Gangel - Genesis

T o my daughter Julie,
just because I love you.
Kenneth O. Gangel
2002
T o my firstborn daughter
Sarah Grace Bramer.
Your Christian love and life
(as well as suggestions for this
commentary)
make a dad proud.
Stephen J. Bramer
2002

Today's church hungers for Bible teaching, and Bible teachers hunger for resources to guide them in teaching God's Word. The Holman Old Testament Commentary provides the church with the food to feed the spiritually hungry in an easily digestible format. The result: new spiritual vitality that the church can readily use.

Bible teaching should result in new interest in the Scriptures, expanded Bible knowledge, discovery of specific scriptural principles, relevant applications, and exciting living. The unique format of the Holman Old Testament Commentary includes sections to achieve these results for every Old Testament book.

Opening quotations stimulate thinking and lead to an introductory illustration and discussion that draw individuals and study groups into the Word of God. In a Nutshell summarizes the content and teaching of the chapter. Verse-by-verse commentary answers the church's questions rather than raising issues scholars usually admit they cannot adequately solve. Bible principles and specific contemporary applications encourage students to move from Bible to contemporary times. A specific modern illustration then ties application vividly to present life. A brief prayer aids the student to commit his or her daily life to the principles and applications found in the Bible chapter being studied. For those still hungry for more, Deeper Discoveries take the student into a more personal, deeper study of the words, phrases, and themes of God's Word. Finally, a teaching outline provides transitional statements and conclusions along with an outline to assist the teacher in group Bible studies.

It is the editors' prayer that this new resource for local church Bible teaching will enrich the ministry of group, as well as individual, Bible study, and that it will lead God's people truly to be people of the Book, living out what God calls us to be.

As the dedication notes, special thanks are due my son, Dr. Jeff Gangel, for diligent research on the project. In addition, I express loving appreciation to my wife, Betty, for assisting with proofreading, and to my manuscript manager, Mrs. Ginny Murray, for impeccable handling of the commentary text. Readers will note my dependence on those who have walked this road before, particularly Campbell, Howard, Redpath, and Schaeffer. It is always a joy to work with editors Max Anders and Steve Bond.

Twenty volumes designed for Bible study and teaching to enrich the local church and God's people.

Introduction to

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Genesiswhat a great place to start! For centuries Jews and Christians have started to read their Bibles right here. For well over a century, Genesis has been a battlefield for biblical scholars. One interpreter has compared Genesis 1-11 with a minefield that has to be crossed with great care.

In this commentary designed for teachers and preachers, we won't rehearse the history of these conflicts in great detail. There are many fine commentaries that have extensive treatments on introductory and critical matters. Here we will practice the inoculation approach. We will present just enough information to prevent a person from coming down with a case of doubts or I've never heard of that. Those who wish to study more on introductory matters may wish to consult the evangelical standards such as Gleason Archer's A Survey of Old Testament Introduction or R. K. Harrison's