Why study Genesis? Why not skip ahead to the New Testament? Kevin Swanson says trying to understand the New Testament without a knowledge of the Old is like trying to update software when you haven't purchased the original program. The first book of the Bible presents the dawn of human history from God's perspective, a perspective we ignore at our own peril.
Swanson says the focus of Christian education should be Christ. We teach phonics so our kids can read the Bible; we teach history to show how God moves; we teach science so we can praise Him. The centerpiece of such an education isn't academic—it's spiritual and Bible-centered. If God is at the center of our lives, it stands to reason His story will be our first concern.
The Book of Genesis is designed for family worship. For each chapter of Genesis, Swanson (an Orthodox Presbyterian pastor from Colorado) provides extensive commentary with review and discussion questions. Parents can simply read the Genesis passage aloud followed by Swanson's text, but it's better to preview Swanson's material beforehand, if for no other reason than to know how to approach the questions. Each section is around 3-5 pages long.
The strength of this book is Swanson's dedication to relating all of Genesis to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Old Testament verses are cross-referenced to New Testament passages; connections are made, foreshadowings illuminated, and the continuity of God's story illustrated. At the end of each chapter, he shows how the daily reading teaches us specific ways to follow our Creator.
Ironically, this strength is also a weakness. Swanson occasionally strays from Gospel content to comment on temporal things like large vs. small government (a favorite topic). His attempt to relate the Bible to all of life is commendable and generally serves him well, but he can get carried away.
Overall, this is an excellent guide to one of the most important books in Scripture. If you're looking for in-depth verse-by-verse study, this isn't it. But if you want to introduce your kids to thorough Bible reading and the first book of Moses, Swanson's guide is a great place to begin. It's engaging, easy-to-use, and written to build in children a lifelong love of God's Word.
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Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
here.
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