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The Book of Genesis cover art

The Book of Genesis

By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
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Summary

Nearly everyone in the Western world is familiar with the stories in the book of Genesis. Its language is simple. Its powerful sentences are short. And its messages glisten with clarity. But is it possible that the understanding of the book of Genesis we've all grown up with isn't as complete as we'd like to believe? That its deceptively simple sentences and surface appearance hide from contemporary readers a purposeful and intricate structure designed to let its depth and detail and implication resonate with the readers and listeners of its own time?

These 24 fascinating lectures offer the necessary tools to change our perceptions of the book of Genesis, showing us how we might read, hear, think about - and feel - its words as an ancient Hebrew would have, allowing us to gain a new appreciation of "one of the most remarkable literary compositions from the ancient world," as Professor Rendsburg calls it, the book with which both Jews and Christians alike begin their Bible.

With a detailed, line-by-line literary parsing that gently probes its language, exploring how and why its effects were achieved and what the book's author-or authors-were saying, Professor Rendsburg reveals more insights than most of us have ever dreamed were there. Among those insights, you'll learn why the book of Genesis has not one but two creation stories, what hints the book's many contradictions offer about its authorship, and more.

Although this is a course whose emphasis is literary, with detailed analysis dominating, Professor Rendsburg is mindful that the book of Genesis is, for many, a theological pillar of religious faith. And he is both respectful of that reality and aware of it in an even broader historical, social, and archeological context.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2006 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2006 The Great Courses

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Brings Genesis to Life

A whole lecture course on Genesis may seem a lot, but in the hands of Professor Rendsburg it seems barely enough. It is an outstanding account that I thoroughly recommend. Details of the individual parts of the story are interspersed with lectures on historical background, different versions of the bible etc. This works really well as an approach and kept my interest up completely. For more details on content I recommend looking at the Great Courses web site. And if after finishing this course you want a detailed account of the biblical story after Genesis, I recommend very highly Dr Bill Creasy's "One Year Bible".

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3 people found this helpful

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Outstanding

Where does The Book of Genesis rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best in my collection, one I come back to reperatedly.

Have you listened to any of Professor Gary A. Rendsburg’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Like his other course on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Prof Rendsberg semonstrates an almost obsessive eye for detail.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Anyone wanting a true understanding of the Genesis account of creation - this is a good place to go.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • 16-07-20

Listen to this book three times and still learning

I had read the books of the bible many times, yet this is the first time I have delved into a book of the Canon as deeply.

If you are looking for an academic approach with a good understanding of the Christian teaching, then I highly recommend these lectures.

This is the third time I have listened, and I am still gaining new insight.

These lectures promote further reasoning.

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Errors

Some very important factual mistakes, for example, : The man that got the ball of biblical criticism rolling was Baruch Spinoza with his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus in 1670.

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So-so

Narration was bit choppy at times, and some ideas put forth weren't necessarily backed up as well as I would have liked. Other than that I liked it.

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Fascinating course

What an interesting and insightful set of lectures that piece a lot of the information around the book of Genesis as well as some specific study of sections and taking time to go through verse by verse at points. An excellent course. would strongly recommend reading the book of Genesis as you go through this course rather than just relying on lecturer to read large chunks of text.

I found myself getting used to the style and tone of the lecturer after the first lecture and therefore found him an easy person to listen to for 12 hours.

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Addresses some interesting points.

Addresses some interesting points and discoveries.
Shame that he uses his own opinion so frequently.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Understand the First Great Book of the Bible

very easy to follow but deeply scholarly this course will enthuse you to deeper bible study

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Skimming stones

The lectures are concise and easy to listen to. I would have liked more on Creation and Adam and Eve and I felt that some of the conclusions on the old testament author borrowing stories required more explanations. However the lectures provide some invaluable insights into the people of Genesis given this is an overview.

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