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REVIEWS
Book Reviews
Birthpangs and Blessings
A Commentary on the Book of Genesis
Clare Amos ( Sacristy Press , January 2022 ) 368pp , paperback , RRP £ 19.99
This is a scholarly but mostly accessible book . It is not a quick reference commentary ; it needs to be read in chapters to gain the full sense of the arguments presented , but it is helpfully divided into titled sections , and then chapter and verse of Genesis are given so that one can quickly find what one is looking for .
Amos is an Old Testament scholar ; her perceptive comments on plays on words within Genesis , and their added significance , made me wish I had studied Hebrew myself . She also links various stories together in a fascinating way , and considers the use of sources in shaping Genesis . Her knowledge of the Middle East and its history provides context and structure to her arguments . This commentary will offend biblical inerrantists or creationists , but I would recommend them to read its intelligent reasoning , nevertheless .
It took me a while to get into this book , and my first thought was that it was for academics only . Once I had mastered Amos ’ approach , though , it was almost as readable as a novel . Of course , one gains the most from the commentary by reading it with Bible in hand , so that the prolific Bible references can be examined and appreciated .
My attention was repeatedly drawn to details that had been hiding in plain sight . Genesis is a book of narratives , and I found Amos ’ s unpacking of them to be absorbing and informative .
A most useful feature of the commentary is the detailed ‘ Theological Reflections ’ that follow each section . They are not summaries so much as useful drawings-together of the features of the section with additional insights . These reflections help to present the material of Genesis in a way that reveals its continuing relevance to the over-arching story of the Bible . This is not a book for preachers to open for easy explanations of tricky verses or events , but rather for personal enrichment , and it is one I shall return to again and again .
Susan Thorne
Susan is a published author and long-established Methodist local preacher ; she is passionate about social justice , ecumenism and the environment .
A Life-Long Springtime
The life and teaching of Fr George Congreve SSJE
Luke Miller ( Sacristy Press , January 2022 ) 272pp , hardcover , RRP £ 24.99
It was nearly 500 years ago , at the time of the Reformation , that the dissolution of the monasteries took place . They returned in the late nineteenth century and the Society of St . John the Evangelist ( SSJE ) was the first new monastic community for men . Father George Congreve ( GC ) was one of its earliest members .
There is much that is fascinating in this book about GC ’ s involvement in the life of the SSJE . All its members sought to live the ‘ mortified life ’ but this did not mean there were no tensions amongst them . GC could not see the life of the community in the same very austere and tightly controlled way as its founder , Father Benson , and GC ’ s influence and words about this matter led to the latter ’ s resignation .
GC was clearly a charismatic person to whom an increasing number looked for guidance and teaching . He was a man of his time and his views – expressed in a remarkable number of sermons , addresses , letters and other writings – reflect this . One profound influence throughout his long life was the beauty of the natural world of which he made mention again and again .
GC also wrote and spoke about other matters that are always with us . They include issues of justice and war , the relationships between those of different races , Christian mission in different cultures , ageing and death . He was greatly affected by the First World War in which several members of his wider family served in the armed forces , some of whom lost their lives .
The author , Luke Miller , who is Archdeacon of London , has done a huge amount of research in the writing of this book . His extensive notes are found at the bottom of the relevant pages rather than at the back of the book , which makes for easier referral . He has enabled his readers to reflect on the life of a great Christian influence , well known during his life but far less so today . He has also helped us to think freshly about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century .
Henry Whyte
Henry is an active retired vicar enjoying time with family , golf and writing . He is thankful for ongoing opportunities to preach and to minister .