Saturday, January 25, 2014

Why Are There Two Different Versions of the Creation Account in Genesis?


This question reminded me of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's accounts. Though these
books differ slightly in the treatment of the material, they are still in perfect agreement with each other. We just have four separate accounts from slightly different points of view.

In regard to Adam’s creation, Moses, in compiling the book of Genesis referred to written records or “histories” that predated the Flood. The first of these begins with Genesis 1:1 and ends at Genesis 2:4 with the words, “This is the history of the heavens and the earth . . . ” The second historical document begins with Genesis 2:5 and ends with verse two of chapter five. This is why we have two separate accounts of creation from slightly different points of view.

In the second of these accounts, in GENESIS 2:19, the original Hebrew verb translated “WAS FORMING” is in the progressive imperfect form. This does not mean that the animals and birds were created after Adam was created. Genesis 1:20-28 shows it does not mean that. So, in order to avoid contradiction between chapter one and chapter two, Genesis 2:19, 20 must be only a parenthetical remark thrown in to explain the need for creating a “helper” for man. So the progressive Hebrew verb form could also be rendered as “had been forming.”—See Rotherham’s translation (Ro), also Leeser’s (Le).

These two creation accounts in the book of Genesis, though differing slightly in the treatment of the material, are in perfect agreement with each other on all points, including the fact that Eve was created after Adam.

Source: 8-15-68 Watchtower

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