Questions and Answers
Chapter 2 of Genesis gives another account of the story of creation. Despite its obvious contradictions to the first story of creation, the Biblical authors must have put this story next to the story in chapter 1 for a special _____
Purpose
This second account of creation contradicts the first account in several ways. For instance, in the second account, in relation to the other living things, human beings are not created last, but ____
First
In the second account, all creation seems to be happening in a very short time, unlike the first account when creation lasted for ______
6 Days
In the second account of creation, God does not seem far away from the work of creation, but rather ______
Signup and view all the answers
God does not give commands in the second account to create things. We find these differences: A. For his creatures, God created a garden called Eden by actually ______
Signup and view all the answers
B. Like a sculptor, God Himself molded the man out of the _____ and to create a woman, God fashioned her from the man's ___
Signup and view all the answers
C. To bring the man to life, God blew into his nostrils the ___________
Signup and view all the answers
In the second account, God seems to have difficulty in creating the right mate for the man. None of the animals were suitable. It almost seemed as if God did not know what to do. This is not typical divine behavior, but is more characteristic of ______
Signup and view all the answers
God finally created a mate for the man by casting a deep sleep over him and removing one of his ___
Signup and view all the answers
In this second account of creation, God is referred to by the title of _________
Signup and view all the answers
Now, if there are two different versions of the story of creation in the Bible, which is the true one? But perhaps this is the wrong question to ask. Remember, the stories are not intended to teach literal, scientific truth, but to present a deeper _____
Signup and view all the answers
Perhaps the stories were left in the Bible side by side because each story contains some, but not all of the truth we are to learn about ________
Signup and view all the answers
We must study both accounts to grasp the full meaning of God's creation of the world. A. From the first account, we learn that our God is all-powerful and can create with just a ______
Signup and view all the answers
B. From the second account, we learn that our God is a caring God, who is not far away, but intimately involved with _____
Signup and view all the answers
C. Creation was not done in a chaotic or haphazard way but with great _____
Signup and view all the answers
D. In Genesis 1, man and woman are created together. In Genesis 2, woman is created from the same material as man. Both show that in terms of respect and dignity, men and women are ____
Signup and view all the answers
Two very different accounts of creation suggest that the biblical story of the beginning of the world were not written by one author or group of authors, but by at least ________
Signup and view all the answers
In fact, the first account of creation was written by a group called the Priestly writers. The second account was written by a group known as the Yahwist writers. These two groups wrote two different stories because each group wanted to emphasize its own ________
Signup and view all the answers
The generally accepted date for the Priestly writer's account is c. 500 B.C.E. (which means Common Era and is the term preferred in religious studies.) The Yahwist writer's account is generally accepted date is c. 900 B.C.E. Notice that although the Yahwist writers composed their story first, that version comes ___________
Signup and view all the answers
By examining the two accounts, we can see the different characteristics of the two writing sources: A. The Priestly source calls God by the term ___
Signup and view all the answers
B. The Yahwist source calls God by the term _____
Signup and view all the answers
C. The Priestly source portrays God as being distant or ______
Signup and view all the answers
D. The Yahwist source describes God as being involved and ______
Signup and view all the answers
List two actions in the second account of creation which make God appear to act as a human:
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Overview of Genesis 2:4-10
- The second creation account in Genesis presents a different narrative compared to the first.
- The authors placed this account alongside the first for a distinct purpose.
Contradictions in Creation Accounts
- In contrast to the first account, humans are created first in the second account.
- Creation occurs rapidly in the second account, unlike the 6-day duration of the first.
God's Role in Creation
- God appears close and actively involved in creating.
- Unlike the first account, God does not simply command but engages in physically creating things.
Creation of Eden and Humanity
- God plants the Garden of Eden, showcasing active involvement.
- The man is sculpted from the dust of the ground, and the woman is fashioned from the man's rib.
- God breathes the breath of life into the man, giving him animation.
Divine Characteristics and Human Traits
- The struggle to find a suitable mate for the man reflects human qualities rather than divine omniscience.
- God ultimately creates a companion for the man from one of his ribs while he sleeps.
Title Reference
- In this narrative, God is referred to as "The Lord God."
Understanding Creation Narratives
- The two accounts should not be viewed as conflicting but as conveying deeper meanings about creation.
- Each story offers unique insights into the nature of God and creation itself.
Lessons from Both Accounts
- The first account emphasizes God's all-powerful command to create.
- The second shows God's intimate involvement with humanity and creation.
- Both accounts highlight the equal dignity and respect of men and women.
Authorship of the Accounts
- The two differing narratives suggest multiple authors, indicating at least two distinct groups contributed to the texts.
- The Priestly writers crafted the first account around 500 B.C.E., while the Yahwist writers penned their account circa 900 B.C.E.
- Each group emphasized their perspectives, altering the tone and content of the narratives.
Characteristics of the Writing Sources
- The Priestly source refers to God as "God," depicting Him as distant.
- The Yahwist source uses "Yahweh," portraying God as close and more anthropomorphic.
- The Priestly source includes genealogies while the Yahwist employs human-like characteristics for God in their storytelling.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the second story of creation found in Genesis 2:4-10 through these interactive flashcards. Understand the key differences and contradictions compared to the first creation account. Enhance your biblical knowledge with focused questions and terms.
