Few people realize that the first character in the Bible (after the headline sentence of Genesis 1.1) is Earth. What if we read the creation story and the primal myths of Genesis from the perspective of that key character, rather than from the anthropocentric perspective in which our culture has nurtured us? This is the project of Norman Habel's commentary, resisting the long history in Western culture of devaluing, exploiting, oppressing and endangering the Earth. Earth in Genesis first appears wrapped in the primal waters, like an embryo waiting to be born. On the third day of creation it is actually born and comes into existence with its green vegetation as a habitat for life of all kinds. It is hardly a moment before Earth is damaged by human sin and suffers a divine curse, and then must cry out for justice for the blood of Abel it has been compelled to drink. It is an even greater curse when Earth, together with almost all life on Earth, comes near to total annihilation at the Flood. Has Earth brought this fate upon itself, or is it the innocent victim of human wrongdoing? Genesis has God regretting the threat to Earth and its children that the Flood has brought, and vowing to green Earth again, remove the curse, restore the seasons and make a personal covenant of assurance with Earth and its creatures. The ecological approach of this commentary was first developed in the five-volume multi-authored series, The Earth Bible (2000-2002). In The Earth Bible Commentary, of which this is the first volume, a group of scholars dedicated to the re-valuing of Earth pursue these themes in their commentaries on the books of the Bible. Other volumes in preparation are: Deuteronomy, Ruth, Job, Psalms Book 2, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah 1-39, Joel, Matthew, Luke, Colossians, Revelation. The Earth Bible logo was created by Jasmine Corowa, an Indigenous Australian

This volume of essays explores the significance of water and the current ecological crisis and examines this from both scientific and theological insights. It also examines the relevance of key biblical passages relating to water as a positive and a negative force. Contributors to this volume come from Australia, South Africa and the USA and a variety of disciplines. The cover design is an indigenous Australian artists depiction of the biblical theme of the Transfiguration in terms of local water traditions of life and death cycles of the lotus flower. (ATF Press 2011)

The Bible is an inconvenient text. There are passages that are 'grey' rather than 'green'. These passages depict God or humans destroying or devaluing parts of creation. What if we dare to read these 'grey texts' from the perspective of the victims - Earth and the domains of Earth? How then would we relate to these de-valued parts of creation? And, how does this Gospel contribute to resolving this dilemma? Norm Habel has taught Old Tesatment in Australia, the USA and India. He has written major commentaries on the Book of Job and is editor of the Sheffield Press' Earth Bible Series.