In this volume of the acclaimed Theological Commentary series by Brazos, R.R. Reno begins with the theological presupposition that Genesis is, at its core, a book that keeps pushing, moving, and looking forward. As Reno states, "As a book of origins Genesis is far less concerned with the source of what is than what will be" (22. Emphasis Reno).Obviously this means that Reno is interpreting the text, and as such he does not allow Genesis to stand on its "own terms". He uses it to develop a coherent theological expression. To this end, Reno's methodology obviously takes center stage, but even here Reo will not allow himself to be sucked into a hermeneutical vacuum. His task is rather to respond and expound upon the important questions raised by the text at specific strategic and theologically significant points.Thus, Reno's approach is to highlight what is theologically significant ion the book and work back to the text in Genesis locating its role in how Genesis pushes its narrative forward exposing a forceful longing and need for redemption.The result of Reno's work is an incredibly fresh perspective on Genesis that is faithful both to the text, the surrounding context of the book, and to church theological tradition (although he is by no means a slave to this). Often the church because of its focus on particular items in Genesis has missed the theological power that lies buried within its story, and this book is a significant step forward in overcoming this problem.
