Seven specialists in Old Testament theology and interpretation come together to offer a variety of needed biblical perspectives and insights on how to interpret the first two chapters of Genesis correctly. Evangelical scholars, college and seminary professors (and their students), and pastors will benefit from this title. This is the only book of its kind that involves a critical and comparative assessment of the early Genesis narratives by Old Testament scholars actually working in the field.From the Introduction by Victor P. Hamilton: "

"Even in the wider evangelical portion of conservative Protestantism there are emerging divergent perspectives on reading Gen 1-2. To some this is salutary. To others it is a slippery slope. The essays to follow in this volume, all by highly esteemed and well-published OT evangelical scholars, will demonstrate this hermeneutical diversity . . .

A community of believers tries, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to come to an understanding of a scriptural position or passage by thinking together, talking and dialoguing together, praying together, and by agreeing to disagree agreeably if the case need be. The title of the Bryan Institute symposium which produced this collection of essays was 'Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation.' To which I say, let the conversation continue.""

Chapters include:

RICHARD E. AVERBECK--Genesis 1 and 2 as Observational Cosmogony and Cosmology: A Literary, Inter-textual, and Contextual Reading

TODD BEALL--Reading Genesis 1 and 2: A Literal Approach

C. JOHN COLLINS--Reading Genesis 1-2 with the Grain: Analogical Days

TREMPER LONGMAN III--What Genesis 1-2 Teaches (and What It Doesn't)

JOHN H. WALTON--Reading Genesis One as Ancient Cosmology

KENNETH J. TURNER--Teaching Genesis 1 at a Christian College

JUD DAVIS -- Unresolved Questions: Evangelicals and Genesis 1-2

A "response" section follows each chapter, in which each author has the opportunity to reply to the viewpoint presented. It is truly a conversational format.