Creation in Scripture
The creation-evolution controversy is one of the most contentious in Christianity. It may appear to many to be much less important than issues with more direct moral implications. Yet how we view the relationship between science and religion will have a significant impact on how we live and on how we understand our faith and our world.
Herold Weiss comes to this issue not as a scientist, historian, or a philosopher, but rather as a student of Scripture. He believes that the various authors of Scripture view creation in varied and sometimes contrasting ways. Many discussions of creation focus on the first three chapters of Genesis, but Weiss takes in the entire scope of scripture, looking at creation in the prophets, the wisdom literature, Genesis 2, Genesis 1, Romans, the Corinthian letters, Colossians, Hebrews, and finally Revelation.
In a book of this size it is impossible to study all of these areas in depth, but Weiss provides an excellent overview that will help any student of the Bible gain a better perspective on how creation impacts biblical teaching on a variety of issues. His presentation is representative, rather than exhaustive, but it provides a breadth that is much needed, and often lacking, in discussions of this issue.
No matter in which way the biblical authors viewed creation, they were free to affirm their faith in the Creator. Weiss helps us understand that we, like them, can also affirm our faith in the Creator God no matter how we view the natural world and the universe in which we live. The Bible itself demonstrates the independence of faith from any and all cultural descriptions of the material reality of which we are a part.
Publisher’s catalog page: Creation in Scripture (includes a list of additional online retailers)
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Endorsements
In Creation in Scripture Herold Weiss presents the essential message that the creation story is complex and is addressed in many ways throughout scripture. As it is, much of the hot debate occurs when people take one particular part of scripture, sometimes out of context and sometimes misinterpreted and then baptize this passage as the one and only infallible description of how God really created or creates. This is the first book I have seen that takes this “overview” approach and considers all the Bible’s commentary on Creation. Kudos to Weiss for this contribution.
Richard Colling, Ph.D.
Author of Random Designer
Wading into the often truculent conflicts over creationism and evolution, Herold Weiss offers up the refreshing input of a biblical scholar who is fully attentive to the cultural contexts and religious variety of biblical traditions. While insisting that the life of faith and scientific inquiry each be given their proper respect, Weiss challenges those who would speak theologically about creation to consider more broadly the entire range of biblical evidence, rather than privileging a few chapters from Genesis. Crafted with great clarity and a wealth of knowledge, readers are treated to a lavish feast of biblical views of creation, from the prophets and Wisdom literature to the letters of Paul and the apocalyptic world of Revelation. What a remarkable little book: at once a bold challenge to creationism, exposing its reactionary impulses and indicting its ideological abuses of the Bible; and, at the same time, a generous invitation for thoughtful Christians to celebrate the amazingly rich and varied portraits of creation, and thereby to bolster their faith in the Creator in a way that is both well-conceived and biblically based.
Terence J. Martin, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana
In this brief and concise volume, Dr. Weiss demonstrates the importance of exploring the entirety of Biblical evidence on this all too often divisive topic. With clarity and concrete example, he makes clear that this subject does not lend itself to simplistic answers. This volume makes a significant contribution to conversations regarding creation and the Bible. It is my hope that people of faith will use this helpful book to further future dialogue among those who value both Scripture and the human reason with which we have been graced by our loving Creator God! For those who believe that one can be both scholarly and faithful, this is a ‘must read’ book!
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Author, Crossing the Street and Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church
Pastor, United Church of Christ
Most studies of creation in the Bible have focused on the first two chapters of Genesis, with little reference to the rest of Scripture where much discussion of creation is found. With characteristically wide understanding of the languages, and the historical and cultural contexts in which the Bible was written, and with deep theological insight and spiritual sensitivity, Dr. Weiss has made an important contribution toward rectifying this imbalance. Reading this book will reward everyone concerned with issues regarding the doctrine of creation.
Earle Hilgert
Professor of New Testament Emeritus
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago
This is a “must read” book for anyone interested in the current discussions on the concept of creation in the Bible, its cultural context, and its relation to current views in science and evolution. It is authoritative, cogent, masterfully articulated. I’ve read widely on this topic and have never read anything its equal. It pulls no punches. Better yet, it is timely, wise, and faith affirming.
Larry Geraty
President emeritus
La Sierra University
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Creation Package
Buy both Creation in Scripture and Creation: The Christian Doctrine for $19.99. Price separately is $25.98, and standard shipping in the U. S. is free!
This special package combines two books, Creation in Scripture by Herold Weiss and Creation: The Christian Doctrine by Edward W. H. Vick. The debate regarding creation and evolution is a very heated and divisive one in the church today. Rather than attempting to start with a particular position and then adduce the evidence for it, both authors aim to survey a broad range of factors that go into the formation of a doctrine.
Herold Weiss aims to look at the variety of viewpoints on creation that are found in Scripture. Rather than starting from Genesis 1 & 2 and then bringing in other passages only as they elucidate portions of that passage, he instead looks at various sections of the Bible, such as the prophets, wisdom literature, the gospels, the writings of Paul, and yes, Genesis, and asks just what ideas the authors hold about creation and how those fit into the focus of the particular section.
Edward Vick approaches the topic as both a theologian and a professor of theology. His purpose is to ask just what elements go into a doctrine of creation. What would make such a doctrine distinctively Christian.
Both volumes discuss how these passages relate to modern Christian viewpoints, such as young earth creationism, theistic evolution, old earth creationism, intelligent design, and related views.
Buy the print copies direct from this site, or see the publisher’s catalog site for links to online retailers and to ebook editions:
- Creation: The Christian Doctrine (on publisher’s web site)
- Creation in Scripture (on publisher’s web site)
Praise for Creation in Scripture
In Creation in Scripture Herold Weiss presents the essential message that the creation story is complex and is addressed in many ways throughout scripture. As it is, much of the hot debate occurs when people take one particular part of scripture, sometimes out of context and sometimes misinterpreted and then baptize this passage as the one and only infallible description of how God really created or creates. This is the first book I have seen that takes this “overview” approach and considers all the Bible’s commentary on Creation. Kudos to Weiss for this contribution.
Richard Colling, Ph.D.
Author of Random Designer
Wading into the often truculent conflicts over creationism and evolution, Herold Weiss offers up the refreshing input of a biblical scholar who is fully attentive to the cultural contexts and religious variety of biblical traditions. While insisting that the life of faith and scientific inquiry each be given their proper respect, Weiss challenges those who would speak theologically about creation to consider more broadly the entire range of biblical evidence, rather than privileging a few chapters from Genesis. Crafted with great clarity and a wealth of knowledge, readers are treated to a lavish feast of biblical views of creation, from the prophets and Wisdom literature to the letters of Paul and the apocalyptic world of Revelation. What a remarkable little book: at once a bold challenge to creationism, exposing its reactionary impulses and indicting its ideological abuses of the Bible; and, at the same time, a generous invitation for thoughtful Christians to celebrate the amazingly rich and varied portraits of creation, and thereby to bolster their faith in the Creator in a way that is both well-conceived and biblically based.
Terence J. Martin, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana
In this brief and concise volume, Dr. Weiss demonstrates the importance of exploring the entirety of Biblical evidence on this all too often divisive topic. With clarity and concrete example, he makes clear that this subject does not lend itself to simplistic answers. This volume makes a significant contribution to conversations regarding creation and the Bible. It is my hope that people of faith will use this helpful book to further future dialogue among those who value both Scripture and the human reason with which we have been graced by our loving Creator God! For those who believe that one can be both scholarly and faithful, this is a ‘must read’ book!
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Author, Crossing the Street and Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church
Pastor, United Church of Christ
Most studies of creation in the Bible have focused on the first two chapters of Genesis, with little reference to the rest of Scripture where much discussion of creation is found. With characteristically wide understanding of the languages, and the historical and cultural contexts in which the Bible was written, and with deep theological insight and spiritual sensitivity, Dr. Weiss has made an important contribution toward rectifying this imbalance. Reading this book will reward everyone concerned with issues regarding the doctrine of creation.
Earle Hilgert
Professor of New Testament Emeritus
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago
This is a “must read” book for anyone interested in the current discussions on the concept of creation in the Bible, its cultural context, and its relation to current views in science and evolution. It is authoritative, cogent, masterfully articulated. I’ve read widely on this topic and have never read anything its equal. It pulls no punches. Better yet, it is timely, wise, and faith affirming.
Larry Geraty
President emeritus
La Sierra University
Praise for Creation: The Christian Doctrine
In this relatively short volume, Dr. Edward Vick presents a thorough and precise overview of the Christian doctrine of Creation. This book has enormous value as a stand alone text yet, when coupled with Herold Weiss’ outstanding review of relevant Scriptural texts, provides theological insights which complement the task of Scriptural exegesis with respect to this important doctrine of Creation. There is no wasted word in this truly magnificent work as Dr. Vick explains and defines important terminology and challenges us to look at complex questions reasonably and faithfully. While its topic is creation, it would serve well as a primer in the relationship of faith, Scripture and theology, a relationship with practical applcability to a multiplicity of issues confronting modern Christianity. In short, this is an outstanding resource in Christian theology, one to which I expect to return many, many times.
Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle, Author, Crossing the Street and Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church
For the truth-seeker who takes seriously both faith and science, this thoughtful book makes a lot of sense, especially as a follow-up to its companion volume by Herold Weiss (Creation in Scripture). I found the discussion questions on creation, and the conversation among three Christian friends, unique, provocative, and elucidating features of this masterful contribution to a vexed and timely topic.
– Lawrence T. Geraty, President Emeritus, La Sierra University
Drawing from the history of the relevant developments in philosophy and theology, Vick presents a cogent argument for a confessional Christian doctrine of Creation. To this end he makes important distinctions and gives concrete definitions to the vocabulary needed for the task. He argues that scientific and historical understandings of how the reality in which we live came to be are religiously irrelevant. Instead he presents a Christian understanding of what a doctrine of creation affirms. The clarity of the presentation and the relevance of its message makes this a most welcome contribution to a debate that quite often lacks both. I highly recommend its careful reading to the layperson, the cleric and the professional theologian, be they either Christian or non-Christian.
Herold Weiss, author of Creation in Scripture and Professor Emeritus of New Testament, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame
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Finding My Way in Christianity
Subtitle: Recollections of a Journey
Finding My Way in Christianity: Recollections of a Journey is a story of dealing with the differences within the Christian community that is both personal and theologically reflective. With a diverse cross-cultural background, exceptional theological education, and fascinating personal experience, author Dr. Herold Weiss is uniquely qualified to write about this topic.
This notable book outlines the author’s experiences starting in Montevideo, Uruguay and moving through various educational experiences and teaching positions. It is no accident that the chapter titles reflect geographical locations, as the journey through space provides an illuminating metaphor for the faith journey that accompanies it.
Some of the people you meet in this book will make you angry. Others will make you thankful to be a Christian. Some will evoke your sympathy even as you seek to understand why they acted as they did. All of them will help give you some insight into what goes into a successful journey of faith. You can read Finding My Way in Christianity either as an interesting story or as theological reflection. The author’s experiences will resonate with many of us who have experienced the divisions within the Christian community and dealt with those who would silence dissent. Dr. Weiss’ story comes primarily within one denomination, but it follows outlines that will be familiar to many.
If you find yourself on a journey of faith, you owe it to yourself to read Finding My Way in Christianity.
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Praise for Finding My Way in Christianity
What a treat to be taken not only on spiritual journey but on a geographical adventure, too, as Weiss traces his life from Uruguay through Argentina, Cuba, then onto the United States. World War II, brothels in Old Havana, and de-segregation in the South all play a part in the story. Through it all, there is an intelligent and gracious spirit at play, as Weiss finds a way in even the toughest situations to land on his feet with his faith intact. A lively thought-provoking read.
Bonnie Dwyer, Editor, Spectrum
Weiss is a master at transforming traditional Christian beliefs and values to personal convictions and moral imperatives. What starts as an intellectual autobiography by an ordinary Christian on a spiritual trek, becomes a guidebook by an extraordinary teacher on a moral/ethical highway. Journeying with him from South to North America, from the East Coast to the Midwest, the reader gradually becomes the author’s spiritual and intellectual compatriot. The author’s encounters easily become those of the reader, who has plenty to learn along the way: from the challenges of graduate-level biblical studies to the contentment of academic integrity. FINDIG MY WAY IN CHRISTIANITY is a worthwhile companion to all who wish to make their life journey more meaningful.”
Abraham Terian
Professor Emeritus of Early Christianity, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
In a story that moves over seventy years from the confines of an Adventist childhood in Uruguay to a department of theology in a Roman Catholic college in Notre Dame, Indiana, this book charts a remarkable personal journey in which the borders and textures of faith broaden and deepen with each new encounter. The relation between faith and culture, faith and politics, faith and personal experience are explored with an even and generous hand by a man who has known the margins and the inner circles of a surprising number of worlds and has found welcome and truth in unexpected places. The vision of Christianity that emerges from this narrative is compelling and inspiring.
Charles H. Cosgrove
Professor of New Testament Studies and Christian Ethics, Northern Seminary
This is not just a memoir of one man’s spiritual journey, but rather a deeply theological work of intercultural encounter, growth, and grace-filled moments. Dr. Herold Weiss’s Finding My Way in Christianity is a parable for our time of openness to the world and to the deepest resources provided by scholarly exploration for reading the Scriptures. From its earliest times, Christianity has valued the witness of notable lives formed by the faith. Dr. Weiss’s journey reaches across and through many cultures and constellations of meaning, and breathes the universality of the Christian message. This is ultimately the story of a life well lived, shaped by encounters with others (both inside and outside the Adventist community) who gave flesh to Gospel values and, ultimately, direction to an author in search of his home. It is a narrative of richly-textured recollections, and a tale beautifully written and captivatingly told.
Joseph M. Incandela, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Faculty and Joyce McMahon Hank Aquinas Chair of Catholic Theology
Saint Mary’s College
Fascinating and illuminating. Weiss tells how a follower of Jesus moved from a world-denying sectarianism into a rich and affirming dialogue with classical and contemporary culture, modern scholarship, and other faith communities. Yet he has retained a deep affection for ordinary people and strong ties with the faith community that shaped his early years. A must read for those who tussle with issues of faith, worship, and authority.
Alden Thompson, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies
Walla Walla University
This engaging and heartfelt memoir is a capstone to Herold Weiss’s long and distinguished career as a theologian, professor of religious studies, and biblical scholar._ It is a vivid personal story that spans centuries, nations, continents, and cultures and, in the process, offers a varied and unique view of the immigrant experience._ It is also an inspiring story of intellectual and spiritual integrity._ In his faith-filled refusal to accept easy answers and his unwavering commitment to ask uneasy questions, Professor Weiss shows his readers the personal cost of Christian discipleship._ Through his own experience, he demonstrates the power of love to transform the person and the world and makes clear the challenges and benefits of crossing religious divides._ For those who hope to be, in his words, “agents of justice and peace, bridges that allow for the free transit of peoples and ideas in God’s world for the benefit of all of God’s creatures,” this compelling testament is essential reading.
Gail Porter Mandell, Ph.D.
Bruno P. Schlesinger Chair Emerita in Humanistic Studies, St. Mary’s College
This book tells a compelling and moving story of faith seeking understanding within the context of an American apocalyptic community. It is also a very personal account of how context, culture, and education rub up against the norms and mindset of a conservative religious movement. The lucid descriptions of personalities and places makes for interesting reading. It is a story of an intellectual, journeying between two ethnic cultural worlds—Latin American and American—and multiple religious worlds to form a broad ecumenical vision. It is a critique of the best and worst of sectarian exclusivism. And it chronicles the often uncharted path from a sectarian movement to the platform of a world class educational institution—Notre Dame—while yet maintaining loose ties to sectarian roots specially the Sabbath—less as a doctrine to be defended but as an experience seen as a “boon to humanity”. The result is an eclectic but broad religious vision that is able to hold in tension and integrate opposite traditions into a synthesis of meaning and accommodation that finds its ultimate expression in a meaning led life. A remarkable story of courage, honesty, intellectual risk that embraces a journey of faith beyond proposition to real life experience characterized by love, justice and peace.
Edwin I. Hernandez, Ph.D.
Research Fellow at the Center for the Study of Latino Religion, at the University of Notre Dame
Senior Program Officer at the DeVos Family Foundations
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