Creation study guide - Book ends

Creation study guide - Book ends - Solving the alleged contradiction between the first and second accounts of creation.

Creation study guide - Book ends

Read: Ge 1:1 - Ge 2:5

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

Objective: 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?

You may wish to meditate on the issue before moving ahead

Inclusio

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 so that there is no confusion. 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 description of H₃ in Ge 2:4, it is not the beginning of the second account of creation. There is no contradiction. The contradiction was invented by placing Ge 2:5 at the beginning of the second creation account.

Pattern as prophecy

The patterns observed above are not merely poetic or literary novelties. They have intended meaning. When coupled with consistent metaphor, the meaning is made clear. Consider the following symbols: Heaven שמים consists of Spirit or fire (light) ש, water מים, and desolation (dry ground) שמם. The pattern of H-L-W-G begins to tell us how to use notarikon; the practice of dividing words into smaller parts. The doctrine of creation is derived from the parts of the word 'heaven'.

The word 'heaven' was used first in Ge 1:1, and then it was parsed out in the rest of the chapter. The first sequence of heaven, light, water, ground parses the word 'heaven'; showing how light, water, and ground were separated from heaven. The second sequence further explains how each element produced life.

Light as a symbol of Holiness produced the 'lights in the firmament', the 'lights of the world', the children of Abraham who were described as the stars.

Water as a symbol of the word of God produced fish, or 'every word which proceeds from the mouth of God', and birds; symbolizing those who live in the spirit represented by air.

The dry ground produced two kinds of life. In the first sequence if brought forth grass, herbs and fruit with it's seed; each being a symbol of the incarnate God, Jesus Christ; the firstfruits of creation. The second produced things that lived on the earth, the cattle (his sheep), the creeping things; a revelation of the marriage through the cross. It also produced man and his bride; symbols of Christ and the church.

The details in these patterns will be examined more closely in the next lessons as each day יום is a clarification ו of the intention of God; his creation י being fulfilled by the son ם.