Bible Question: In Genesis 1:20-26, it says that God created animals and then man. But, in the story of Adam and Eve it says that God made humans first and then animals.(Genesis 2:18-19) |
Bible Answer: Dear newbeliever- God bless you and welcome to the Forum. After reading your user profile it was easier for me to understand your string of questions. First, however, allow me to give a quick run-down of how the forum works. Generally speaking, it is best to ask a single question at a time. Otherwise, if you receive several responses to several questions asked over a short period of time, you will not be able to responsibly participate in so many conversations. Also, as a new believer (as your username suggests) allow me to advise you that beginning your study of God's word with a critical eye for the negative- that is looking for or focusing on apparent contradictions- is, may I say, starting off on the wrong foot. The proper approach to studying the very word of a Holy and Sovereign Creator God is to do so with a reverence and humility that can be commanded by no one or nothing else. Our God created the heavens and the earth, you and me, and everything else that exists. His very word tells us that He is Holy, and sovereign. He is blameless; that is, He cannot make a mistake. When we start there we are no longer concerned about there being contradictions in the bible because we know that that is an impossibility. So when you come across something that appears to be a contradition know this. It is a simple matter of your not yet having the depth of understanding regarding what the fullness of Scripture has to say on the matter. A perfect example is in response to your question regarding the accounts of creation in Genesis. Here is the short answer. Genesis chapter 1, beginning at verse 1, is a chronological account of our God creating the heavens and the earth. What you find in chapter 2 is a recalling of the creation with a focus on God's special relationship with man to include the ordination of marriage between a man and a woman as well as placing man as the steward of God's created earth. The writer is not attempting to give yet another chronological account of creation. You might read straight through the two chapters without stopping and perhaps get a better feel for the literary flow. Finally, see Exodus 20:11 Ex 20:11 NASB95 “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. If you read the verse without the wider context of Scripture (that is- knowing what is said in Genesis chapter 1) one might argue that this verse declares that He created the earth first (as in land) and the Sea after. Of course we know from Genesis 1:9 what the actual, chronological order was. It does nothing to dissapoint the reading of Exodus 20:11. There is no contradiction. Hope this helps, Jeff |