Creation study guide - Book ends

Read: Ge 1:1 - Ge 2:5

Creation study guide - Book ends

Observe: H₁-L₁-W₁-G₁ H₂-L₂-W₂-G₂ H₃ where H = heaven, L = Light, W = Water, G = Ground.

Many theologians only recognize the pattern as L-W-G L-W-G. As a result they do not identify the proper ending of the first pericope (first section). They invent a contradiction by placing v. 2:5 at the beginning of the second pericope, rather than identifying it as H₃. They say that in the first account God created man after everything else, but in the second account he created man after the plants. Can you solve this problem?

A literary device used in Hebrew is inclusio. It is a method of containing textual material in bookends. AbA is a short inclusio pattern. The pattern which you observed is a larger pattern, and it is complicated with a second inclusio following the first. H₂ is used as the end of the first inclusio, and the beginning of the second. This leaves the reader wondering if H₃ closes H₁ or H₂. Why does it matter, and can we discern which is the intended beginning of H3?

Without being able to discern God's intended meaning, we have several 'open' questions concerning God's revelation.

1. Is there a creation mentioned in Ge 1:1 and a second creation mentioned in Ge 1:2 and following. See Gap theory

2. Are there seven levels or layers of creation between God and man, as per the Gnostic and Islamic doctrines, or is there only one creation with two natures:Heavenly/spiritual and earthly/physical?

3. Is there a contradiction between the creation account of Genesis 1 and that of Genesis 2?

Ge 2:5 tells us God's intention. It describes H₃. H₃ closes the H that began before the plants which were created on day 3 from G₁.

Ge 2:4 ¶ These [are] the generations of the (H₃) heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Ge 2:5 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.

Answers to 'open' questions

1. Is there a gap between Ge 1:1 and Ge 1:2 where a whole other creation is implied? No. There is one story from Ge 1:1 - 2:5. Ge 1:1 is the introduction, v1:2-2:3 is the text. Ge 2:4,5 is the conclusion.

2. Are there seven layers of creation? No. The double pattern suggests that there is one creation with two aspects. The two aspects can be discerned by reading more closely.

H₁-L₁-W₁-G₁ were formed by separation. The light was separated from the darkness. The waters above were separated from the waters below. The ground was separated from the water. L₂-W₂-G₂ there was life formed from the elements previously separated.

The word 'lights' מאור is 'from מ light אור'. Birds and fish were from water. Other animals and man were from the ground. There were three stages of separating the primary 'elements' of light, water and ground, and three stages where those elements produced living things.

In later studies, each day of creation will be revealed to be a picture of Christ. There are seven pictures of Christ, represented by days. 'Day' in Hebrew is yom יום 'the intention of God in creation י made clear ו by the finished work of the son ם'.

3. Since Ge 2:5 is the decription of H₃ in Ge 2:4, it is not the beginning of the second account of creation. There is no contradiction. The contradiction was created by placing Ge 2:5 at the beginning of the second creation account.