Genesis Revised – The Second Genesis

The natural interpretation continues with the “second” creation story in Genesis.  The Bible is an anthology.  By the time the Jews compiled it, there were multiple versions.  They decided to keep two.  They use different literary forms, yet tell the same story.  Without the overburden of unbiblical “perfectionism,” the ancient texts match the evidence perfectly.

Genesis 2

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. (NIV)

This passage echoes the shorter version in Genesis 1:1.  Scholars are not sure if this line belongs at the end of Day 7 or starts the repeated creation story that separates Genesis 1 from the garden story.  Nevertheless, these two passages state the same sentiment.  Only worship the God with enough power to create everything.

⁵ Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, ⁶ but streams (mist) came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. (NIV)

The order is from the human viewpoint, yet “man” is like an afterthought, as if the writer was amazed at the concept he envisioned.  This passage does not say mist watered the garden.  Nor does it support teachings that dictate no rain until the Great Flood.  No biblical writer claims God changed the physics of Earth’s atmosphere because of sin.

The text relays something much more insightful.  Long before Aristotle, a Hebrew poet encapsulated the creation using the concept of causality.

Before there was man (Day 6), there was a time before plants.

Before there were plants (Day 3), there was a time before rain.

Before there was rain (Day 2), there was a time of mist.

Scientifically, when Earth was very young, it had little atmosphere and no oceans, but there were still vapors that dampened the ground.  We can see this happening on many of our solar systems moons.  Then, our planet changed.  Water stared falling from the sky letting life flourish.

Without additions, both versions of the Genesis creation match standard science.  Miraculous.

That ends the creation of all that became our universe and our planet.  The next part of the Genesis story focus on one species, ours.

[Lessons from Creation’s Parables: Genesis and Standard Science, Sung as One, by Jo Helen Cox.]

Also in this series:

Genesis Revised – Introduction + Day 1, The Big Bang

Genesis Revised – Day 2, Opening Sky and Ocean

Genesis Revised – Day 3, Opening Land

Genesis Revised – Day 4, Filling the Universe

Genesis Revised – Day 5, the Evolution of Life

Genesis Revised – Day 6 v24-25, the Land Animals

Genesis Revised – Day 6 v26-27 and “God’s Image”

Genesis Revised – Day 6 v28-31 “Dominion”

Genesis Revised – Day 7

Also see series:

Genesis Revisited

Eden Revisited