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W. Robert Godfrey
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God's Pattern for Creation: A Covenantal Reading of Genesis 1 Paperback – October 20, 2003

by W. Robert Godfrey (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18 ratings
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"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Beginnings are important. If we want to understand the Bible as a whole, we must understand what it teaches about creation.

Interpreting Genesis 1 has become controversial among "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." evangelicals today. Because of this, W. Robert Godfrey has written this short, clear study with thoughtful Christians in mind. He understands that it can be difficult to take fresh look at a Scripture passage that is so familiar. Godfrey encourages readers to come to Genesis 1 eager to find all that God has to teach us.

Godfrey’s foundation to his approach to Genesis 1 covenantal. He carefully examines Scripture with the understanding that the whole Bible is "covenantal because from beginning to end it shows how God is our God and how he makes us his people, first in creation and then in redemption through Christ." Godfrey carefully examines the text, knowing that the Bible is a covenantal record, always focused on God and his relationship to his people. "Where does Genesis 1 fit in this covenantal structure?" Godfrey asks. "It is the introduction to the introduction. Genesis is the introduction to Exodus, and Genesis 1 is the introduction to Genesis, detailing the grand story of creation before sin entered the world. It is a history for us as the people of God."

Some of Godfrey’s main theses include:

- Genesis 1 and 2 are true, historical accounts of creation. - God created the earth for man, his image-bearer. - Genesis 1 presents God’s days of creation as a pattern for man with six days for work and one day for rest. The days of Genesis 1 are not primarily about how God created. - The Sabbath is a creation ordinance for man. - Christians must believe what God has revealed about his work of creation.

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  1. Print length
    141 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co
  4. Publication date
    October 20, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    087552799X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0875527994
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Godfrey gives us an interpretation of Genesis 1 that is clear, concise, and compelling. In this wonderful book he teaches us the practical theology contained in Genesis 1, as well as sound principles for interpreting the rest of Scripture. I heartily recommend God's Pattern for Creation." --Mark Futato

"W. Robert Godfrey understands how to read Scripture texts. In the midst of present confusion regarding Genesis 1, he writes with a clear and proper focus. Genesis 1, according to him, is covenantal and literary and it is for us! I will be giving out many copies of this book." --Bryan D. Estelle

About the Author

W. Robert Godfrey (PhD, Stanford University) is a professor of church history and president of Westminster Seminary California. He is a minister of the United Reformed Churches. He is author of Reformation Sketches: Insights into Luther, Calvin, and the Confessions and God's Pattern for Creation: A Covenantal Reading of Genesis 1. He is coeditor of Theonomy: A Reformed Critique, and contributor to John Calvin: His Influence in the Western World. Godfrey has also written numerous articles. He has been a speaker at many conferences, including the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and Ligonier Ministries.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co (October 20, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 141 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 087552799X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0875527994
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

About the author

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W. Robert Godfrey

W. Robert Godfrey

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Dr. W. Robert Godfrey is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. He is president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is the featured teacher for the six-part Ligonier teaching series A Survey of Church History. His many books include God’s Pattern for Creation, Reformation Sketches, An Unexpected Journey, and Learning to Love the Psalms.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
18 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bob Zuidema
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
Wow! Great book!

Godfrey comes to the conclusion the "Days" in Gen. 1 probably were long periods of time based only upon interpretation from the Bible itself. Godfrey is truly a theologian. Nowhere does he give as an argument any discoveries from science, but instead, reaches his conclusion just from the structure of Genesis. Very interesting reading!

Godfrey's ideas have similarities with astrophysicist Hugh Ross's interpretation of Genesis 1, especially in connection with Day 4 (Creation of Sun, Moon, Stars...). Godfrey says: "The Biblical text seems to suggest that day four is not about the creation of a new and different source for the light created on day one but rather is now pointing us to the lights that fill the sky and that always were the source of light. In other words, day one and day four describe the same creative act of God from different perspectives..."

If you want to see a Biblical approach "harmonizing" the Bible's explanation of Creation Days with science (a heretical notion if you're a "24 hr Day" person) Godfrey's analysis comes pretty close explaining how God could have done it.
3 people found this helpful
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Paul R. Bruggink
5.0 out of 5 stars Helps to reconcile the Bible with an old earth
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2007
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This book is one of several that significantly help to make the point that the Bible does not preclude the possibility of an old earth and an old universe. Other books are also helpful in this regard, including C. John Collins'  Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, And Theological Commentary , Rodney Whitefield's  Reading Genesis One , David Snoke's  A Biblical Case for an Old Earth , Mark S. Whorton's  Peril in Paradise: Theology, Science, and the Age of the Earth , and Hugh Ross's  Creation and Time: A Biblical and Scientific Perspective on the Creation-Date Controversy .

I highly recommend all of them, including Godfrey's "God's Pattern for Creation," to anyone struggling with reconciling the Bible with the scientific evidence for an old earth or struggling with how to convince young earth creationists that young earth creationism is not the only possible way to interpret the Bible.

In addition to 80+ pages of text supporting compatibility of the Bible with an old earth through a careful examination of the words of the Bible, this book includes appendices on "Calvin on Creation," and "The Reformed Confessions on Creation." It is a worthwhile investment.
12 people found this helpful
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Bruce Bergman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
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This is an excellent and balanced discussion regarding the creation of the universe.
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Jess
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my, Godfrey!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013
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It is refreshing to read a book that is packed with meat but written on a layman's level. This book was amazing. I highly recommend it!
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Ellie
5.0 out of 5 stars So Sorry I am so busy
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2008
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I love the books; have not had time to finish two of them, and don't have time to write a review. I'm sorry. I do appreciate reading reviews. It definitely helps me in buying. E.R.
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A Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars a book of understatement and humility
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2009
At first glance this book looks too simplistic to be all that helpful in understanding book 1 of Genesis. For there's little reference to max-min (e.g., Kenneth Kitchen's  The Bible in Its World: The Bible and Archaeology Today  or even  On the Reliability of the Old Testament ), unity-divergence (e.g.,  Before Abraham Was: The Unity of Genesis 1-11 ) biblical debates. After many glances and a much more thorough reading, however, the book exudes a close and faithful reading of scripture revealing its author an intelligent and reliable Christian witness. In fact, Godfrey's book must be carefully read to realize that it is written with learned simplicity that represents a lifetime of study and experience, which remains far too rare in Biblical discussions.

Also, this book does not in any way suffer from a jingoistically pro-modern and ultimately offensive, anti-Hebrew perspective that can be found in Jaki's  Genesis 1: Through the Ages .
5 people found this helpful
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M. Baldanza
2.0 out of 5 stars Short book on a different view regarding 'days' in Genesis.
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2017
Even Though pastor Godfrey is a great preacher and lecturer, this is not his best material. He spouses a view that is not very well substantiated in this book. A good point in the book is his conclusion, where he asserts a position that we all could have as Christians, and his Appendix where he brings positions from many other relevant theologians. Although I don't interpret the subject as pastor Godfrey, I think it is good for all to get a better understanding on opposing views.
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Echo
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2006
This book is a very accessible and fascinating look at the creation account in Genesis. Dr. Godfrey challenges conventional thought by asserting an analogical view of the creation account. The point of the narrative is to direct us to understand the covenant of creation, and that God created all things because He wanted to enter into covenantal relations with mankind. Genesis is neither a science book, an anthropology book, nor a geology book. It is a book about God as He has revealed Himself through the covenants, not the least of which is the covenant of creation. This is a fascinating book and very easy to read. High School students should be able to read it just fine and get a lot out of it.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Angela Werner interested lay person
5.0 out of 5 stars Genesis 1 lays the foundation for God's covenant people.
Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Exciting exegesis of Genesis 1 from a covenantal perspective. God's purpose in creation is to produce a people in His image with whom He will fellowship in eternal glory, and to His glory, as they praise their God-Creator-Savior forever. Genesis 1 is the foundation, as God is providing the material world for the needs of this people.
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martink
5.0 out of 5 stars great analysis, very biblical
Reviewed in Australia on March 14, 2021
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Such a refreshing read; instead of the typical effort to wash over the Bible, Dr Godfrey faithfully expounds the text and confirms the essentials - well worth a read. Excellent.
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