Verse by Verse
A Daily Devotional Through the Whole Bible: Volume 1
Verse by Verse: Volume One is a sprawling, inventive work of spiritual commentary and biblical interpretation.
Benjamin McGreevy’s exegetical book Verse by Verse: Volume One analyzes the first eleven chapters of Genesis, one verse at a time.
A work of spiritual commentary and interpretation, the book begins by arguing that all lines of scripture are of equal value. Moving one or two sentences at a time, it blends theological investigations with interpretative leaps and metaphors, as well as occasional engagement with scientific ideas. In one instance, the breadth of the universe asserted by modern astronomy is described as an example of God’s absolute power and awe-inspiring nature, with the book asserting that Genesis treats the creation of the stars with a single sentence. For every two verses and the corresponding reflections, space is set aside for audience responses, too.
The book’s structure is consistent and focused on devotional accessibility. Its cadence emphasizes its underlying ideas about faith, trust in a higher power, and the patience required to develop a meaningful spiritual practice. Still, this lack of variation limits the book’s compatibility with extended engagement. Further, some points feel belabored: The book’s chapters correspond to those of Genesis, and many approach one hundred pages, with few landmarks or textual breaks.
Indeed, the book’s reflections on each verse are complex and wide-ranging. Simple descriptions of what a certain metaphor or dense biblical passage might mean—for instance, lengthy lists of names and genealogies—are combined with associative leaps, as when Cain’s life after killing Abel is likened to the lives of contemporary celebrities Freddie Mercury and Robin Williams, who both spoke about loneliness. Such underexplored references and provocative connections abound—attempts to creatively map out ways of applying religious ideas to everyday challenges and struggles that land with varying levels of success.
In the end, the book’s delivery does not quite match its ambition, though. Its reflections are often dense; some repeat heady ideas, as about “relationality” and the concept of God as a “relational God,” without sufficient expansion upon them. There are also digressions to discuss the importance of other books in the Bible—subjects that are not within this book’s pronounced scope. The Book of John receives particular attention. Such deviations complicate the book’s singular reflections on Genesis, leaving the impression that a single verse cannot be interpreted and responded to without outside knowledge and further reading.
A mammoth work of biblical exegesis, Verse by Verse: Volume One proceeds step by step through the first eleven chapters of Genesis.
Reviewed by
Willem Marx
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
