Both unbelievers and evolutionists claim errors in Genesis 1 when compared to Genesis 2. Their error is rooted in the failure to understand the style of Hebrew writers and the fact that the whole of any given subject isn’t always repeated (note that the writers of the New Testament did not always repeat word for word the Old Testament when they referred to the content of the those books.) since each writer was working from their own perspective as directed by God on any given subject. Peter explained the writing of the Old Testament. 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (II Peter 1:20-21) The writers received the message through revelation from the Holy Spirit. They were free to use the words of the Hebrew language to convey the meaning that God wanted revealed in the messages they received. Did God dictate any of the messages to them? At times he did and when he did, it is so written that he did. Peter then wrote in chapter 2:1-2, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (II Peter 2:1-2) Peter’s use of the word people is a reference the false teachers of old among the population. The use of the verb tenses indicate that the false teachers existed at that time and they will exist into the future. Peter’s words are borne up as truth when we hear the words of those who deny creation and tout evolution, trying to use false statements about the Bible to prove the truth of evolution.

The evolutionist’s use of the so-called discrepancies between Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 is because of Hebrew writing style in the historical account.  Genesis 1, beginning in verse 20, is a detailed  account of the plants and lower animal creations, whereas Chapter 2 is a summation of some of the detailed events of Chapter 1, with more details about Adam and Eve’s creation after being mentioned in Chapter 1. In addition, Chapter 2 gives a detailed account of the activities that were presented in a general way in Chapter 1. So in each chapter, there are specifics and summaries or brief descriptions of the events according to importance and the message being delivered as will be seen by what follows. 

The general unbelievers, and particularly the evolutionist, point to Genesis Chapter 2, verses 18-20 as a blow against creation and the truth of the Bible because of what they believe is a discrepancy in Chapter 2 when compared to Chapter 1.  In Chapter 1, verses 24-27, God created non-human life and then human life (verse 27), which is a detailed account without some of the specifics up to and including  the sixth day, verse 31. In Chapter 2, verses 18-20 appear to reverse the order of Chapter 1 and supposedly show that the animals were created after Adam. But that isn’t true. In Chapter 1, animal creation is a specific and the creation of male and female (verse 27) is a general statement.

When the style of writing and the message are understood, the so-called discrepancy disappears. In Chapter 2, verse 18, God purposes to make the female, which was only mentioned in a general way along with the male in Chapter 1, verse 27. The message in Chapter 2:18-20 is that after the animals were created, God brought them to Adam to name and there weren’t any that were fit for his help meet (wife). Creation order wasn’t the message of Chapter 2 and that is the reason that it appears that Chapters 1 and 2 present conflicting accounts with Chapter 2 purporting to show that Adam was created before the animals.

Thus, when the Hebrew writing style is understood and along with a detailed examination of  God’s Word, another evolutionary argument is buried by the unchangeable truth of the scriptures.       

© 03-30-2010 DEC

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