Two Creations

The fresco by Michelangelo “The Creation of Eve” adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The work of the Italian master is deservedly considered one of the most significant masterpieces of Western European art. The mural depicts the famous scene from the Book of Genesis.

 Last night during the Rosary, someone happened to mention the two creation stories. To me it's not two different stories; it's two points of view.  Let's say an accident happened.  One says a car came careening down the street and crashed into a house.  And describing the same accident, another says, "John Smith's car was going too fast down Main Street and couldn't take the curve safely and drove across the Brown's front lawn and right into their living room.

The first story of creation is Genesis 1: 1-2:3.  Tells how God created the universe and topped off His work with creating man.

The second creation story is Genesis 2: 4-3:24.  Tells the relationship of man and woman to the rest of God's creation.

The scholars that put the Bible together noticed different styles of writing, vocabulary, grammar, and sources.  It was concluded that different authors must have contributed to the formation of the scriptures.  They are the Yahwist, Elohist, Priestly, and Deuteronomic traditions.  They each relate their stories from their traditions.  This accounts for different representations.

Genesis is not historically factual.  You could call it a saga, a folk tale, and even myth. It is a picture of the Israelites' relationship with God.  It definitely gives us a picture of God.