Difference between revisions of "Creation story"
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| − | + | The '''creation story''' is the [[Bible|biblical]] account of the creation of the [[world]] by God, contained in the early chapters of the book of [[Genesis]]. | |
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| + | == The days == | ||
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| + | According to the first chapter of [[Genesis]] (including the first few verses of the second chapter), God (in the form of the plural ''Elohim'') created the world in six days ([[Hebrew]] ''yom''), before resting on the seventh. | ||
| + | Created on each day were: | ||
# Heavens, [[Earth]], and [[light]] | # Heavens, [[Earth]], and [[light]] | ||
# [[Sky]] and [[sea]] | # [[Sky]] and [[sea]] | ||
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# [[Fish]] and [[bird]]s | # [[Fish]] and [[bird]]s | ||
# Land [[animal]]s and [[homo sapiens|man]] | # Land [[animal]]s and [[homo sapiens|man]] | ||
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| + | == The account in chapter 2 == | ||
In contrast to the chronological arrangement of chapter 1 (up to verse 4 of chapter 2), chapter 2 describes in greater detail the creation of man and the [[Garden of Eden]]. | In contrast to the chronological arrangement of chapter 1 (up to verse 4 of chapter 2), chapter 2 describes in greater detail the creation of man and the [[Garden of Eden]]. | ||
Revision as of 14:23, July 9, 2007
The creation story is the biblical account of the creation of the world by God, contained in the early chapters of the book of Genesis.
The days
According to the first chapter of Genesis (including the first few verses of the second chapter), God (in the form of the plural Elohim) created the world in six days (Hebrew yom), before resting on the seventh. Created on each day were:
- Heavens, Earth, and light
- Sky and sea
- Dry land and plants
- Sun, moon, and stars
- Fish and birds
- Land animals and man
The account in chapter 2
In contrast to the chronological arrangement of chapter 1 (up to verse 4 of chapter 2), chapter 2 describes in greater detail the creation of man and the Garden of Eden.
Some believe that in chapter two, creation appears to take only one day (yom, cf verse 4), with man apparently being created before the plants have grown, and before the animals are created since, according to the text, God, having created man, specifically says that he is creating them so that the man should not be alone.
Most of the world's academic Bible scholars explain this apparent contradiction by suggesting that the two chapters in fact originated as two quite separate accounts (see Genesis)[1]. Fundamentalist Conservative commentators, however, typically insist (usually without advancing any very cogent evidence[2]) that chapter two is not intended as a chronological account, and some are even prepared to argue (on the basis of the NIV version) that the word 'formed' in verse 19 can legitimately be read as 'had formed', notwithstanding the fact that the Hebrew original is clearly in the imperfect tense/mood ('formed', 'was forming') not the pluperfect ('had formed').[1]
Sources
- Cruden, A., Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments (Lutterworth, 1930)
- The Holy Bible (King James Version)
- The New English Bible (Oxford & Cambridge University Presses, 1970)
- The New Jerusalem Bible (Darton, Longman & Todd, 1990)
- Peake, A.S., Commentary on the Bible (Nelson, 1962)
- Young, R., Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible (Lutterworth, 1939)
