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EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 140 books. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Genesis 1:1-2 informs the reader of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:3-31 gives the reader an outline of the six creative days and the basic events and creative activities on those days. Genesis 2:1-3 is some basics on the seventh day, while Genesis 2:4 is a summary verse of the whole six creative days. Genesis chapter 2:5-25 is a parallel account that picks up the account, not on the first day, but on the third day (after the land comes on the scene, but prior to the creation of land plants), adding details. (2:5-6) This chapter is used to give more details about human creation. For example, there is no simple statement that Adam was created; it adds that he was formed out of the dust of the ground, with the breath of life being blown into him, his becoming a living soul. (2:7) It informs of the planting of the Garden of Eden and placing Adam in it. (2:8) We learn of the growth of many trees for food, the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and bad. (2:9) We are even given geographical sites that help the readers of Moses’ day, to know where the Garden of Eden was. (2:10-14) We are told of the work assignments given to Adam, to cultivate the Garden of Eden and to name the animals. (2:15, 19-20) We are informed of the prohibition of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and bad. (2:16-17) Then, we are informed that Adam grew lonely from his naming the animals, as he saw all of them had mates. (2:18, 20) From there the reader gets a detailed account of the creation of Eve (2:21-22), and Adam’s response, with Jehovah, in essence, performing the first marriage. (2:23-25) Therefore, as you can see, chapter 1 is the barest of outlines, with chapter 2 giving us details about the arrival of humans. Chapter 3:1-24 deals with the temptation of Eve by the serpent and the sinning of both Adam and Eve, with the terrible consequences of that willful rebellion.
In Summary
Genesis 1 and 2 both describe the creation of the world and all that is in it, but there are some differences in the order of events and the way the creation story is told in these two chapters.
In Genesis 1, the creation of the world and all that is in it is described in a more general sense, with each day of creation being described in a broad, overview fashion. On each day of creation, God speaks, and what he speaks comes into being. The chapter ends with the creation of humanity on the sixth day, with both male and female being created in the image of God.
Genesis 2 provides a more detailed account of the creation of humanity, specifically the creation of Adam. It describes the creation of the first man, Adam, from the dust of the ground and the creation of the first woman, Eve, from Adam’s rib. It also describes the creation of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived, and the command God gave them to care for the garden and to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
There are some differences in the order of events between Genesis 1 and 2, with some elements of the creation story being described in more detail in one chapter than the other. However, both chapters describe the same event – the creation of the world and all that is in it – and they should be understood as complementary rather than contradictory accounts of the same event.
