Genesis 1 includes creation narratives.
Christians interpret the Bible in different ways -- a controversial state of affairs. Some Bible scholars interpret biblical texts as divinely inspired texts written by human authors who communicated why, not necessarily how, God created the world. These interpreters read the two Genesis creation narratives as chronicles of the origins of life, of Israel and Israel's ancestors and descendants. For this type of biblical interpretation, different authors in different times and with different purposes wrote each creation story.
Genesis 1:1-2:3
In the first Genesis creation narrative, God created the world from nothing -- ex nihilo -- in seven days. On the last day, God rested after blessing all creation and commissioning man and woman to multiply and giving them dominion over everything. The author made the point that creation is good and set the stage for human obligation to God in exchange for all of God's goodness and creative generosity. The author to which the account is attributed, the Priestly or "P" Tradition, wrote the account to emphasize that the people of Israel should routinely worship God for all his greatness and love.
Genesis 2:4-3:24
In the second creation account, the author provides vivid imagery for the creation of man and woman. The narrative offers descriptions of the wealth of food, treasures and beautiful minerals throughout the region. God names man, woman and all of the creatures. To give life to man and woman, God literally breathes life into their nostrils. The God of the J account is intimately involved with essential creation details. Bible scholars attribute the second creation narrative to the Yahwist Tradition, also called the "J" Source.
Sources
Bible scholars have attributed a variety of ancient traditions as authors of the book of Genesis and of the two creation stories. The J Tradition dates to 1000 B.C., the time of Solomon. The second creation account reflects the personal attributes of God as J authors presented him. According to Rev. John Payne, Yahwist authors wrote to show ancient Israelites their origins as created by God. The "P" or Priestly Tradition dates to the time of Israel's exile and may have been responsible for the first creation account with its emphasis on what became the Sabbath, and on a systematic representation of creation.
Purpose
Two Genesis creation accounts give readers and believers opportunities to consider the scope of biblical literature and its relevance to faith in a creative and loving God. Read the creation narratives as potential insight into the concerns of ancient people who struggled to stay focused on worshiping and praising their God often in the midst of immense turmoil -- just as contemporary people do. If you believe both accounts are literal truth or if you take a more literary approach, the purpose of the Genesis creation stories include looking beyond mundane life into the realm of sacred mystery.
Tags: Genesis creation, Bible scholars, creation account, creation narratives, second creation
