C. John Collins

Much controversy surrounds the opening chapters of Genesis. They are front-loaded with all manner of vital topics—such as God's work of creating the world and mankind; what it means to be human; why our present experience is so different from what we find in Genesis 2; how we come to know God and to be sure of his love.

Collins employs a literary-theological method informed by contemporary discourse analysis in order to read passages as coherent wholes. He shows how later biblical and inter-testamental writers have used Genesis 1–4 and reflects on how these chapters shape a Christian worldview today.… (more)

Collins is a theologian, not a scientist, so the book is heavy on theology and light on science – the science minded folks among us will mind, but for most Christians, this is the sort of book they need. I was impressed: Collins was even-handed, thoughtful, and serious, and he dealt with a variety of positions (including those of people who gleefully smear his own position) with considerable respect and care. Collins traces the theological argument throughout Scripture arguing for a historical Adam and Eve, and he does so with careful attention paid not only to the strong New Testament and philosophical arguments for their historicity and the authority of Scripture, but also with regard to ANE literary context and genre. In short, Collins' treatment was thorough and excellent. His final didactic chapter, examining which proposed options are allowed by the text, is and will remain an excellent resource and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Highly recommended.… (more)