First place Quote by Peter Enns
““This is extremely significant. Knowing something of when the Pentateuch came to be, even generally, affects our understanding of why it was produced in the first place—which is the entire reason why we are dipping our toes into this otherwise esoteric pool of Old Testament studies. The final form of the creation story in Genesis (along with the rest of the Pentateuch) reflects the concerns of the community that produced it: postexilic Israelites who had experienced God’s rejection in Babylon. The Genesis creation narrative we have in our Bibles today, although surely rooted in much older material, was shaped as a theological response to Israel’s national crisis of exile. These stories were not written to speak of “origins” as we might think of them today (in a natural-science sense). They were written to say something of God and Israel’s place in the world as God’s chosen people.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn't Say About Human Origins, 2012
Understanding the Pentateuch's historical context reveals its theological purpose for exiled Israelites, not scientific origins.
In simple terms: Context shows Genesis is theological, not scientific.
Key Takeaway
Study the historical background to grasp biblical intent.
Themes
theology
history
exile
scripture
interpretation
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
academic
theological
When to use this quote
- seminary coursework
- biblical research
- faith discussions
- teaching
- personal study
Key Concepts
Biblical criticism
historical context
theological response
Questions to Reflect On
- How does knowing the exile context change your reading of Genesis?
- What theological needs did the creation story address?
A Different Perspective
May overlook literary artistry in favor of historical literalism.
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