Genesis and Ancient Near East Documents

Just the other day I was having a discussion with Grandpa, Aunt Lily, and especially Uncle Hermeneutics about understanding Ancient Near East (ANE) documents. Hermie says that knowledge of the culture is interesting and possibly helpful, but not to degrade Genesis as just another historical narrative.

John Walton has an elitist Gnostic version of hermeneutics. This evolutionary owlhoot is not content to use a proper approach to the subject, but interprets Genesis according to ANE documents. He is degrading the written Word of God.

Illustration by Sidney Paget used in "The Adventure of Black Peter", 1904

We are to study the Bible in the proper context, which includes all of Scripture. Interpreting through the lens of ANE texts is convenient for Darwinists and theistic evolution compromisers; it helps them deny the Bible's authority and inerrancy. There are several important reasons we must reject views of Walton and others of his ilk.

How did the universe come into existence? How has the world developed since the beginning? What is mankind and how are we related to the rest of creation? Thinking people in every culture and every generation have asked these questions. Genesis 1–11 gives what appears to be a straightforward historical account of the origin and early history of the creation.

To read the rest of this extremely informative article, see "Reading Genesis: ANE Hermeneutic vs. Plain Meaning". Also of interest are "Walton's Cosmic Temple Is a House of Cards" and "The Lost World of Walton".