Mark S. Smith is Skirball Professor of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at New York University and author of many books. He was the 2010� "11 President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America.
"With a welcoming voice and his characteristic erudition, Mark
Smith takes on some of the most profound questions in Western
religions. As he readily acknowledges, this book raises more
questions than it answers; it could not be otherwise. But for those
interested in further explorations, it also offers a wealth of
resources." Christopher B. Hays, Ph.D., D. Wilson Moore Associate
Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies Chair, Old Testament
Department, Fuller Theological Seminary
Mark Smith has taken up a most overworked often misread text. He
addresses a most vexed and insistent theological notion. He does
so, moreover, with great attention to detail, patience with
theological nuance, and wide-ranging critical awareness. The
outcome of his work is a rich, fresh, and suggestive theological
exposition of a very old issue. Smith cannot and does not seek to
void the lingering over-read of the text by church tradition. But
he does invite reconsideration of matters of sin and evil. He is,
moreover, alert to the contemporary urgency of the issue and offers
a most welcome interpretive encounter. Walter Brueggemann, William
Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological
Seminary
Smith has written a valuable book, providing detailed analysis of
biblical (especially Genesis 34; 6) and relevant ancient Near
Eastern literature, an exploration of broad theological issues such
as the nature of humanity in Genesis and the mystery of God, and an
overview of the way original sin have been understood by Christian
theologians. Smith concludes that it is better to speak of the
fallout of what happens in Gen 3 rather than the Fall.A volume that
will prove useful to the general reader and the specialist alike.
David L. Petersen, Franklin N. Parker Professor Emeritus of Old
Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
This disarmingly honest, thoughtful, and gracefully written book
addresses questions that regularly occur to readers of the biblical
narratives in Genesis 111, but particularly in chapters 2, 3, 4,
and 6. Their queries concern the nature of evil, the Fall, original
sin, Satan, guilt, innocence, the implications of being human, and
the wrongness of human curiosity. Depending on the individual
readers, the questions may be considered of general interest or of
personal concern. When examining specific questions and their
implications, Mark S. Smith draws from knowledge and insights in
the works of ancient and premodern theologians and biblical
commentators typically found on traditional Christian and Jewish
bookshelves as well as from research found on the bookshelves of
twenty-first-century historians and language experts, all
specialists in different aspects of ancient Israels culture and the
contemporaneous civilizations of the pre-Christian, Ancient Near
East. The book reads quickly. It is an action adventure for the
restless mind that has a satisfactory but open-ended conclusion.
For those interested in how Smith pulls this off, he provides a
large section of Endnotes containing references and side-bar
discussions. Ziony Zevit, Distinguished Professor of Biblical
Literature and Northwest Semitic Languages and Literature, American
Jewish University, Los Angeles
Was there a Fall? Was there an original sin? The prolific author
Mark S. Smith offers insight and writes with clarity, insight, and
profundity on these pivotal topics that are so vital to biblical
theology. While not all will agree with every element of his
analysis of the relevant texts, his reflections will provoke better
understanding and further discussion. All those who are interested
in these important questions will have to reckon with Smiths
perspective. Tremper Longman III, Distinguished Scholar and
Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
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