Pastoral Musings Thoughts, essays, and miscellanea…

Inconsistencies In Scripture?

10.15.2008 · Posted in Genesis, apologetics

Here are a few more alleged inconsistencies in the Scripture.

GE 1:11-12, 26-27 Trees were created before man was created.
GE 2:4-9 Man was created before trees were created.

GE 1:20-21, 26-27 Birds were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before birds were created.

GE 1:24-27 Animals were created before man was created.
GE 2:7, 19 Man was created before animals were created.

GE 1:26-27 Man and woman were created at the same time.
GE 2:7, 21-22 Man was created first, woman sometime later

What is truly the issue here?  It is either a misunderstanding of Scripture, or a willful manipulation of the passages to make them appear to be inconsistencies.

The reality is that Gen. 1 speak of the order of Creation.  Gen. 2 speaks of how that man is the crown of God’s Creation.  Gen. 2 does not deal with order.  Gen. 2 deals with giving more detail about man and how God made man to be in His image and rule the earth.  Gen. 2 speaks to us of the fact that all other things in Creation are made for man and are to be subservient to man as he exercises dominion over the earth as God would have him to.

There is no inconsistency here.  What is present is a chapter that presents us with the account of Creation from a different point of view and with a different aim in the presentation of the facts.

The two accounts harmonize quite well when we understand that Gen. 2 is not speaking of chronological order, but of the fact that man is the special Creation of God to rule the earth and represent God on this earth.

Just musing…

  • Nichole

    This is in regards to your inconsistencies. They aren’t in consistent because Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are the same ‘hymn’, ‘poetic’ story but Genesis 2 is describing creation in reverse to Genesis 1, so you are being faulty in this post. they are not inconsistent.

  • Nichole

    This is in regards to your inconsistencies. They aren’t in consistent because Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are the same ‘hymn’, ‘poetic’ story but Genesis 2 is describing creation in reverse to Genesis 1, so you are being faulty in this post. they are not inconsistent.

  • Nichole

    This is in regards to your inconsistencies. They aren’t in consistent because Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are the same ‘hymn’, ‘poetic’ story but Genesis 2 is describing creation in reverse to Genesis 1, so you are being faulty in this post. they are not inconsistent.

  • Nichole

    This is in regards to your inconsistencies. They aren’t in consistent because Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are the same ‘hymn’, ‘poetic’ story but Genesis 2 is describing creation in reverse to Genesis 1, so you are being faulty in this post. they are not inconsistent.

  • pastoralmusings

    Nichole,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    Ok, I’ll bite….
    How can you characterize this as a hymn? Genesis 1 bears the marks of a historical account. It gives us time (the evening and the morning, the first day, the second day, etc.), it gives us events, it gives us a sequence for the events.
    Secondly, you did not pay attention to what I said. Gen. 2 is a historical account, too, but its purpose is to tell us of the reason and the purpose for the creation of man and the creatures which are subservient to him.
    I welcome your attempt to prove your position.
    Jason (The Pastor)

  • pastoralmusings

    Nichole,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    Ok, I’ll bite….
    How can you characterize this as a hymn? Genesis 1 bears the marks of a historical account. It gives us time (the evening and the morning, the first day, the second day, etc.), it gives us events, it gives us a sequence for the events.
    Secondly, you did not pay attention to what I said. Gen. 2 is a historical account, too, but its purpose is to tell us of the reason and the purpose for the creation of man and the creatures which are subservient to him.
    I welcome your attempt to prove your position.
    Jason (The Pastor)

  • pastoralmusings

    Nichole,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    Ok, I’ll bite….
    How can you characterize this as a hymn? Genesis 1 bears the marks of a historical account. It gives us time (the evening and the morning, the first day, the second day, etc.), it gives us events, it gives us a sequence for the events.
    Secondly, you did not pay attention to what I said. Gen. 2 is a historical account, too, but its purpose is to tell us of the reason and the purpose for the creation of man and the creatures which are subservient to him.
    I welcome your attempt to prove your position.
    Jason (The Pastor)

  • pastoralmusings

    Nichole,
    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
    Ok, I’ll bite….
    How can you characterize this as a hymn? Genesis 1 bears the marks of a historical account. It gives us time (the evening and the morning, the first day, the second day, etc.), it gives us events, it gives us a sequence for the events.
    Secondly, you did not pay attention to what I said. Gen. 2 is a historical account, too, but its purpose is to tell us of the reason and the purpose for the creation of man and the creatures which are subservient to him.
    I welcome your attempt to prove your position.
    Jason (The Pastor)

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