A one-volume commentary, written and edited by South Asian Biblical scholars on all the books of the Bible.
For the purposes of this commentary "South Asia" was defined as the SAARC countries, namely India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan and the Maldives.
The contributing scholars from these countries—addressing these countries' specific concerns—have adopted the following key principles:
- Integrity: Articles are written within the confines of the Lausanne Covenant and all contributions are in line with and support the confessional direction of the Lausanne Covenant.
- Interpretation: The commentary offers readers a contextual and readable guide, interpreting the biblical text section by section rather than delving too deeply into critical and exegetical details.
- South Asian: All authors are scholars writing from within their own contexts for the people of South Asia.
The focus of this commentary is three-fold: exegetical, contextual, and applied. Articles explain the meaning of the text, relate that meaning to the context, and apply it to wider life and ministry.
Understanding what the Bible teaches book by book.
The following features are specifically designed to help you as you study each book of the Bible: Introduction to each book sketches the context and main themes of the book and its relevance to South Asia.
- Outline shows the structure of the book and can help to identify preaching topics.
- Subheadings break the book up into manageable portions.
- Bold references highlight verses being discussed and help you find your place quickly.
- Italics identify quoted verses being discussed at that point in the commentary.
- Applications are built into the text in many places.
- Further reading: each of the authors suggest other commentaries you could consult.
South Asia Bible Commentary
A One-Volume Commentary on the Whole Bible
By Brian Wintle, Havilah Dharamraj, Jesudason Baskar Jeyaraj, Paul Swarup, Jacob Cherian, Finny PhilipZONDERVAN
Copyright © 2015 SABC Editorial Board
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-28686-8Contents
Foreword by Chris Wright, v,
Foreword by Ajith Fernando, v,
General Introduction, vi,
Acknowledgements, vii,
Guidelines for Using the South Asia Bible Commentary viii,
Abbreviations, ix,
Contributors, x,
COMMENTARIES,
Old Testament,
Genesis Jesudason Baskar Jeyaraj, 11,
Exodus P. G. George and Paul Swarup, 75,
Leviticus Alexi E. George, 135,
Numbers Abraham Saggu, 171,
Deuteronomy Ajith Fernando, 205,
Joshua K. Jesurathnam, 263,
Judges Havilah Dharamraj, 295,
Ruth Santha Kumari Mondithoka, 331,
1 Samuel Angukali Rotokha, 339,
2 Samuel Jerald Mall, 373,
1 Kings Havilah Dharamraj, 405,
2 Kings Havilah Dharamraj, 444,
1 Chronicles Havilah Dharamraj, 477,
2 Chronicles Havilah Dharamraj, 500,
Ezra Augustine Pagolu, 539,
Nehemiah Augustine Pagolu, 553,
Esther David Clarence, 567,
Job Naveen Rao, 579,
Psalms Augustine Pagolu, Jesudason Baskar Jeyaraj, Eliya Mohol, David Clarence, Ajoy Kumar Lama, 614,
Proverbs Paul Swarup, 769,
Ecclesiastes K. B. Georgekutty, 809,
Song of Songs Benson Oommen, 821,
Isaiah Paulson Pulikottil, 833,
Jeremiah Paul Swarup, 925,
Lamentations Paul Swarup, 1019,
Ezekiel Eliya Mohol, 1031,
Daniel Angukali Rotokha, 1083,
Hosea Santosh Varghese, 1115,
Joel Joel Joseph, 1129,
Amos Ivor Poobalan, 1137,
Obadiah Jesudason Baskar Jeyaraj, 1152,
Jonah Jesudason Baskar Jeyaraj, 1156,
Micah Blessen Mathew Sam, 1161,
Nahum Solomon Kumar, 1172,
Habakkuk K. G. Jose, 1176,
Zephaniah Augustin Gnanachezhian, 1181,
Haggai Ashkenaz Asif Khan, 1186,
Zechariah Solomon Kumar, 1192,
Malachi Earnest Nadeem, 1205,
New Testament,
Matthew Brian Wintle, 1219,
Mark Dexter Maben, 1285,
Luke Takatemjen, 1327,
John Pratap C. Gine and Jacob Cherian, 1386,
Acts Babu Immanuel Venkataraman, 1451,
Romans Ramesh Khatry, 1511,
1 Corinthians Finny Philip, 1555,
2 Corinthians Jacob Cherian, 1585,
Galatians Finny Philip, 1615,
Ephesians Idicheria Ninan, 1631,
Philippians Brian Wintle, 1648,
Colossians Sanyu Iralu, 1660,
1 Thessalonians Jacob Cherian, 1669,
2 Thessalonians Jacob Cherian, 1677,
1 Timothy Paul Cornelius, 1682,
2 Timothy Paul Cornelius, 1693,
Titus Paul Cornelius, 1701,
Philemon Sanyu Iralu, 1705,
Hebrews B. Varghese, 1708,
James Arthur James, 1732,
1 Peter Chris Gnanakan, 1741,
2 Peter Chris Gnanakan, 1749,
1 John Ramylal Fernando, 1753,
2 John Merlin Jones, 1762,
3 John Merlin Jones, 1764,
Jude Merlin Jones, 1766,
Revelation Ramesh Khatry, 1769,
CHAPTER 1
GENESIS
The word "genesis" means "beginning". The book of Genesis records God's first revelations to the Israelite community, beginning with an account of the creation of the world and everything in it. It lays the foundation on which our knowledge of God and his plan of salvation is built. This information is communicated with beauty and versatility using various literary forms including stories, genealogies, reports, poetry and metaphors.
Authorship
For centuries Jews and Christians have believed that Moses wrote Genesis as well as the other four books that together make up the Pentateuch. He lived many centuries after the events described, but wrote about them drawing on divine revelation as well as on stories that had been kept alive in the conversations and traditions of the Israelite community.
Interpretation
The book of Genesis can be interpreted from numerous perspectives. Some interpret it literally, while others look at it from a spiritual perspective. Some delve into it to find historical information; others use its material to help them understand the impact of religion on culture. Those interested in the society of ancient Israel use Genesis to study the relationships between families and tribes. Those interested in literature focus on its literary genres and on how these communicate the stories of the people. Others are fascinated by the ideas in the book, including the idea of God's choice of some people and the covenants he made with them. Others investigate the world view of the ancestors of Israel. Feminists refer to Genesis to promote gender equality, while environmentalists glean messages about protecting nature and the environment. Missiologists refer to the stories of the fall and the call of Abraham to explain the foundations of mission.
Each of these approaches has something to contribute. Thus this commentary draws on insights from a wide variety of sources, adding our South Asian perspective to theirs to enrich our efforts. But above all, this commentary is informed by the words of Moses, who reminded his fellow Israelites that these accounts of "former days, long before your time" were revealed so that they "might know that the Lord is God" (Deut 4:32-40). We must never forget that great truth as we embark on the study of Genesis.
We also need to remember that Genesis does not set out to provide answers to all the questions we have today. We are not told everything we might want to know about the creation; the genealogical lists are not as complete as we might like; the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph leave us wondering what else happened. But while God has not provided all the information we want, he has given us all we need to grasp the main truths that the sovereign God created the world and that he is working out his plan of salvation for humanity.
Theological Themes
Genesis is theological history in narrative form. It provides God's perspective on creation and the fall and traces the beginnings of his plan of redemption. It addresses so many themes that it would be impossible to explore them all in this commentary. In Genesis we gain insight into God's purposes as we explore creation and the care of the environment and become aware of sin and forgiveness, of election and covenant, and blessing and prosperity. The book also has much to teach about justice, judgement and grace. It explains how God's promises began to be fulfilled, explaining how he gave children to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so that their offspring could become a large community in the land he promised to give them. The rest of the Bible will show how his promise continues to be fulfilled as the covenant community becomes the instrument of salvation for humanity.
Genesis also covers practical issues such as work and slavery, the making of covenants, land ownership and the resolution of conflicts, resources for a growing population, the image of God and gender equality, the defence of kith and kin, and the administration of a nation.
Relevance to South Asia
Genesis still speaks to us today. We, like the Israelites of old, have to acknowledge anew that "the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below" and that "there is no other" (Deut 4:39). We also have to consider what Genesis has to say about our ethics. Are our attitudes towards creation, the environment, stewardship, labour, power,...
