The Supposed Conflict Between Genesis 1 and 2
Sequence of Genesis 1 |
(Alleged) Sequence of Genesis 2 |
1. Creation of Plants (1:11-12) |
1. Creation of Man (2:7) |
2. Creation of Animals (1:24-25) |
2. Creation of Plants (2:8-9) |
3. Creation of Man (1:26-27) |
3. Creation of Animals (2:19) |
Hebrew Style of Writing - An Example from 1 Kings 6-7
Tell the Whole Story:
1 Kings 6:1-37 |
Tells us how Solomon built the temple |
1 Kings 6:38 |
Tells us that Solomon finished the temple |
1 Kings 7:1-12 |
Tells us about Solomon's next project (his palace) |
Then Revisit Some of the Details:
1 Kings 7:13-51 |
Goes back and tells about one of the craftsman that Solomon hired to work on the temple and gives the details of what he made |
Hebrew Style of Writing - A Contemporary Example
Tell the Whole Story - Compare with the Creation Account of Genesis 1:
The first thing I did to plan my son's party was to call the hotel and reserve a room. The next day (Monday), I sent out invitations to all my son's friends inviting them to come to the party. The following day (Tuesday), I ordered a cake to be delivered to the hotel on the day of the party. On Wednesday, I began receiving phone calls from the friends that I had invited to the party. On Thursday I went to the store and bought miscellaneous supplies for the party. Friday was the day of the party which lasted from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. On Saturday, I slept in late and rested most of the day.
Then Revisit Some of the Details - Compare with the Creation Account of Genesis 2:
This is the story of the day I reserved a hotel room to have a birthday party for my son. When I reserved the hotel room, I hadn't sent out invitations to any of my son's friends yet - none of them knew about the party including my son - because it was a surprise party. As I made out the invitations, I included a note telling his friends that the party was a surprise and warned them not say anything to my son about it. On the day of the party, I drove up to the hotel with my son. He was beaming with excitement, but he didn't yet know what all lay in store for him. I had arranged for all of my son's friends to be waiting in the hotel room when we got there along with my husband. You should have seen the look on my son's face as I swung open the door to our room and he caught a glimpse of all his friends standing there, shouting "Surprise!" I ordered his favorite cake and it was sitting on the table, candles lit and a message: "Happy Birthday John - We love you!” After the party, John told my husband and I that it was the best party he had ever had.
Do these two accounts of the same event conflict? Notice that some of the events in the first account appear in a different order than those same events appear in the second account. Is this a contradiction?
Comparison of Genesis 1 and 2
Tell the Whole Story:
Genesis 1 - Gives a Sequential Overview of the Creation Week - Genesis chapter 1 is very clear about the sequence of events. Events in chapter 1 are grouped into days and the days are numbered sequentially:
Day 1 – Light
Day 2 – Water and Sky
Day 3 – Land and Vegetation
Day 4 – Luminaries (Sun, Moon , and Stars)
Day 5 – Birds and Fish
Day 6 – Beasts and Man
Day 7 – Rest
Then Revisit Some of the Details:
Genesis 2 - Gives the Details of the Creation Week As They Relate To Adam - The focus of the account given in Genesis 2 is the creation of man: the pinnacle of the creation of God, made in His own image. The writer jumps around describing and referring to various events of the creation week:
The creation of the heavens and the earth
The time prior to the initial appearance of plant life and the subsequent sprouting or growth of plants - noting that:
- God would later provide rain as a means of watering plants
- Man would later be responsible to cultivate and care for plants.
Brief mention is made of the system that God put in place to provide water for the plants when He first made them – plants that man would later cultivate and eat.
The formation of Adam from the dust of the ground
The garden of Eden which God “had planted” (NIV) for the man
The rivers that ran through the garden of Eden and the natural resources found there
The commands and responsibilities given to Adam
The animals which God “had formed” (NIV)
The naming of the animals by Adam
The forming of the woman as a companion for Adam