Bible Question:
I apologize if this already well-plowed ground. I know I'm not the first person to ask this question, I just don't know the answer. THIS IS NOT A TROLL! I am not looking to start a debate, I'm just looking for your views. In the first creation account, trees were created on day three (1:11-13) while Adam and Eve were created on day six (1:26-31). In the second account, Adam came before trees (2:4-9). Specifically, verse 5 says there were no plants; verse 6 says that the ground was watered but says nothing about God creating any plants yet; and verse 7 is when God created Adam - still no mention of plants. Verse 9 says that God planted trees. Some time later, God created Eve (2:21-23). Similarly, the first account says that animals were created ahead of Adam and Eve on the sixth day (1:24-26), while the second says that they were created after Adam had been placed in the garden (2:18-19) but before Eve. I have been told that a literal reading of Genesis provides a complete, historically accurate account of creation (a perspective I respect). If this is the case, how does one explain these apparent differences between the two accounts? Peace and grace, Steve |
Bible Answer: Concerning the vegetation, notice that chap. 1 is speaking of vegetation in general and chap. 2 is specifically speaking of the plants and shrubs of the field. In the OT you'll find that "of the field" relates primarily to agricultural things. God wants Adam to grow the vegetables, berries, grapes, etc. himself. That's his job. This is reinforced in chap. 3 where God punishes Adam's farming work. As for the trees there are two possibilities: 1) God made a few more trees, or 2) Gen 2:9 is reiterating a statement of fact already mentioned in chap. 1 in order to give reference and relation of the garden, Adam , and the famous trees. I believe the latter is correct. The same type of thing can be said of the timing of the animals and Adam. 1) God either made a few more to bring, or 2) it is a restatement of fact (God created the animals), and He was now bringing them to Adam. Again, I believe the latter. Steve |