I AM GRATEFUL to a number of friends, students, colleagues and even family members who have read parts of the manuscript and made suggestions. There were times when I wondered if my colleagues at Moody would begin avoiding me since I was always on the prowl for responses, or illustrations and anecdotes. But they were always gracious and often provided helpful information. These include Jon Laansma, Andrew Schmutzer, Michael McDuffee, Michael VanLaningham, Michael Wechsler, William Marty, Tom Cornman, and Gregg Quiggle. Besides all of these faculty colleagues, two former students, Emily Haluska and Mark Mitten, read sections and offered helpful feedback.
There were additional occasions on which I sought out “professional help” from experts in fields on which the commentary had to encroach. In this regard I am grateful to Professor Howard Van Till and my pastor, Rev. Bruce Eberline, for their ready assistance.
As is always the case, editors prove invaluable, and I want to express my gratitude to those who have guided me through this process. The list includes prominently Dr. Robert Hubbard and the general editor, Dr. Terry Muck, as well as Dr. Tremper Longman and Zondervan’s in-house editors, Jack Kuhatschek and Verlyn Verbrugge.
There was many a day that I came home from the office bursting with what I had been working on all day. Thus Genesis often overflowed all over our dinner table. My wife, Kim, read countless drafts of countless chapters and always had important insights into revisions that could enhance the work. Likewise, it was not unusual for my kids—Jon, Josh, and Jill—to become involved in the conversation and contribute productively to it. I am especially thankful for numerous dog-walks during which Jon and I would discuss some of the important issues of the text. One never ceases to wonder at the clear-sighted perspective that teens can bring to a discussion.
Finally, there are two people who have gone far beyond the calls of duty and friendship. Jim Dykema, a seminary-trained layperson in our church, read every chapter and helped me to see what communicated and what did not. His awareness of scholarship coupled with his sensitivity to the person in the pew combined to provide me the opportunity to fine-tune the material to the audience I have tried to reach.
I have saved for last my colleague at Moody, Dr. Rosalie deRosset. Her knowledge and expertise in literature on many occasions gave me the leads I needed to put together the Contemporary Significance section. The attentive reader will see her footnoted a number of times throughout the text, but these meager footnotes do not begin to do justice to the sheer volume of ideas she provided. The Contemporary Significance section of the commentary forced me to read far more broadly than is my habit. It was Dr. deRosset’s guidance that assured my reading would be productive. She has my enduring gratitude and admiration.