Genesis 1 and 2 Question

[CoffeeSwirls]

In Genesis 1, it says that the animals were created before man. In Genesis 2, we have the seventh day, then it seems that Moses took us back to day 6 to give more info about this creation. You will note that most of the creation from the first chapter has God saying, "Let the" or a variation of that, but the creation of man has him saying, "Let us."

Chapter 2 seems to define what God means, in that He forms Adam from the dust of the ground rather than declaring his existance. But then God formed animals from the ground. Was the same care in creation made for the animals as humans? Also, in Chapter 2, it seems that the animals were created after Adam.

The Bible doesn't contradict itself, so I must be missing a few things. Could anyone help out?

1. Was man or animals created first?
2. Was all of creation formed by an action beyond a declaration?

 

[Monergism]

In Genesis 1, it says that the animals were created before man. In Genesis 2, we have the seventh day, then it seems that Moses took us back to day 6 to give more info about this creation. You will note that most of the creation from the first chapter has God saying, "Let the" or a variation of that, but the creation of man has him saying, "Let us."

Chapter 2 seems to define what God means, in that He forms Adam from the dust of the ground rather than declaring his existance. But then God formed animals from the ground. Was the same care in creation made for the animals as humans? Also, in Chapter 2, it seems that the animals were created after Adam.

The Bible doesn't contradict itself, so I must be missing a few things. Could anyone help out?

1. Was man or animals created first?
2. Was all of creation formed by an action beyond a declaration?

Hello, CoffeeSwirls!

To your two questions that you have:

1. Animals were created first, then man. A lot of people believe that Genesis 1 and 2 contradict each other, but in light, they complete one another. Without the first account, we could not understand the second, and without the second, we could not understand the third chapter in Genesis. The first chapter is in chronological order, and it shows how the universe was created by God. But in the second chapter, it gives us more detail. Also, the second account is no in chronological order. There is no contradiction.

2. Everything in Genesis 1, we see God always saying, "Let there..." It is by His Word that He created the universe. Psalm 33:6, 9 says, "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." Also, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3). Moreover, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16, 17).

I hope that helped!

 

[rmwilliamsll]

look at the phrase "these are the generations of"
the taledoth's form a division in Genesis
Gen 1-2:4 form one piece
Gen 2:4-5:1 form the second piece
i dont know if the taledoths go with piece before or afterwards, but it is not a big deal.
Gen 1 has a different POV, is a different genre, has a radically different purpose than Gen 2

they are not opposed but complimentary.
get these things in mind, then reask your questions.

the order is depended upon the overall purpose of each chapter.
and a little bit on POV.


...

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

I do believe in the same order as you for a number of reasons. The initial narrative and the fact that other passages are written with more info to compliment what has already been read, such as the judgements of Revelation.
It is interesting to note the order in which the universe was formed and the care shown by God for His creation is appreciated when you observe the “two triad” plan of creation. In the first triad, God is shown preparing a suitable environment and the second triad God fills the corresponding realms, in the same order, with creation meant to rule over the given environment.

1. Light
2. Sky/Water
3. Land and Vegetation
4. Luminaries
5. Fish/Birds
6. Animals and Humans

As the work progressed from the first triad to the second, it becomes apparent that each stage of creation prepared the environment for the next stage. The luminaries were created to bring the blessings of light and heat to the earth, the fish and birds were to have dominion over the seas and lands, the animals were created to have dominion over the lands. Humans were created to have dominion over the fish, birds and livestock, but not over the heavenly realm. Thus, the fact that Humans are the pinnicle supports us being created last. Consider these following passages, though.


Gen 1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."


Gen 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."
Gen 2:19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.


I'm not sure what I'm missing here. Also, I'm not sure what a POV is. Am I looking at this with too linear a reading?

 

[rmwilliamsll]

pov
point of view
POV of Gen 1 is somewhere above the surface of the earth.
looking at the wide angle

POV of Gen 2 is a human observer on the earth in the garden


triads are framework interpretation nice graph at:
http://blueletterbible.org/faq/framework.gif