Since we were a child, we’ve been told everyone is related to Adam and Eve. However, as adults, how many of us have actually studied this subject for ourselves?
Only you can answer that, but today, let’s look into it together.
The most common explanation for the creation of man states,
Genesis 1 describes the creation of Adam and Eve, while Genesis 2 details that creation.
However, we rarely notice the details in Genesis 1 that explain, that’s not true. In fact, if Genesis 1 described the creation of Adam and Eve, then the Bible contradicts itself.
How’s that?
- In Genesis 1, we are told God created plants, then birds, and then man.
- In Genesis 2, we are told God created man, and then plants and then birds.
It cannot be both ways and still describe the same account. Therefore, Genesis 1 must describe the creation of mankind (all races), while Genesis 2 must describe the creation of Adam. Otherwise, the Bible contradicts itself. If the Bible did that, well then, it would be a bogus book.
Since I don’t believe the Bible contradicts itself, let me show you what I’m talking about.
Genesis 1
Turn your Bible with me to,
Genesis 1:11-13
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
There is no doubt about it, God brought plant life into existence on the third day of Genesis. Now, in Genesis 1:20-22, we learn that God created birds on the fifth day of Genesis.
Now, let’s skip down to where God created man.
These are the verses we are commonly told explain the creation of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 1:27, 31
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
There is no doubt about it, God created man on the sixth day of Genesis.
The only point of contention, was this Adam and Eve, or mankind in general?
Your take away,
- Plants were created on the third day.
- Birds were created on the fifth day.
- Man was created on the sixth day.
Genesis 2
Now let’s see what Genesis 2 has to say.
Genesis 2:5-6
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
We are told, these verses detail God’s creation of plants on day three, (Genesis 1:11-12). However, notice what Genesis 2:5-6 explained. We are told, there were no plants as there was no rain, and no man to “till the ground”. Plants of any sort cannot grow without rain.
That creates a big problem.
In Genesis 1:10-11, we are told plants were created and grew on the third day. However, in Genesis 2:5-6, we are told plants did not grow since there was no rain and no man. In fact, we are being told plants were not created until after man was created.
You see the contradiction, right?
- Genesis 1 tells us, plants grew on the third day without man.
- Genesis 2 tells us, plants did not grow as there was no rain and no man.
So we have two totally different stories here.
In Genesis 1, we are simply told the plants grew without issue on the third day. They didn’t need a man to make them grow, God did that. In Genesis 2, the plants did not grow since there was no man. Therefore, Genesis 1 and 2 do not describe the same event.
Moreover, God did not need Adam to “till” the entire earth, nor could Adam have ever accomplished such a task. Instead, God is simply telling us in Genesis 2:5-8, God had not yet formed Adam, to “till” the Garden He was about to create.
Genesis 2:5-8 simply describes the creation of a specific portion of land. A land that would become known as the Garden of Eden where Adam would be placed to cultivate it.
Let’s continue to walk through this.
God Creates Adam
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
No one debates this verse describes the creation of Adam. However, we are typically told this verse simply details what had already transpired in Genesis 1:26-27. We are quickly learning, that’s not true at all.
Let’s see what happens next.
God Creates The Garden Of Eden
Turn your Bible with me to,
Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
According to Genesis 2:5-8, God created Adam, and then God created plants.
Yet, Genesis 1 clearly explained the exact opposite order, plants came before man. This clearly tells us, Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2:5-8 are not talking about the same event. They are describing two different and distinct foundations of mankind.
- Genesis 1 describes the creation of mankind (all races).
- Genesis 2 describes the creation of Adam.
As we learned,
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- In Genesis 1, God created plants and then man.
- In Genesis 2, God created Adam and then plants.
Therefore, if Genesis 2 simply summarizes Genesis 1, then the Bible contradicts itself. I simply do not believe that, nor will I accept that.
Therefore, the only reasonable conclusion to draw is Genesis 1 discusses mankind in general, all of the races. While Genesis 2 focuses on Adam and his family, the family who Jesus Christ would come through, which provided salvation for all.
Let me show you something else.
God Creates Animals
Genesis 2:19
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
According to Genesis 2, God created Adam, and then He created birds. However, God already created birds on the fifth day, (Genesis 1:20-23), while man wasn’t created until the sixth day, (Genesis 1:27).
- Genesis 1 tells us, birds were created before man.
- Genesis 2 tells us, birds were created after man.
This creates another contradiction if we believe Genesis 1 and 2 discuss the same creation of mankind. Therefore, the only reasonable explanation is Genesis 1 discusses the creation of mankind on earth (all races), while Genesis 2 discusses the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
By the way, did you notice Scripture said, “every plant of the field,” “every herb of the field,” and “every beast of the field,” in Genesis 2:5 and 19?
The word “field” is “śâdeh” in Hebrew, and it refers “to spread out land, a field.” It’s very specific, and it does not refer to the earth as a whole.
That tells us, the “plants, herbs, and beasts” of the “field” were specific to the Garden of Eden. A lush field with specific plants that God created for Adam to cultivate as food. These beasts were no doubt used by Adam to help him “till” the ground.
I want to point out something else.
The Heavens And The Earth Were Finished
For completeness, please turn your Bible with me to,
Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Despite what we have covered, some Christians explain, Genesis 1 and 2 must describe the same creation of man, as Genesis 2:1 states, “the heavens and the earth were finished”. They contend, God was done with creation.
If that’s the case,
- Why did God create plants before Adam in Genesis 1, but not Genesis 2?
- Why did God create birds before Adam in Genesis 1, but not Genesis 2?
The fact of the matter is, in Genesis 2:1, God completed the six days of Genesis. He then rested on the seventh day. Later, God created Adam, then a specific place on earth called the Garden of Eden, and that’s where God placed Adam to cultivate it. That’s the location where God needed a man to till the ground.
This explanation perfectly aligns with Scripture, prevents contradictions, and explains the true origin of all races.
The Questions
From there, all sorts of questions will arise.
- Why then did God create Adam on a different day than mankind?
In turn, I could ask,
- Why were plants created before the sun?
- Why did God create fish and birds on a different day than land animals and man?
Scripture does not provide all the details or answers.
However, this is what we do know.
Through Adam’s descendants would come Abraham. Abraham would have a son named Issac, who had a son named Jacob. It would be Jacob whose name was later changed to Israel. Jacob then had 12 sons who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel.
This people, from Adam to the ancient Israelites were a special people to God. They were chosen above all people upon the face of the earth, (Deuteronomy 7:6).
Chosen for what?
To be God’s People, to follow after His Laws, and share them with the world, (Psa 96:3, Mar 16:15, Act 10:36).
Unfortunately, they typically failed God in that, just as Adam failed God in the Garden.
Conclusion
When you consider Genesis 2, it concerns a very specific place on earth, the Garden of Eden. First, God creates a man, known to us as Adam. Then, God “planted a garden eastward in Eden” and that’s where God placed Adam “to dress it and to keep it”.
Scripture then tells us, “out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food”.
Out of what “ground”?
The “ground” known as the Garden of Eden.
The Garden which had a river that parted into four separate rivers. It was from this location, out of this “ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them”.
This Garden, and the man and woman who God placed there, including the animals formed within it, were distinct and separate from all others. Distinct and separate from Genesis 1. When we realize that, so much more harmony comes to Scripture, which sets our mind as ease.