How do you explain the two creations in Genesis?

Question

Self explainitory.

Will:
I'm not saying there is. I'm just wondering how others explain it.

For those that don't understand, There is a creation story at the beginning of Genesis and another that begins at 2:4

Sorry, that's 2:5

Answer 1

According to what I remember from my "Introduction to the Old Testament" class as an undergraduate, the second creation story is actually an older version of the same story. As we all know, the pre-history that we find in the Christian Old Testament, Torah, and Koran all come from the same oral tradition, spoken around campfires in the same region, and many are very similar. Chapter 2 in the Christian Bible is believed to be, as I said an older version of this shared history and was written down first. As the Jewish culture/history/theology evolved, it became more specific as it had to explain in more detail to the people. Thus, the more recent of the stories, ie. Chapter 1 in Genesis, is more specific. For instance, it brings into the sacred seven in the seven days of creation. I am not sure, rather I can't remember, why the newer story was just tacked on the beginning, but hopefully someone else is able to answer that. :-)

Answer 2

When Moses compiled the book of Genesis he referred to written records or “histories” that predated the Flood.

The first of these begins with Genesis 1:1 and ends at Genesis 2:4 with the words, “This is the history of the heavens and the earth . . . ”

The second historical document begins with Genesis 2:5 and ends with verse two of chapter five.

So, we have two separate accounts of creation from slightly different points of view.

Answer 3

Are you talking about the alleged "gap" between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?

If that's what you are refering to, there is only one creation. Verse 1 is the very first act of creation. There was nothing and then God created the heavens (universe) and the earth.
Verse 2 then describes earth as being empty and lacking form...just a ball covered by water.
Then He created light and the rest everything we know.

I know that there are people who teach that verse 1 is a first creation and then it was wiped out by a flood and then verse 2 kicks in with the "second creation" that we are a part of. But reading it, keeping it in context, that's not what it is saying. Before verse 1:1...there was NOTHING. God created it in verse 1 and verse 2 tells us what state it was in.

Answer 4

Many contradictions are a count of interpretation and one interpretation would produce a conflict with yet another passage. The introduction is one of those case. in case you concentration on the note "day" to be literal in its meaning -- that is, having a particular length of time -- then you definitely have a significant situation with 2 diverse money owed almost about the introduction. yet in case you cope with the note in its metaphorical meaning (something also present interior the unique Hebrew), then the theory that an afternoon isn't a particular length of time facilitates both memories to co-exist without conflict. The imaginative "classes" are called days, yet metaphorically, the note day is used as in this feeling: "on the on the spot is the _day_ of mankind." And, there is not something to point that any day is unique of the different day, that they could take position concurrently, consecutively, or maybe overlap. The "day" in which our lord god created the heavens and the earth can provide no situation because back, the metaphorical meaning has no "problematic" limits or circumstances. i have continually seen the second one account as a hallmark that the first account become non secular in nature, or, if not something else, a grand planning consultation, in which the blueprint for coming up a liveable planet in a sparkling image voltaic equipment become placed into position. And that once this one achieved, then the actual element will be ordered and the easily actual planet further into existence. for this reason, the undeniable actuality that no rain had fallen on earth is a clue that the actual had yet to take position. yet an excellent style of people do not want to placed that a lot idea into this element and want to cope with the days in a literal way, and the critics, being extremely dense, bypass accurate alongside with that pile of ----. further: actual, i'm one in all of your undesirable desires.

Answer 5

We know that many of the stories in Genesis were passed on in oral tradition. There were probably two streams of stories and the folks who recorded Genesis felt each had a truth to tell. The fact that we have two different tellings points to the diversity and imagination of the early Biblical writers. They remind us that earlier world views were not concerned with a scientific explanation, or even historical, but that they were passing on wisdom and faith.

Answer 6

Dear Kevin,

They are the same! They are from 2 different perspectives. Remember, God tests people. Just as many people have been mislead into believing there are contradictions in the Bible, so to with your point about creation. You must remeber that God is infinite in nature-His wisdom, His power. We must be very humble in approaching the Bible, because it is the words from a being that is eternal!! Can you comprehend that? God (the Lord Jesus Christ) can not make an error!! He is perfect in ALL His attributes. Man is vile and wretched at his best. Man's pride makes him shake his puny fist at God Almighty, who could crush him like a maggot. The LORD is so merciful and gracious! For more info see www.familyradio.com. I hope this will help you.

Answer 7

It's a good question. Most Biblical scholars agree that Genesis was cobbled together from several sources, and it ended up including these two completely separate creation stories.

Answer 8

They are the same story told from two different points of view. Just read them, they both agree, but tell the same story a different way with different details. That's all.

Answer 9

What you may be talking about is whats called the Gap Theory and is used to explain the existence of dinosaurs.

Answer 10

one is about the creation of earth the other is an english band created in the 80's lead by phil collins with an awesome drum solo!!!!!!!!!!! so there you have it two genesis!