WHICH CREATION STORY?

Creationists call us to believe the Biblical creation story as a literal account of historical events. However, Genesis contains two distinctly different creation accounts. Which creation story are they calling us to "literally" believe?

For generations, serious students of Scripture have noted stark divisions and variations in the age of the Hebrew, its style and language within Genesis. As we have it now, Genesis is actually a composite of three written primary sources, each with its own character, favorite words and distinctly different names for God. Such differences all but evaporate when translated into English, but they are clear in the ancient Hebrew text.

The first creation account, Genesis. 1:1 to Genesis. 2:4a, was written during or after the Jews' Babylonian captivity. This fully developed story explains creation in terms of the ancient near eastern world view of its time. A watery chaos is divided by the dome (firmament) of the sky. The waters under the dome are gathered and land appears. Lights are affixed in the dome. All living things are created. The story pictures God building the cosmos as a supporting ecosystem for humanity. Finally, humanity, both male and female, is created, and God rests.

The second Creation story, Genesis 2:4b to 2:25, found its written form several centuries before the Genesis. 1:1 story. This text is a less developed and much older story. It was probably passed down for generations around the camp fires of desert dwellers before being written. It begins by describing a desert landscape, no plants or herbs, no rain; only a mist arises out of the earth. Then the Lord God forms man of the dust of the ground, creates an oasis-like Garden of Eden to support the "man whom he had formed." In this story, God creates animal life while trying to provide the man "a helper fit for him." None being found, God takes a rib from the man's side and creates the first woman. These two creation stories clearly arise out of different histories and reflect different concerns with different sequences of events. Can they either or both be literal history? Obviously not.

Many serious students of Scripture consider the first eleven chapters of Genesis as non-literal, pre-history type literature, with Abram in Genesis. 12:1 being the first literal historical figure in the Bible. This understanding of Genesis causes an uproar in some quarters. In most church communities, little of this textual study has filtered down to the pew. But, in their professional training, vast numbers of clergy have been exposed to this type of literary scriptural analysis.

In my over 28 years as a pastor, I have encountered many people who are unnecessarily conflicted because they have been made to believe that, to be faithfully religious, one must take a literal view of the Genesis creation accounts. Faced with their scientific understandings going one direction and their spiritual search another, many have felt compelled to give up their spiritual search altogether. This all too common reaction is an unnecessary shame!

So, the next time someone asks you if you believe the Biblical story of creation, just remember the correct reply: "To which Biblical creation story do you refer?"

I am a believer of Jesus as my Lord and Savior, born again of water and spirit. I believe that the Holy Bible (KJV) is the Holy, undeniable, infallible word God.
I believe that the old English of the KJV Bible has the best translation to the original Hebrew and Greek text, for English reading persons. I believe if you are going to get close and personal to Jesus that you must look up the words in the original text and try to understand the context of what is being transcribed to get the full meaning. The old English words of the KJV Bible are easy to understand and are easily defined to the reader. (The Language of the King James Bible, Discover Its Hidden Built in Dictionary, by Gail Riplinger). The other translations have removed the fire from some of the scripture an even changed the overall meaning.
I did not read every post so please excuse me if I am repeating someone. I am not writing this to bash or degrade anyone about their belief in Jesus and how the Word of God is translated. I am hoping to empower, and to enlighten, to build up and confirm your belief in our Wonderful Great Awesome Merciful Full of Grace Holy Just Truthful Never Changing God.

First off the Word of God is true in every aspect. There are no embellishments in the Bible. There are no errors in the Bible. Just because a man interprets what is read in a particular way does not mean the Bible is wrong. There are no errors in the Bible only errors in the way men interpret (this includes myself). If there are errors or if it did not happen as God has written it, it would be a lie, and no reason to even follow his teachings. I am not a preacher, or even a erudite man. I have taken on the fight to disprove evolution and to show that the creation of the Bible is literal. I have been studying both sides of this great polemic.

On the account that Genesis was written after Babylonian captivity is not how I read it. To make a long story short Joseph is sold into slavery, ends up the 2nd only to Pharaoh, his family moves to Egypt to escape the famine. Pharaoh dies and the new Pharaoh does not like the Jews and enslaves them. Moses is the one who lead them away. Also Genesis is referred to a the 1st book of Moses. Babylonian captivity is not until later around 2nd Kings.

The first chapter of Genesis is about the creation of everything as we know it. This was done in the literal 24 hour day span. It was all complete in six days and on the seventh day God rested. Now there are several reasons that the creation had to happen in the 24 hour span without large gaps of time as many believe who try to make God conform to their belief. Instead of explaining what we see of the physical world with the Holy Bible as the foundation of everything. If on the third day God created plants how would they have lived millions of years without the sun on the fifth day? They could not. Or how would they have propagated if millions of years passed until the sixth day when insects were created? Many plants require insects for pollination. The other reason that God created the universe in six literal days and rested on the seventh is to set a precedence on our work week. Work six days and rest and praise and worship him on the seventh.

Now I read that there are two distinct creation stories. I do not believe this is so. Genesis 2:4 is a completion of the week and is not a beginning of creation. It speaks of the mist that went up from the earth, this is for another discussion but has to deal with Gen. 1:6. In Gen. 1:7 is a recount of creation of man. Gen. 1:8 God planted a garden, it's name was Eden, where he put Adam. Gen. 2:9 God made every tree that is pleasant to sight grow before Adam, this would be so that Adam knew for certain that the Lord God created them. He saw it. Now to Gen. 2:18 where God creates the beast and fowl so that Adam could see that he created them but also so he could name them, and also give him a wife. This all could have happened on the sixth day easily. How could he name all the animals? This is easy for the animals are kinds, cow kind, horse kind, dog kind, frog kind bird kind.

Now it was said that these were campfire stories, I again would have to disagree. I have this wonderful longevity chart that has the major players from Adam to Joseph. Now most know that Adam lived 930 years, but did you know that he was alive to know Methuselah, Noah's grandfather, and Lamech, Noah's father. What is the importance of this well Both of these men would have a 1st hand account of the creation so when they told it to Noah it was only a second hand account of the story. Now After the flood Noah lived 448 years he new Abraham for 58 years, so Abraham had a first hand account of the flood and a second hand account of the creation. Also Shem lived 500 years after the flood he lived long enough to know Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Jacob had a first had account of the flood and a third hand account of the creation. Jacob or Israel told these stories to his son Joseph which would have made it 2nd hand about the flood and 4th on the creation. Now I am not in any way saying that Genesis is a passing down of stories around the camp fires. Genesis was written by Moses and he was inspired and filled with the Holy Spirit of God when he wrote it. My point about the longevity is campfire stories in the Jewish community would have been pretty accurate, specially since they are God's chosen people.

Genesis 2:4 These are THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND OF THE EARTH when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Adam has not yet been formed and here we are told there are generations which means family history.

Remember Peter, which Christians should know was to be the founder of Christianity tell us in IIPeter 3 the whole Chapter about how long a DAY is and Peter says that a DAY with the LORD is as a thousand years.

These days of creation are days with the LORD, you think the Heavenly Father was not aware of the controversy to come????

The creation in Genesis 1 were told they were to have dominion over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

After we are told alll this then in Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew:

for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth,

and there was NOT a man to till the ground.

Wonder how the original Hebrew writing breaks up the words into sentences and what these words actually mean?

You think busy little fingers have not been allowed to alter the translations, well according to Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, (note the text says "tree of life") and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

We are WARNED about what would be.

No I can read and on two separate 'days' a creation of human beings is given.

Ok, here is the revelant text:

NIV Genesis 1:23-31
23. And there was evening, and there was morning--the fifth day.
24. And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.
25. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29. Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
30. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.

NIV Genesis 2:1-9
1. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
4. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens--
5. and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground,
6. but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground--
7. the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8. Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
9. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

We can read that God created Man on the sixth day.

What day is represented by the red text?

I love people who argue that what is in The Bible is the absolute truth, and prove it by quoting Biblical passages.

Yeah.... me too!

NIV John 1:14
   The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NIV John 1:17
   For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

NIV John 3:3
   In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

NIV John 3:5
   Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

NIV John 3:11
  I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

NIV John 5:24-25
24. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
25. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

NIV John 8:45-46
45. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
46. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?

NIV John 14:6
   Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

NIV Matthew 5:18
   I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

NIV Matthew 5:26
   I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

NIV Matthew 6:2
   "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 6:5
   "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 6:16
16. "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 8:10
   When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

NIV Matthew 10:15
   I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

NIV Matthew 10:23
   When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.  I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

NIV Matthew 11:11
   I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NIV Matthew 13:17
   For  I tell you the truth,many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

NIV Matthew 16:28
   I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

NIV Matthew 17:20
   He replied, "Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

NIV Matthew 18:3
   And he said: "II tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

NIV Matthew 18:13
   And if he finds it,  I tell you the truth,he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

NIV Matthew 18:18
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

NIV Matthew 19:23
   Then Jesus said to his disciples, " I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

NIV Matthew 19:28
   Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

NIV Matthew 21:21
   Jesus replied, " I tell you the truth,if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

NIV Matthew 21:31
   "Which of the two did what his father wanted?"   "The first," they answered.   Jesus said to them,  I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

NIV Matthew 23:36
    I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

NIV Matthew 24:2
"Do you see all these things?" he asked. " I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

NIV Matthew 24:34
   I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

NIV Matthew 24:47
   I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

NIV Matthew 25:12
   "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

NIV Matthew 25:40
   "The King will reply, ` I tell you the truth,whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

NIV Matthew 25:45
"He will reply, ` I tell you the truth,whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

NIV Matthew 26:13
   I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

NIV Matthew 26:21
And while they were eating, he said, " I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

NIV Matthew 26:34
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

NIV John 14:6
   Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Deal with it.

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"And nothing else can explain this!"

"But, if you get hung up on this Paul fellow, I get REAL cranky!"