If you haven't been aware, the Bible contains two creation stories. Most are familiar with the creation story in chapter two where "Lord God" takes Adam's rib and creates Eve after the animals were created. How do we know that there are two creation stories and not one? Many Christians contend that chapter two is an explanation of chapter one. This is not the case. Here is how we know that chapter 2 is indeed a separate creation story by a different concept of god.
1. You have 2 different timelines for what is created.
A. The animals are created before man in chapter one Genesis 1:24-25, whereas in chapter two the animals are created after man Genesis 2:19.
B. Man and woman are created at the same time in chapter one Gen 1:27. In chapter two Adam is created first Genesis 2:7 and Eve much later Genesis 2:22.
C. In Chapter one God is referenced as the "Elohim", a pantheon of several Gods. EL is singular for "God", Elohim is the plural of EL. Elohim can be identified as singular if the verbs and adjectives are singular. But that is not the case for the Elohim of Chapter 1. Genesis 1:26, Then God (Elohim) said, "Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that THEY may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
Cross Reference: Genesis 11:7, "Come let US go down there and confuse THEIR language, so that THEY will not understand one another's speech."
D. Chapter two is the "Elohim of Israel" given the first name of Yahweh. Only one of several "Elohim". He was distinctly given a name to separate him from the rest of the Elohim. The bible changed his name from Yahweh to the title of "Lord". In chapter two you recognize that every mention of god is given with a title of LORD GOD. Which was originally Yahweh God. Or Yahweh Elohim.
E. In order to properly understand the context of these scriptures you have to understand the Hebrew story. Their story was adopted during their exile in Babylon. Much of their terminology and ideas are Sumerian in origin, the original land of Babylon. The Elohim is a Sumerian term in origin giving distinction of the "creator gods" of Sumer. To try and make sense of the bible only using the bible will result in what commonly happens. Confusion.
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/openyourmind12
No comments:
Post a Comment