The two creation stories in the first two chapters of Genesis are theological treasures worthy of considerable study and contemplation. They differ from each other in starting point and order of creation, presumably because they are based on two different oral traditions passed down in different parts of the world and originating at different times. Scholars consider the Genesis 2 story to be much older than the Genesis 1 story.
We have learned much about the universe God created so our 21st century viewpoints about how that creation occurred are certain to be different from the viewpoints and understandings of a people occupying a tiny part of the universe, their known world, thousands of years ago.
Excuse me for making a statement that may upset some readers, but I have no trouble considering that God, outside of time and space as we know them, may have created this universe through an evolutionary process. I think it is fair to say that the methods in Genesis, by speaking and by hand, are examples of anthropomorphism, the assignment of human qualities to God, a considerably different process from what it means to say that God created us in his image. It seems more appropriate to consider that creation statement as referring to spiritual and perhaps mental image rather than to physical image. What ever the means of creation, The God-Inspired theological truths are the same. It was definitely not “atheistic evolution.”
The creation information chart below was first designed during a 2003 Old Testament Theology course at the Columbia SC Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Recent revisions were cosmetic and formatting changes to improve readability. The fundamental information remains the same.
Please take a look and do a little contemplating. I welcome comments and observations.
