How Many Authors Wrote Genesis 1 and 2?
Sometime ago
I came across the following statement by liberal New Testament scholar Bart
Ehrman: “The creation account in Genesis 1 is very different from the account
in Genesis 2. Not only is the wording and writing style different, as is very
obvious when you read the text in Hebrew, and not only do the chapters use
different names for God, but the very content of the chapters differs in
numerous respects” [1] This is not the first time I heard the assertion, but
Ehrman has the knack of taking this idea from the scholarly ivory tower and repacking
it for popular readership. Still the question remains: Are the first two
chapters in Genesis two different creation accounts?
I’d say that Genesis begins with looking at the creation from two different angles and chapters 1 and 2 are far from contradictory. It is true that in Genesis chapter 1, the word “God” is used to translate the Hebrew word elohim and in chapter 2 the same word elohim is used is coupled with YaHWeh, which is translated “Lord God.” This is hardly proof of multiple authorships. It is unlikely a creative intellect like Moses would be so dull as to be unable to pull from ancient vocabulary the various words for God, and use them with their specific nuances to convey a very dynamic narrative of the origin of all things. Commentator H.L. Ellison notes that “Elohim stresses the power of God, and is the obvious usage in 1:1-2:3,” but in 2:4-3:27 “the Creator is called Yahweh Elohim,” since “Yahweh is God as He reveals Himself to man and cares for him” [2]. The Creator then shares in the attributes of omnipotence and benevolence.
What of the different arrangement of events in Genesis 1 and 2? Moses is in reality employing a sophisticated form of Hebrew writing style known as temporal recapitulation. This is where issue or event is first laid out in a format of general terms and then restated with new details or perspectives added but not necessarily in any specific chronological order [3]. Thus, for anyone who understands this commonly used ancient Hebrew writing style, there is no discrepancy.
In Genesis chapter 1, we have a general framework of creation kingdoms paralleling creation kings. On day 1 light is created which parallels the creation of luminaries on day 4. On day 2 sky and sea are created, which parallels the creation of sea creatures and winged creatures on day 5. On day 3 dry land and vegetation are created, which parallels the creation of land animals and man on day 6. Lastly, the Creator King declares the creation to be good and establishes the Sabbath principle on day 7 [4].
Genesis 2 concerns the Garden of Eden and the way Yahweh providentially provided for all its needs. There was no vegetation on account of the fact there was no water and nobody to till. Yahweh then provides water in form of mist (or rain) along with four rivers flowing through Eden. He also creates Adam from the dust of the ground, and places the man in the Garden with the purpose of cultivating and keeping it. Yahweh even forms the birds and the beasts from the ground, but forms the woman Eve from Adam’s rib to be his suitable helper [5].
All the splendor of earth testifies to the wonders and glory of the Creator. What power behind the hands that formed the mountains, valleys, oceans, lakes and streams. The great intelligence exhibited in having this planet with the right atmosphere, rotating at the right angle, orbiting the right size star, having a particular sized moon, on the edge of the arm of a spiral galaxy, all of which is optimal for complex life and space discovery; these things testify to the greatness of the Intelligent Designer. There is also the reality that Yahweh still moves within this world, entering into the drama of history, and dwelling and covenanting with the creation. Genesis 1-2 gives us the first glimpse of this Great God that would tabernacle with the Hebrews as they sojourned to their promise land. It is the very same God who enters into relationship with the Christian in the journey to final redemption.
Notes:
1. Bart Ehrman, Jesus Interrupted (New York: HarperOne, 2009) 9.I’d say that Genesis begins with looking at the creation from two different angles and chapters 1 and 2 are far from contradictory. It is true that in Genesis chapter 1, the word “God” is used to translate the Hebrew word elohim and in chapter 2 the same word elohim is used is coupled with YaHWeh, which is translated “Lord God.” This is hardly proof of multiple authorships. It is unlikely a creative intellect like Moses would be so dull as to be unable to pull from ancient vocabulary the various words for God, and use them with their specific nuances to convey a very dynamic narrative of the origin of all things. Commentator H.L. Ellison notes that “Elohim stresses the power of God, and is the obvious usage in 1:1-2:3,” but in 2:4-3:27 “the Creator is called Yahweh Elohim,” since “Yahweh is God as He reveals Himself to man and cares for him” [2]. The Creator then shares in the attributes of omnipotence and benevolence.
What of the different arrangement of events in Genesis 1 and 2? Moses is in reality employing a sophisticated form of Hebrew writing style known as temporal recapitulation. This is where issue or event is first laid out in a format of general terms and then restated with new details or perspectives added but not necessarily in any specific chronological order [3]. Thus, for anyone who understands this commonly used ancient Hebrew writing style, there is no discrepancy.
In Genesis chapter 1, we have a general framework of creation kingdoms paralleling creation kings. On day 1 light is created which parallels the creation of luminaries on day 4. On day 2 sky and sea are created, which parallels the creation of sea creatures and winged creatures on day 5. On day 3 dry land and vegetation are created, which parallels the creation of land animals and man on day 6. Lastly, the Creator King declares the creation to be good and establishes the Sabbath principle on day 7 [4].
Genesis 2 concerns the Garden of Eden and the way Yahweh providentially provided for all its needs. There was no vegetation on account of the fact there was no water and nobody to till. Yahweh then provides water in form of mist (or rain) along with four rivers flowing through Eden. He also creates Adam from the dust of the ground, and places the man in the Garden with the purpose of cultivating and keeping it. Yahweh even forms the birds and the beasts from the ground, but forms the woman Eve from Adam’s rib to be his suitable helper [5].
All the splendor of earth testifies to the wonders and glory of the Creator. What power behind the hands that formed the mountains, valleys, oceans, lakes and streams. The great intelligence exhibited in having this planet with the right atmosphere, rotating at the right angle, orbiting the right size star, having a particular sized moon, on the edge of the arm of a spiral galaxy, all of which is optimal for complex life and space discovery; these things testify to the greatness of the Intelligent Designer. There is also the reality that Yahweh still moves within this world, entering into the drama of history, and dwelling and covenanting with the creation. Genesis 1-2 gives us the first glimpse of this Great God that would tabernacle with the Hebrews as they sojourned to their promise land. It is the very same God who enters into relationship with the Christian in the journey to final redemption.
Notes:
2.
H.L. Ellison, The International Bible
Commentary, ed. F.F. Bruce (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979) 116.
3.
Lee Irons with Meredith G. Kline, The
Genesis Debate, ed. David G. Hagopian (Mission Viejo, CA: Crux Press, Inc.,
2001), 222. Note that Irons and Kline argue for a literary framework view of
Genesis 1-2; yet, by accepting the existences of temporal recapitulations in
biblical narratives, it is not necessary that one agree with their conclusions.
4.
cf. Ibid., 224-227
5.
Ibid., 230-232.
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