How many creation stories are in the christian bible?

Answer 1

There are two stories, one names God "Elohim", the other names God "Yahweh". I have heard that in the actual hebrew text, difference between the two is even more stark. If these stories were taken literally in a chronological fashion, they would contradict each other. The Yahweh version says land before water. The Elohim version implies water before land. The Yahweh version seems to have a more humanistic narrative while the Elohim version is more about exact catagories. I think the "seven days" of the Elohist creation are catagories and are used to make certain points.

Example is the "fourth day", it makes the point that the Sun and the Moon are just objects, they are not gods to be worshipped like other peoples did in the Bronze Age. Here is the passage from the "The New Jerusalem Bible": "Genesis 1:14-19 God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth.' And so it was. God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern teh night, and the stars. God set them in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth, to govern the day and the night and to divide light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the fourth day." The sixth day described land animal life including the human animal. It also states that God created humans BOTH male and female. The Yahwist version says male first, then female from male (probably implying WHY the human male is dominant, it doesn't say HOW). The English versions refer to the Human Ape as created in God's Image and Likeness. Does that mean God looks like a super duper ape? Nope. Because the original Hebrew word (yes, a SINGLE word) is a describer of function and innate ability not appearance. It is that function and ability that gives the Human Ape its special nature. The word is "b'tselem". Thus the phrase is "B'tselem Elohim". That is, its ability to have a spiritual relationship with God. But the Human Ape will still behave in an ape-like manner. Just take a look at the schoolyard bully. The playground is the starkest reminder of Homo sapiens's simian brain and body.

Personally I think the Bible may be inspired by God but it is not inerrant. Any Bible not in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek is most definitely NOT inerrant. If one says that one needs the Holy Spirit to truly get the actual data, then he or she must explain why there are many sects. How does that person KNOW that his sect is the whole truth. Nobody can really know the Whole Truth, whether with news or philosophical debates or any thing else. Every source is biased and every source will only tell part of the truth.

Answer 2

Only one, although the Discovery Channel and some others will say two. Skeptics will point out that the first and second chapters of Genesis are different. They are, but they are complementary, not conflicting.

Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 is the overview of creation. At Genesis 2:4 the focus shifts to the human race as a unique part of creation. From that point on the Bible describes God's interaction with humankind.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Genesis is two creation myths out of ancient Mesopotamia (Sumeria) and Egypt that have been cobbled together. They kind of mix Gilgamesh and Enkidu into it but only in a very abbreviated version. The major twist they make to the Babylonian garden of Eden myth is that the garden in the Babylonian myth was a place where the middle Gods were forced to labor and when they rebelled and populated the Earth it was a release, not a punishment or fall from grace.

Answer 5

Just one read Genesis the first book of the bible gives us man kinds earliest history. But remember it was written after the fact by mosses in the wilderness several thousand years later.
Many people seize on that to say see Adam and Eve had two sons.
But Adam lived 960 years and had many sons and daughters.
those were mentioned because they were in the story.
But you can't just read one scripture but the whole story because it goes back and forth.

Answer 6

The creation stories in the Bible are extremely similar to every other religion out there.

Answer 7

There is one. Let me explain, please, before I get a thumbs-down (or three). Some people point to the account in Genesis 1, and the one in Genesis 2, as being completely different accounts. However, they're not. In Genesis 1, the account of the creation of the world is noted. Then, in Genesis 2, it gets more specific, as in, the creation of the Garden of Eden.

For a better explanation of it (this one was in my own words, so it wouldn't be as good), try this site:
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/genesis2.html

Answer 8

Yeah, I'm sure you will get some interesting explanations about how the 2 distinctly different creation accounts are really one account...but, there are two. And in case some of the my fundamental leaning friends forget, the original Hebrew didn't have chapters or verses.

Answer 9

"additionally i dont think of that they are an analogous, through fact if so no longer purely use the call yawheh the full time, yet no elohim is used first, then yawheh as quickly as we get to the backyard" the term Elohim is used to ascertain His nature (plural/masculine) and place (god) then YHWH is used in the 2d tale to ascertain His very own courting along with his introduction

Answer 10

There is 1.

Genesis 1 & 2 are the same creation. Email me if you wish me to explain.


Gruz~ I'd be more than happy to explain that if you wish