Book Review: Creation to Babel (A Commentary for Families) by Ken Ham
I’ve listened to Ken Ham’s teachings both live and online. I’ve met him in person. I’ve been to the Ark Encounter. And my wife and I have been teaching Answers in Genesis Sunday School curriculum to fifth and sixth graders for over five years now. So, as one who is not only thoroughly acquainted with the AiG ministry, but also thoroughly impressed, you can imagine my excitement when learning that Ken was going to be releasing a commentary on Genesis 1-11. My guess was that this could be a staple resource I’d be able to recommend for a long time to come. Having now received and worked my way through a promotional copy of this new book, entitled Creation to Babel: A Commentary for Families, I can say that my guess was correct.
The Book’s Layout
From a physical standpoint, the book is a generously-sized 7”x9” paperback, with a very readable text size and a number of full-page color illustrations (one at the start of each chapter as well as various scattered throughout), coming in at 288 pages total. It’s also available in a downloadable e-book format (both PDF and ePub 3 Fixed Layout).
In terms of the layout, it’s divided into an Introduction, 18 Chapters, and 4 Appendices as follows:
Introduction
1. Day One
2. Day Two
3. Day Three
4. Day Four
5. Day Five
6. Day Six - Part 1
7. Day Six - Part 2
8. Genesis 2
9. Genesis 3
10. Genesis 4
11. Genesis 5
12. Genesis 6
13. Genesis 7
14. Genesis 8
15. Genesis 9
16. Genesis 10
17. Genesis 11
18. A Tribute
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Aside from the days of creation which are given their own individual attention, each chapter of the book of Genesis is given a corresponding chapter in the commentary. Most chapters come in at around 10 pages, with the exception of Day 1 of creation, which comes in at a whopping 32 pages (and understandably so!). Each chapter begins with a full-page color illustration, the first verse or verses under consideration, and introductory comments. Following that, Ken then explains the passage, both raises and responds to common objections or questions (both theological and scientific, where needed), and then applies the passage to the reader—with each of these three components in their own individual sections. Each section is set apart nicely in the text with a header explaining the issue under consideration. For example, some of the section headings for Genesis 1 include “The Very Word of God,” “But Why 6,000 Years?”, “A Gap of Time?”, and “Where Does a Week Come From?” Section headings for Genesis 2 include “Man of the Dust,” “A Special Garden,” “The Doctrine of Work,” and “The Origin of Marriage.” After finishing his threefold pattern of explanation, refutation, and application of a set of verses, Ken then continues into the next verse or verses in the chapter following this same format. In this way, no verse is left out of consideration.
In his own words, Ken describes the intent as follows:
This is a unique commentary. We are going to look in detail at the first 11 chapters of Genesis. I will explain what we read in the text, answer many of the most-asked questions people have about these passages, and deal with many of the objections some have. I also want to apply what we learn to our personal lives in the increasingly dark culture we live in.[1]
The Book’s Content
This is not a technical commentary in the traditional sense; it is more devotional in nature. At the same time, it does provide important scholarly information when vital for the discussion. For example, it doesn’t list pages of academic insight regarding grammar and syntax—but it does explain how Hebrew verb tenses impact our understanding of Genesis 2:18-20. It doesn’t analyze the semantic domains of each and every Hebrew word—except where a critical point needs to be made, such as with the word yom (“day”) or ammah (“cubit”). It doesn’t analyze the accuracy of extrabiblical documentation—though it does, for example, consider how The Works of Josephus influences many people’s understanding of the Tower of Babel.
All in all, it should be said that the proportion of devotional to technical material is a feature, not a flaw.
That’s because by providing a condensed and non-academic, devotional-style format, it fulfills its intended purpose: equipping families. It’s designed for kids who need foundational answers. It’s designed for moms discipling their children throughout the day. It’s designed for dads leading their families in worship and Bible time at the dinner table. As Ken says, “It's really unique. It's a commentary—it's a verse-by-verse commentary—but it's a family commentary. It covers theological aspects, and also scientific aspects, and devotional aspects, and it's written at a level that the family can sit down and enjoy verse by verse through Genesis 1-11.”[2]
With that in mind, what I most appreciate about the conversational nature of this commentary is that it allows readers to interact with the foundational matters of Genesis naturally, as the matters arise while working through the text. Undoubtedly, Ken could have just put together a book with dozens of questions and answers. And in fact, his website www.answersingenesis.org as well as a number of other books (such as The New Answers Book series) do just that—provide straightforward lists of direct answers to quick questions. But in this commentary, challenges to Genesis can be organically raised and rejected in the course of studying Scripture. Hence, with a more devotional format, Ken is able to walk the reader through a passage that brings about a particular objection, explain the logical thought process behind asking and answering it, and set forth the biblical answer accompanied by supporting Scripture (and scientific discovery as appropriate). In my opinion, this provides far more benefit than just a direct question and answer format because it helps shape how we derive our answers, rather than just providing the answer itself. It equips parents to teach their kids not only what Christians should think, but how Christians should think—all in the course of verse-by-verse discipleship.
Secondly, I cannot overstate my appreciation for the connections to Christ throughout this book. As the only mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5), and the one of whom Scripture testifies (cf. John 5:39), it is absolutely vital that parents preach Christ to their children from every book of the Bible (cf. 1 Cor. 2:2). And that includes from Genesis. This is obviously not to say that we don’t exalt God the Father or God the Spirit in the course of our instruction. On the contrary, we must. At the same time, Scripture is clear that no one comes to the Father but through the Son (cf. John 14:6). Thus, it is of primary importance that we point our children to Christ as the One through whom we they might be reconciled to God. To that end, this commentary makes a point of doing just that when and where it is textually legitimate, and in a number of ways.
For example, in Chapter 2, which covers Genesis 1:6-8, Ham discusses the “expanse” created by God, followed by a theological explanation of the uses of that word, and then by a brief scientific refutation of evolutionary theory as it relates to planetary atmospheres. But before moving on, he provides a brief paragraph entitled “He’s Coming in the Air” which raises the point of Jesus returning—in the very air He created—to rescue His bride (the church) and bring to heaven all who love and serve Him.[3] Here, then, is an example of a thematic connection to Christ that leverages the creation account to get there.
In another example, from Chapter 3, Ham explains the way in which the seas were created by God, followed again by both a theological explanation and scientific defense against evolutionary theory regarding saltwater, and culminating with a biblical connection to Christ based on Mark 4:39-41. Just as God spoke the seas into existence, Christ spoke to the Sea of Galilee and commanded it to be still—in order to demonstrate that He is, in fact, God incarnate. Recognizing who Jesus is, the disciples asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). Ken Ham steps in to answer them, saying, “Who is this? Jesus the Creator. What did the Creator do when He looked at the storm? He spoke. What did the sea do? The sea obeyed the voice of the Creator—it had to, because He made it.”[4] Here, Ken provides an important biblical-theological connection to Christ, again using the creation account, that might not have otherwise been evident to parents wondering how they can preach Christ from this passage of Genesis.
These kinds of Christ-exalting explanations are, to put it mildly, refreshing.
Thirdly, Ken does a great job showing just how important these opening chapters in Genesis are when it comes to contemporary issues. For example, in Chapter 17 which covers Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel, Ken talks about the origin of various cultures and has several sections talking about the issue of “race.” In one section, he says,
First, I would propose that we do away with using the term “race” when discussing groups of people in the world. The Bible is clear (and science confirms) that there’s only one race: the human race (Adam’s race). The idea of “race” is rooted in the thinking of the early evolutionists, even well before Darwin. We all need to treat every human being as our relative. We are of one blood (Acts 17:26).[5]
He goes on to expose contemporary expressions of sin as it pertains to the idea of race, explains that solving the issue of “racism” is first a matter of believing the Bible’s true account of the history of the human race. He then finishes with a section of application, saying,
The next time you see someone who looks slightly different from you, you should ask, “How can I help them? Do they need my love, my care? Do they need the Lord?” We need to treat people as the Lord did. Jesus continually reached across the invisible barriers of prejudice to love people, to care for people, and to speak truth into people’s lives… …What a difference it will make in the lives around you as you begin to think and act that way![6]
It’s been well said that the Bible is more relevant than tomorrow’s newspaper, and his commentary shows this to be true.
Finally, I appreciated the reference material folded into the commentary. Whether it’s timelines of Adam’s descendants and days of the Flood, or charts of ancient units of measure and the Table of Nations, or quotations from some of the greats of church history like John Calvin and Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the commentary provides a helpful—but not overwhelming—amount of additional information when and where it’s useful to understanding the text.
The Book’s Importance
Expository Parenting Ministries is committed to equipping and encouraging parents to disciple their children verse by verse through the full counsel of God’s Word, and the most important (and obvious) place to begin that vital work is with the book of Genesis. At the same time, parents who are just beginning to disciple their children are usually the ones who feel the most uncomfortable and least prepared to do so. Thus, what these parents need most is an accessible commentary on Genesis. For Ken Ham’s commentary to be clear, straightforward, readable, apologetics-based, and committed to the literal interpretation of the most fundamental book in the Bible means it will meet parents right where they’re at and get them started on a journey through Scripture with their children in a way that will immediately encourage and equip them.
For that reason, I cannot stress enough how pleased I am to recommend this commentary to all parents. Let me put it this way: if you were to ask me how and where to begin discipling your children verse by verse, I would say, “Start in Genesis, and get Ken Ham’s commentary.”
A generous preview of this commentary—the first 41 pages (all of Chapter 1)—can be viewed at the publisher's website: https://www.masterbooks.com/amfile/file/download/file/1157/product/4188
The book is available for purchase from Answers in Genesis here: https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/creation-babel
The book is also available for purchase from Master Books here: https://www.masterbooks.com/creation-to-babel
References:
[1] Ken Ham, Creation to Babel: A Commentary for Families (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2021), 7.
[2] https://www.facebook.com/aigkenham/videos/6688106237866963
[3] Ken Ham, Creation to Babel: A Commentary for Families (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2021), 47
[4] Ibid., 55.
[5] Ibid., 234-235.
[6] Ibid., 236-237