Commentaries on Genesis 1-3 by Severain of Gabala and Bede the Venerable from Intervaristy Press is part of their Ancient Christian Texts series. This edition, focusing on the Hexameron- the Six Days of Creation, is the English translation of Severian of Gabala’s In Cosmogoniam and Book 1 of Bede the Venerable’s Libri Quatuor in Principium Genesis.
Severian was an early fifth-century bishop in Syria. He is very dramatic in his writing style and he tends to over explain dramatically. Severain refers to the writings of Chrysostom when dealing with Creation and the Fall. Severain does warn against interpreting the Creation of Man as anthropomorphic. In other words, God does not literally have hands and feet, but created man in His spiritual image.
Bede the Venerable was a scholar from Anglo-Saxon England. Bede’s method of interpretation consists of two senses, the literal and the spiritual. He deals with history and the sciences of geography, geology and astronomy, but his method of interpretation is to look at how the text teaches about Jesus and the Church.
Intervarsity Press has provided another excellent translation of ancient Christian texts into English. A look at the thoughts of early writers gives us a better understanding of how doctrine and traditions have developed over the years. I recommend Commentaries on Genesis 1-3 by Severain of Gabala and Bede the Venerable as well as all Ancient Christian Text editions.
My thanks to Intervarsity Press for this free review copy. I was not required to give a positive review- only an honest review.