Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 81:2 (Fall 2019)
Article: Divine Sovereignty Vs. Human Responsibility: Nuancing Kaminski’s "Was Noah Good?"
Author: Thomas A. Keiser

WTJ 81:2 (Fall 2019) p. 195

Divine Sovereignty Vs. Human Responsibility: Nuancing Kaminski’s Was Noah Good?

Thomas A. Keiser

Thomas A. Keiser is a professor and department chair of the Department of Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry at Regent University’s College of Arts and Sciences, Virginia Beach, VA.

In her recent monograph, Was Noah Good? Finding Favor in the Flood Narrative, Carol Kaminski uses a close reading and literary analysis of the biblical text to argue that Noah’s finding favor was not due to his piety, but rather to God’s gracious and unmerited action. The present article seeks to enhance and develop Kaminski’s original study.

Using the same method of close reading and literary analysis, this study discusses additional features of the text. It argues that Kaminski’s thesis is valid, but only presents one side of a two-sided coin. When read structurally, the Gen 6 passage does, in fact, draw a clear separation between Noah finding favor and his righteousness. However, when read narratively, the portrayal is of a close connection between the two issues. Both the structural and narratival reading of the text are justified by numerous literary features. Thus, through literary devices and structure, the author intentionally creates a tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. However, the issue is not left there. Additional features of the text present that tension as a mystery, the resolution of which lies hidden in the heart of God.

This literary-theological presentation in the early chapters of Genesis is significant in that, as the first time in Scripture that we are introduced to the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, it is presented as a mystery whose resolution is hidden in the heart of God.

Introduction

In her recent monograph Was Noah Good? Finding Favour in the Flood Narrative, Carol Kaminski uses a close reading and literary analysis of the biblical text to argue that Noah’s finding favor with God was not due to his piety, but rather to God’s gracious and unmerited action.1

WTJ 81:2 (Fall 2019) p. 196

Reviews of Kaminski’s book share similarities in their assessments.2 Although there is unanimous recognition of her careful literary study of the text, each reviewer expresses concern when she transitions from literary analysis to the more theological discussions regarding the nuances of “finding favor” and “righteousness.” These concerns seem to share the following two commonalities: (1) the methodology moves from...