsburg, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Chicago, Illinois. Having attended Tennessee Temple University and graduated from Cedarville University, he also authored the 25-volume Bible Biography Series, a 10-volume Study of the Savior series about Jesus Christ, and the 4-volume Butler's Daily Bible Reading set, a unique daily devotional focusing on expository Bible study.
“We are identified with the offering. When we receive Christ we are accepted in Him. Cain was not accepted by God. You may be accepted by everyone else, but if God does not accept you, you are under Divine condemnation.” (Page 38)
“Instead of repenting, Cain went into a rage. Many people in church do that when the preacher preaches against their sin. Instead of repenting, they go into a rage against the preacher.” (Page 38)
“‘So he drove out man’ (Genesis 3:24). Today some folk teach that a better environment will change bad to good, but the fall of man teaches that evil will change good to bad. Clean up a pig and put him in the parlor of a beautiful home, and the pig will change the parlor. The parlor will not change the pig.” (Page 35)
“Cain lived much longer on earth than Abel, but he will never enjoy the blessing of heaven. It is not living long on the earth that matters but living holy on the earth that matters.” (Page 39)
“‘When the woman saw that the tree was good for food.’ Sin focuses on the fleshly appetites and passion. It makes the appetite of the flesh more important than spiritual matters. It makes the stomach more important than the soul (the first sin of mankind had to do with eating—think about that the next time you gorge yourself at a meal). It exalts the physical above the spiritual—which is the core of the social gospel. Pamper your physical appetites and you will fail miserably where it counts the most.” (Page 28)
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