does Genesis contradict itself?

Question

Genesis 1:27:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 2:22:

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man

when was she created? on the sixth day, or later on when adam was lonely?

Answer 1

Read Genesis 1:27 again and it is very easy to tell that both male and female were created on the 6th day. There is no contradiction here between Chapter 1:27 and 2:22. The first chapter is an account of creation and the order in which everything was created. The 2nd chapter goes further into detail of exactly how they were made, particularly the woman, about the institution of marriage and sex between husband and wife only.
So on the 6th day, after the beasts of the field etc were created, then the animals were brought to Adam to name. There was obviously no suitable companion to be found in the animal world for Adam so the Lord God made Eve. You can look for a contradiction in the Bible until you're blue in the face but you will never find one. What some think is contradiction is merely a failure to understand the Bible and its Author

Answer 2

No... the Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 account of creation do not contradict each other.

The emphasis of Genesis 1: 27 is:

1) "adam" (generic term for humanity) was created in God's image and that humanity was the pinnacle or high point of God's creative activity. God created the human race in His own image, thus giving them a place of honor as His vice-regents on Earth.
Human beings, as God’s representatives and image-bearers on Earth are to take benevolent governorship of the Earth and care for its subhuman inhabitants

2) the emphasis or point of the Genesis 2: 22 account of the woman's creation from the man's rib is that woman is made of the self-same stuff as the man - that the woman was of the same essence and nature as he (2:22,23) and that they were partners in a relationship of corresponding mutuality, harmony and unity (2:24). This "Adam" immediately recognized, saying of the woman: "this is bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh." Humanity is One.

Answer 3

God created both man and woman. It was just later that He created Eve fronm Adam because Adam was lonely. They were both created on the sixth day. So the Word of God is not contradicting itself.

Answer 4

Genesis needs to be read metaphorically to make the most sense. When read as a history book is contradictory like you say. You notice that the name of God also changes in the second chapter. It is now LORD God, not just God. It is the LORD God that formed "man" from dust. God made man from only saying "let us". Also, notice the two separate words used in "creating", make verses formed.
make=bring forth
formed=squeeze into shape like a potter would do.

So I see it as the first chapter is a creation of spiritual type and the when the name changed to LORD God the creation turns more physical in nature. But again the second and third chapters are very allegorical and the whole story can be seen as a process to which man (male and female) from chapter one who is spiritual, becomes the man (male and female) who is physical and very carnal.

But also notice that Adam (man) was THEIR name.
Gen.5
[1] This is the book of the generations of Adam. ...
[2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

So we ALWAYS have to remember that the original man was BOTH male and female, and this message has to remain in our minds if we are to understand the whole bible. The "female" part of man can represent our souls, and the "male" part can represent our spirit, which is Christ (bridegroom). The whole bible deals with mankind and how "she" will turn away from her adulterous ways, and return to her true "husband".

Answer 5

The word "day" (especially in its original language of Hebrew) meant time period - unspecified. It didn't mean 24-hour period. Considering the "sixth day" could mean sixth era, who's to say how long an era is?, it would be very easy for Eve to have been created during the sixth era when Adam was lonely.

If you focus on the details, especially those that are hard to pin down, you miss the point of the whole story. If you focus on the how, you miss the why.

Answer 6

How about BOTH?
Eve was made from Adam's rib on the sixth day.
(And philosophically, the rib she was made from was created on the sixth day.)

No contradiction at all.

Answer 7

The Bible contradicts itself all the time.