In the Beginning: Listening to Genesis 1 and 2, Cornelis VanDam. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2021. 371 pages. Hardback. $23.00.

In only a few years Reformation Heritage has published two significant books on the subject of Genesis. First came William Van Doodeward’s The Quest for the Historical Adam. Now, we have this gem by Cornelis VanDam. This volume is much needed in the churches because of the increasing attempts to do away with the historical nature of God’s revelation concerning the beginning of the universe. More and more so-called scholars (my designation; the author, gentleman that he is, says “fellow conservative Christians who wish to honor the claims of Scripture but do not accept the plain sense of . . . an accurate recounting of real historical events,” 9) opt for various ways of explaining Genesis 1 and 2. Some are sympathetic to Bio Logos.

Our author emphasizes the need of faith if we are to approach Scripture. He quotes Anselm of Canterbury: “I do not seek to understand that I may believe; but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe,—that unless I believed, I should not understand.” In addition, he lays down some important principles for working in the opening portion of Genesis. He also writes about the uses of extra-biblical evidence and science in interpreting these opening verses of revelation.

Following this introductory material, Dr. VanDam begins a careful study of the various terms and words in Genesis 1:1–2:3: “in the beginning,” “days” of creation, “create,” and so on. Up-to-date ideas, like the framework theory and other ways of understanding “day,” are carefully explained and critiqued. We are shown about the historicity and significance of Eden. In an appendix we are introduced to the creation of heaven and of the angels.

While a good commentary on Genesis (like the one of Calvin) is necessary, this volume is very much on the level of a good commentary.

It deals with many basic aspects of the text. Besides all this helpful material, there is a superb bibliography of forty-two pages, with well over six hundred entries. If I had one desire, it would be for a textual index.

This volume is a must for the minister’s library. Even more, every Reformed home will benefit from it since it is written for readers who want to learn, without being inundated with technical language.

Christ and His Church through the Ages, volume 1, The Ancient Church (AD 30–590), Herman Hanko. 2nd edition. Edited and revised by Dan Van Uffelan. Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2021. 244 pages. Hardback. $36.95.

This volume is just in time for use in Christian high schools this fall. The first edition was used in schools as a part of the development of this set. In the author’s preface he points out that there are many useful volumes on church history, but he was unable to find one that presented this history from a Reformed viewpoint. Professor Hanko writes that his “primary goal in writing this book was not to give the reader a huge file of facts and dates. Rather, my goal was to write for enjoyment and learning on the part of all God’s people.” Not only must our high school students learn of Christ’s church, but all of God’s people must know of God’s work in his church among those who have gone before us.

This is the first of four volumes planned by Professor Hanko. Dan Van Uffelan, a teacher at Covenant Christian High in Walker, Michigan, also worked to make this publication useful for high school students. Even though the emphasis so far has been on high school students, this volume will be helpful for the young and old at home. Some are not fans of history of any kind—maybe because dates and names bring back bad memories from their school days. This book does not inundate the reader with these details. Instead, it helps readers see what the main points of the ancient church were and what we need to know today.

There are three divisions in the history of the ancient church (AD 30–590). The apostolic period (AD 30–100) lays out the work of the apostles and the spread of the gospel into the then known world. The second section places before the reader the postapostolic period (AD 100–313). These were the years when in spite of persecution (and it was great) the church had to engage in defending the truth over against heresies that developed and which, in some forms, still are with us. The third section focuses on the Nicene and post-Nicene period (AD 313–590). Persecution finally ceased, and Constantine became emperor of Rome. Sad to say, while some of his deeds were helpful, others brought about a new emphasis on ceremony. This led in a very real sense to a deadening of the church.

This book is well-supplied with maps, charts, and pictures (although some of the pictures could be a bit larger so older people can see them better). In fact, this publication is eye-catching. All this aside, we ought not to leave this volume only to the teenagers. We should read it for our own spiritual benefit. Reading it will not be like having to plow through hardened clay. Rather, it will be an easy learning experience.

Thanks, Professor Hanko, for your work. We look forward to the next three volumes.

Jerome Julien is a retired pastor and a member of Walker United Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI.