At 05:57 AM 12/11/2007, in response to IW, Jack wrote:
>The first english version (I have a copy) was published by IVP in
>1984. I dont know if it is still in print or not, but I just got my
>copy within the last 5 years.
>>
>>Years ago I read a book on Genesis which I have wanted to quote
>>here as I felt it highly relevant - but I could not find the book.
>>I since found some key quotes I typed years ago but I still do not
>>have a copy of the book. It is a book called _In the
>>beginning, the opening chapters of Genesis_ (Translated from the
>>original German) and is by Henri Blocher. ...." ~ IW - Tuesday,
>>December 11, 2007 2:56 AM
@ Yes, it is still in print - see the link to Amazon below and the
comments of two book reviewers. One excerpt: "Blocher sees the story
of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 and 3 as a depiction in mythical
terms of a genuinely historical fall of our first human ancestors
from fellowship with God. "
This is the Framework interpretation of Genesis, by the way (which is
the interpretation that I lean toward at the moment):
Framework interpretation (Genesis)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framework_interpretation_(Genesis)
The framework interpretation (also known as the literary framework
view, framework theory, or framework hypothesis) is an
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Biblical_hermeneutics>interpretation
of the first chapter of the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Book_of_Genesis>Book of Genesis
which holds that the seven-day
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Creation_according_to_Genesis>creation
account found therein is not a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Biblical_literalism>literal or
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Science>scientific description of
the origins of the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Universe>universe; rather, it is
an ancient text which outlines a religious doctrine of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Creation_%28theology%29>creation.
The seven day "framework" is therefore not meant to be chronological
but is a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Literary_device>literary
or <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Symbolism>symbolic structure
designed to reinforce the purposefulness of God in creation and the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Shabbat>Sabbath
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Ten_Commandments>commandment.
While based primarily on
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Exegesis>exegetical
considerations, the framework interpretation also attempts to
synthesize knowledge of historical and cultural conditions out of
which the text arose, as well as a theology of
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/General_revelation>general
revelation. It has been advanced in modern times by scholars such as
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Meredith_G._Kline>Meredith G.
Kline and <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Henri_Blocher>Henri
Blocher and has the support of commentators including
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Gordon_Wenham>Gordon Wenham. It
stands in contrast to more
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Biblical_literalism>literalist
approaches to the Genesis text.
[snip]
*
In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters of Genesis (Paperback) 29 used
& new available from $8.00
by Henri Blocher (Author), David G. Preston (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Opening-Chapters-Genesis/dp/0877843252
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
"Curiosity about our beginning continues to haunt the human race. It
will not call off the Quest for its origins." The opening chapters of
Genesis -- important at any time -- have been the focal point of
controversy for more than a century. Few topics have been so hotly
debated by theologians, philosophers and scientists alike.Henri
Blocher argues that our primary task is to discover what these key
chapters of the Bible originally meant. Only then will we be able to
unravel the knotty issues surrounding human origins.Taking into
account a vast array of scholarship, Blocher provides a detailed
study of creation week, the image of God, the significance of male
and female, the garden covenant, the Fall, the curse and the promise
of redemption. He also offers significanct theological insights into
the creation-evolution debate.
Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)
Reviews:
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relevant to Bible-and-science issues, but also to far more., July 25, 1999
By A Customer
When I was single and about to leave college some 15 years ago, a
semester-long private study of this book and the book of Genesis
itself filled me with a new sense of meaning concerning my existence
as a man in this world.
Blocher argues on the basis of the elaborate literary structure of
Gen. 1:1-2:3 that the original readers would have read it
figuratively. The 7 days of creation represent neither 24-hour
periods of time, nor long epochs of natural history, but are instead
a literary structure that conveys meaningful and true content about
the relationship of God, humankind, and the creation. No
chronological significance was intended whatsoever, Blocher believes,
nor inferred by the original readers. The literary phenomena he
explores include the repetition of certain key words 7 or 10 times
(numbers with symbolic value to the ancient Hebrews), the symmetrical
correspondence of creation day 1 (light and darkness) to day 4 (sun,
moon, stars), day 2 (sky and ocean) to day 5 (sea animals and birds),
and day three to 3 (land) to day 6 (animals and humankind), etc.
Moreover, the parallels--or rather deliberate contrasts--between Gen.
1 and other ancient Near Eastern creation stories, show how Gen. 1
served as a pointed polemic that exalted a higher concept of the
utterly transcendent/immanent God to whom we are accountable, over
and against polytheism. Even the reader who retains some kind of
chronological understanding of the days of creation will be enriched
by an exploration of these literary phenomena of the text. (A
fascinating article, "Space and Time in the Genesis Cosmogony," by
Dr. Meredith G. Kline of Westminster Theological Seminary in
California and Gordon-Conwell Seminary, argues similar conclusions,
and makes good companion reading to Blocher concerning Gen. 1.
Blocher sees the story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 and 3 as a
depiction in mythical terms of a genuinely historical fall of our
first human ancestors from fellowship with God. The "seed of the
woman" promised in Gen. 3:15, Jesus Christ, restores our access to
the "tree of life" (see Rev. 22:2,14,19) of which human sin deprived
us. The whole Bible is God's revelation about real historical
realities, even if some of those realities (such as our remote
origins and distant future) are more aptly and naturally described to
us in figurative terms, while others (such as the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ) are more appropriately narrated in a
literal manner.
Blocher's book has pastoral value that goes far beyond its relevance
to these particular issues of biblical interpretation. The chapter on
Man and Woman is worth the price of the book. I was left with a
deepened appreciation of the significance of our earthly lives and
their activities (marriage, family, work, etc.) in the context of
God's plan to call out for himself a redeemed human community that is
restored through Christ to be the image of God, and that will enjoy
communion with God and one another forever.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
conservative thoughtful Biblical exegesis of Gen 1-3, July 10, 2003
By
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1XZJ32DJS8YV2/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp>R.
M. Williams "just an avid reader" (tucson, arizona USA)
First, i come to this book as an extended directed self study on the
issues involved in the Creation-Evolution-Design debate. This book i
rate as one of the 5 most significant books for a conservative
reformed Christian who wants to come to reasoned and faithful
conclusions in the CED debate. It is conservative which i define to
be conscious and considerate of the traditions of the past, to take
them seriously, not simply accepting something because it is new. It
is Biblical in the way the author is very careful to allow the
Scripture's Words to speak for themselves, being very careful not to
read into the words his own cherished beliefs, but to allow the Word
to speak to him, authoritatively and reliably. To this end he is not
infected by the l iberal J-P-D documentary interpretation so often
evident in exegesis or interpretation.
Second, the book is significant on two levels, the first is the
exegetical level, the principles of understanding that the author
explores in the first few chapters. Second is the line by line study
that forms the bulk of the book, roughly chpt 3 on.
The structure of the book is that of Gen 1-3 but the way he writes is
interesting and worth a moment of reflection here. The chapters are
more like consistent essays than the usual exegesis bound to the
text. He takes a major theme in the next section of Genesis then
expands it to cover this issue through the past interpreters and
links to other related Scripture. It roughly follows the systematic
organization of reformed covenant theology.
pg 26 has what i think is the best analysis of the human writers
relationship to Scripture. "That rule follows from the humanity of
Holy Scripture. In the act of inspiration God did not turn his
sookesmen into robots; his Word became their word, under their
signature and their responsiblility. Thus we have no right to go over
their heads in order to set forth a 'divine' meaning which they would
never possilby have imagined-even if those men did not grasp the
whole import of what they attested God in his condescension has
limited himself to their instrumentality; our interpretation must
conform to the corresponding discipline."
If the church would hend this advice much of the CED debate would be
solved, for we would cease to search Genesis for the equivalent of
quarks, trying to query the first few chapters of the Bible and mine
it for scientific truths. Rather we would, as this author does,
submit to the authority of Scripture to speak to the way we do
science, to the ideas that we bring to the universe as we question
the master workmen's creation that we are a small part of.
The book is literary framework in its approach to Gen1-3, M. Kline
being the best example of this in the english speaking world. Anyone
familiar with the CED issues would be advised to read the first 2
chapters of this book simply to see a careful analysis of exegesis
and the result of allowing Scripture to speak for itself rather than
being pushed out of shape by young earth creationists whom would
interpret the 7 days too literally. Or by scientific
reconcilationists would would try to find modern science confirmed in
the light appearing before the sun(ie the big bang).
The first principle he outlines carefully is to allow Scripture to
speak to its first listeners, their culture, their history. His
exegetical task doesn't end there but extends to teaching what these
things mean to us in our place in space and time. But this
application, this preaching follows critical-historical
interpretation not prior to it as so many would desire.
Thanks to the author for this excellent book and i hope to read more
from his pen."
~ Janice
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Received on Tue Dec 11 10:13:37 2007
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