by purrpurr 13 Replies latest watchtower bible
I'm reading a very interesting book right now "your God is too small" by the atheist republic. It makes the point that there are two creation accounts in the bible!
In one humans are created after the animals in the second humans are created before the animals. In one Adam and eve were created at the same time but in the second Adam was created first.
Had anyone else noticed this?
Had anyone else noticed this?
The WTS says that the animal creation did not stop with the creation of Adam.
Indeed i have read that but of course not until i realized that the bible is a book of ancient jewish bed time stories could i see the possibility.
@prologos- that theory dosent hold water in dubbie land. They hold that eve was the last creation and that god rested from creative works after her. Nothing about creating more animals after the flood.
https://culturalstudies101.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/friedman_who-wrote-the-bible.pdf
This is a fine book with specific, scholarly information which will answer your question precisely.
Yes, I've noticed it. JW publications contain several comments on it.
*** it-1 p. 527 Creation ***
Further Creative Activities Involving Earth. Genesis chapter 1 through chapter 2, verse 3, after telling about the creation of the material heavens and earth (Ge 1:1, 2), provides an outline of further creative activities on the earth. Chapter 2 of Genesis, from verse 5 onward, is a parallel account that takes up at a point in the third “day,” after dry land appeared but before land plants were created. It supplies details not furnished in the broad outline found in Genesis chapter 1. The inspired Record tells of six creative periods called “days,” and of a seventh period or “seventh day” in which time God desisted from earthly creative works and proceeded to rest. (Ge 2:1-3) While the Genesis account of creative activity relating to the earth does not set forth detailed botanical and zoological distinctions such as those current today, the terms employed therein adequately cover the major divisions of life and show that these were created and made so that they reproduce only according to their respective “kinds.”—Ge 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25; see KIND.
*** gm chap. 7 pp. 92-95 Does the Bible Contradict Itself? ***Different Viewpoints
15 Sometimes the Bible writers wrote about the same event from different viewpoints, or they presented their accounts in different ways. When these differences are taken into consideration, further apparent contradictions are easy to resolve. An example of this is in Numbers 35:14, where Moses speaks of the territory east of the Jordan as “on this side of the Jordan.” Joshua, however, speaking of land to the east of the Jordan, called it “the other side of the Jordan.” (Joshua 22:4) Which is correct?
16 In fact, both are correct. According to the account in Numbers, the Israelites had not yet crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, so to them east of the Jordan was “this side.” But Joshua had already crossed the Jordan. He was now, physically, west of the river, in the land of Canaan. So east of the Jordan was, for him, “the other side.”
17 Additionally, the way a narrative is constructed can lead to an apparent contradiction. At Genesis 1:24-26, the Bible indicates that the animals were created before man. But at Genesis 2:7, 19, 20, it seems to say that man was created before the animals. Why the discrepancy? Because the two accounts of the creation discuss it from two different viewpoints. The first describes the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them. (Genesis 1:1–2:4) The second concentrates on the creation of the human race and its fall into sin.—Genesis 2:5–4:26.
18 The first account is constructed chronologically, divided into six consecutive “days.” The second is written in order of topical importance. After a short prologue, it logically goes straight to the creation of Adam, since he and his family are the subject of what follows. (Genesis 2:7) Other information is then introduced as needed. We learn that after his creation Adam was to live in a garden in Eden. So the planting of the garden of Eden is now mentioned. (Genesis 2:8, 9, 15) Jehovah tells Adam to name “every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens.” Now, then, is the time to mention that “Jehovah God was forming from the ground” all these creatures, although their creation began long before Adam appeared on the scene.—Genesis 2:19; 1:20, 24, 26.
I would, though, like to read what non-JWs say about it in, for example, the material that you mentioned and that that Terry mentioned.
When the Jews were taken captive to Babylon, the population was split apart physically. The ones carried off were the 'important' and influential families into captivity. Those left behind continued as best they could.
Now here is where a very interesting phenomenon occurred. The Jews carried off to Babylon ended up living among the Babylonians and starting their life anew. They likely clung as best they could to their traditional ways, customs, traditions, stories and worldview as long as possible. But, new generations were born under Babylonian culture, folklore, social institutions, literature, and general understanding of the Universe.
For all practical purposes, over a period of 70 years, lots of children were born into and absorbed by Babylonian culture much as Latino babies become Americanized when born into American culture.
Now notice!
When the Jews were released to go back and rebuild, they met up with the old Jews left behind and their children. A CLASH of cultures was inevitable!
The Bible stories were told DIFFERENTLY by the former captives because they had taken on Babylonian 'flavor'. So, who was going to be regarded as having the CORRECT story?
NOTE: In order to offend as few people as possible, the Old Testament included BOTH VERSIONS of several key stories into the text. There are two versions of creation, two versions of Noah's saga, etc.
These actually are two completely DIFFERENT tellings of legends and hand-me-down tales.
In one version, Noah took 7 of the clean animals, and 2 of the unclean.
So, the answer to your question is simple: the compiler of tales was trying to keep the peace.
Yes, I have noticed this and have asked about it before. No witness or any other religion ever saw a problem with what I saw as two creations of humankind. I asked a few elders and my study conductors. They said that the first account is just a generalised over view.
I said it didn't look like that to me. I really looks as though Adam and Eve were another matter, quite a separate matter from the first creation account. These two were to be in a sort of paradise. The rest was outside getting on with .........what ever process was happening.
That is why I found it interesting that God mentions things like weeds and such as things that are outside of this other perfect place. The bible really states that men and women were created before Adam. No one has ever been interested in this point until now.
It would make sense of so much as far as I'm concerned. Our evolution for example, the evolution of creatures and all else that was coming into existence. If only someone could engage on this topic without becoming either angry or trying to talk way over my head,...it would be of great interest to me.......perhaps you too
I also see this two creations thing as a threat to those who would like to keep mankind tied to religions. They (other religions) may feel very threatened by the conclusions we could reach about our descendants, our earth's continued changes, maybe it could cast doubt about the extent of the flood account. Especially if it is seen from the perspective of Adam and Eve being the only couple that are mentioned as important enough to merit God's attention. All the rest of mankind were left out of this particular....pact, or so to speak. It would make sense of so much that I cannot come to terms with in the Christian bible.
purr purr Who is the author of the book you are reading
Terri, where is the other account of Noah to be found in the bible
Thanks in advance
I had a 30 minute discussion with Mormon missionary lads about Genesis ( and other points) 2x this year. I explained to them that Genesis is a metaphor, not literal fact. They really don't think about stuff- perhaps more so than JWs, IMO.
the last story I always leave Mormons with--
2 LDS missionaries meet 2 Jws on the sidewalk-- each unsuccessfully tries to persuade the other that they have the "truth"
There are 3 three possible choices- do you know what they are? pause-
#1- the JWs are right and Mormons are wrong
#2- The Mormons are right and JWs are wrong
#3- do you know what #3 is? ( they usually act dumb, so I have to tell them)
Its, they are both wrong! Neither one has the truth!
Man does that go over like a lead balloon- but they need to think about that possibility.
