Reviews of 

Discovering Christ in Genesis

A Review by Peace and Truth

The Online Magazine of Sovereign Grace Union

http://www.sgunion.fsnet.co.uk/pubs/pt/pt1-03.htm

Discovering Christ in Genesis by Don Fortner. 352pp. Pbk. £11.95.

How refreshing to find a modern author who believes that the great purpose of Holy Scripture is to set forth the Person and Work of the Son of God as the sinner's Substitute. This book, however, is not a study in the Christology of Genesis. Rather, it seeks to draw out parallels between people, objects and events in Genesis and the Lord Jesus Christ. The parallel between the old creation and the new birth is justified by New Testament teaching itself, but the author is somewhat fanciful in seeing (for example) the green of Noah's rainbow as a symbol of peace [Did he get the idea from the Green Peace movement?] and the pitch of the ark as a type of the blood of Christ. Even the great Augustine indulged in similar speculations. Certainly, while looking for Christ where He is not may be a better employment than not seeing Him where He is, still we prefer strict exegesis to enthusiastic allegorizing. Other criticisms are also valid: Dr Fortner is crassly Antinomian when he states (p 71) that 'Believers are not under the law, in any sense whatsoever.' The New Testament itself teaches otherwise. [See Romans 3.31 and Ephesians 6.1-3, to mention no others.] Also, the hymn fragment quoted on page 84 is very bad theology. We are not as near to God as Christ is, and we are not as holy as Christ! Furthermore, the Covenant of Grace was not made only with Christ, as Dr Fortner claims. 2 Corinthians 6.17-18 and Hebrews 8.8-13 alone dispel this notion. Sadly, the Hyper-Calvinist error of eternal justification (see p182) also mars the whole presentation. Romans 8.28-30 does not teach that "God's elect are...justified from eternity."

Having said that, we are happy to see a strong denial of the Arminian error that Abraham's faith (and not Christ's righteousness which his faith embraced) was imputed to him, and to see very edifying teaching on the grace of God showed to Noah through Christ, on Abel trusting in the blood of Christ alone for salvation, on Enoch walking with God by faith in Christ, on Melchizedek as a type of Christ, on Sarah and Hagar typifying the covenants of grace and works respectively, on Judah as surety for Benjamin typifying Christ's surety-ship for His brethren, and on the patriarchs (especially Joseph) seeing the glory of Christ, their only hope. Truly 'the Spirit of God always points us to Christ.'(p 312) Besides these commendable features, all the great doctrines of the Bible are faithfully taught: election, ruin by the Fall, redemption by blood, regeneration, judgment and the sovereignty of God.

Despite the author's laudable aim, however, we need to read such men as Sibbes and Rutherford to 'savour the sweet aroma' of Christ which he desires for his readers.

A Review by 

Sonia Hill

New Focus

December/January 2003

Don Fortner's Discovering Christ in Genesis is a lengthy treatment of typology in the first book of the Bible. All 352 pages are packed with thought-provoking paragraphs much in the style of A W Pink, who is quoted extensively. I would surmise that Don Fortner is a happier man than Pink was! This shines through the pages of his very positive book. Nevertheless, Pink was a great influence here.

There are several points in the book that I, personally, do not agree with, but these things do not detract from the overall quality of the work, which is well worth a careful study. The great question is faithfully established: Christ the preincarnate Son of God, our own Lord Jesus Christ, is to be found in the pages of the very first book of the Bible. This I write, even though I believe one does need to exercise caution in the use of typology and beware that 'spiritualising' is not over indulged. I would, therefore, question the relevant notes in Chapter 24, at the end of the book, on page 351.

I do take issue with Mr Fortner over his exposition of Genesis 1:2, where the interpretation occurs of the words 'the earth was without form and void'. I do not accept the Gap Theory. This view supposes that God is held up in His creation work by the satanic destruction of His original earth. I believe this was merely a process belonging to the steps in creation. To accept the Gap Theory as true, is surely to question the absolute sovereignty of God. There are also some unusual suggestions, for example, when Adam is thought, possibly to have had a very large family indeed (not recorded in Scripture), resulting in thousands of grandchildren.

On the whole, Mr Fortner's exposition is closely argued and detailed. There are some glorious thoughts expressed about our Lord Himself and about the Church, election, and the Doctrines of Grace. There is much thought-provoking material, for instance, Adam, and Enoch too, teaching their children the Gospel. Of course, one would need to consider quite what is meant by such a statement.

Mr Fortner's motivation in writing this book is clearly his own devotion to God and his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. He has eminently succeeded in what he wanted to do.

Sonia Hill