My Book Where Sin Abounds Reviewed in JETS: Get Your Copy Now at 50% Discount

My theological commentary on Genesis, Where Sin Abounds, was recently reviewed in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS). The review, excerpts of which I’ll post below, was overall very positive. In addition, Westminster Theological Journal (WTJ) recently accepted an article I submitted, “Faults of Our Fathers,” that’s based on the thesis of the book. Since I’d like to make the book available to as many as are interested, I’m going to offer it for a limited time at the author’s discount (50% off) plus shipping. To learn more, keep reading.

JETS Review (an excerpt)

Traditionally, scholars have divided Genesis into the primeval history and the patriarchal narratives, emphasizing that the former describes the spread of sin and the latter its solution. Arguing against this thematic division, Robert Gonzalez1 claims that the theme of the spread of sin and the curse operates throughout all of Genesis. In fact, the patriarchal narratives demonstrate a pattern of intensification of sin rather than its solution. Gonzalez’s work is extremely readable, and he effectively uses footnotes to cover more technical arguments that may not interest a casual reader, but are nonetheless important, such as the arguments surrounding the identity of the “sons of God” (p. 77)…. His method is essentially a canonical reading that follows the interpretive principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture to resolve ambiguities in the Genesis text….

Gonzalez provides a reading of Genesis that offers a helpful corrective on this historic tendency to overemphasize the piety of the patriarchs and minimize their sin. For example, rather than excusing Abram for claiming Sarai was his sister, he demonstrates that Abram sinned by his selfishness and failure to protect his wife. What is more, Abram failed a test to trust YHWH through this deception. In each generation of the patriarchs, Gonzalez argues that the spread of sin becomes more intense. He concludes, “So that ‘avalanche’ of sin that begins in primeval history continues to spread beyond the hubris of Babel and into the patriarchal history, where it wreaks havoc even among God’s chosen people, one generation after another” (p. 192)….

Gonzalez’s work is an extremely helpful analysis of the spread of sin throughout Genesis. He is able to show that Genesis is essentially the story of the spread of sin as well as God’s gracious interventions. As Gonzalez argues in the introduction, this pattern of spread and intensification reflects Paul’s argument in Rom 5:12-14 where Paul uses the expression “from Adam to Moses” to describe the origin, scope, and results of sin (p. 1). Generally, Gonzalez models a method of intertextual exegesis that successfully demonstrates connections between Genesis 3-11 and 12-50. However, as he makes intertextual connections to other parts of the canon, he at times relies a little too heavily on the NT–especially Paul–when it is not necessary to support his argument, such as in the case of the nature of the first sin. However, this observation is but a minor critique of a very helpful book that provides an alternative to the thematic bifurcation of Genesis 3-11 and 12-50. 

~ Ryan M. Tietz, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL2

How to Get the Book Now at 50% Discount

Unfortunately, the book is a little pricey. It sells retail for $34.00. Westminster Bookstore and Amazon.com offer moderate discounts (currently 14% to 19%). That still leaves the price in the upper 20s. However, I’m able to get the book at an author’s discount of 50% or $17.00 a copy. Shipping varies from $3.50 (media mail) to $6.35 (priority mail). In either case, you can still get a better deal through me. Of course, I don’t get any royalties for copies I order. But I really didn’t write the book to make money.

So if you’re interested in obtaining a copy through me, email me within the next 30 days at dean@rbseminary.org. I’ll need your name and address. If you want to pay me through my PayPal account, I’ll need your email address. Otherwise, you can send me a check to the address below. Be sure to write “Where Sin Abounds” in the memo. As soon as I receive the payment through PayPal or in the mail, I’ll call Wipf & Stock and have them mail you your copy. Once again, this offer is only for a limited time so act quickly.

Costs:
Book: $17 per copy
Shipping: $3.50 (media) or $6.35 (priority)

Mail check to:
Reformed Baptist Seminary
Attn: Robert Gonzales
5020 Old Spartanburg Road
Taylors, SC 29687

I hope you’ll enjoy the book and find it useful!

B.G.

1. The reviewer and/or editor of JETS misspells my name, using a “z” at the end rather than an “s.” Not sure how that happened. [↩]
2. For other reviews, see those on Amazon.com here. [↩]