I was reading the first 2 chapters of Genesis and I have questions. What better place to bring them than CGA?
First, Genesis 1:3 and Genesis 1:16. They both describe the creation of light.
With both of these, God separate the light from the darkness. And both resulting in an evening and a morning on the first and the fourth day. The difference is that night and day are made in the first day, but then what is the light spoken of in verse 3? We know that night and day are lit by the sun and moon, but those aren't created until verse 16.
Next, we have the account of organism creation.
In chapter 1, it is clearly seen that first fish/birds are created, then beasts/creeping things, and THEN humans. But chapter 2 appears to tell another story...
Chapter 2 seems to say that first man was made, then a garden, and then God made everything else as a helper for him. Chapter 1 and 2 don't seem to be in agreement.
I know the Bible often uses literary devices which have long weeded themselves out of our culture. Could someone clarify what is going on here?
First, Genesis 1:3 and Genesis 1:16. They both describe the creation of light.
Bible said:Genesis 1:3 "And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Genesis 1:16 "And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars."
With both of these, God separate the light from the darkness. And both resulting in an evening and a morning on the first and the fourth day. The difference is that night and day are made in the first day, but then what is the light spoken of in verse 3? We know that night and day are lit by the sun and moon, but those aren't created until verse 16.
Next, we have the account of organism creation.
Bible said:Genesis 1:20 "And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens."
Genesis 1:24 "And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds--livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds."
Genesis 1:26 "The God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..."
In chapter 1, it is clearly seen that first fish/birds are created, then beasts/creeping things, and THEN humans. But chapter 2 appears to tell another story...
Bible said:Genesis 2:5-8 "When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up--for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground--then the Lord God formed the man of dust..."
Genesis 2:8 "And then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden..."
Genesis 2:18-19 "Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens..."
Chapter 2 seems to say that first man was made, then a garden, and then God made everything else as a helper for him. Chapter 1 and 2 don't seem to be in agreement.
I know the Bible often uses literary devices which have long weeded themselves out of our culture. Could someone clarify what is going on here?