Question from a friend of WordTruth Ministries:
>> hello, my question is, was Adam and Eve the first man and woman created,
formed, or made? If that is so then why is it that in Genesis chapter 1
verse 27, "So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them." But, In chapter 2 of the book
of genesis verse7, "And
the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
Also, same chapter verse 18, the Lord created man a help meet for him.
which in verse18, It talks about animals that's what i think he's (God)
mean by help meet. But in verse 20, The Lord, Says that he needs a help
meet for Adam (I'm assuming that he's the first man) But, then God pulled
a rib and made woman. Which is known to be Eve. So, If this is so, Then
who is the woman that was created in chapter one?
WordTruth.Com Response:
Thank you for your question. There have been many people confused by the
creation account in chapters one and two of Genesis. First off, understand
that chapter one is a summary of the creation week by God. Chapter two
then provides more details concerning certain parts of that creation week.
This is very typical of the Semitic writings of that time. Unfortunately,
it sometimes confuses the modern reader into thinking there are two different
creation accounts -- there is only one.
Second, Gen. 1:27 indicates that God created the first man and the first
woman. While His work of creation was from nothingness, He formed the first
man from the dust of the ground. Yet God Himself breathed life into Adam
(Gen. 2:7). Genesis 2:7 merely provides some of the details of how God
created Adam as referenced in Genesis 1:27. So you could say correctly
that God created AND He formed the first man. He also created and
formed the woman from the rib of Adam (the word translated "rib" could
also mean simply Adam's "side") instead of from dust. There is significance
in this, not so much in the elements He used, but that the man and woman
are identified with one another in their humanity.
In verse 28-30, God gives them His charge as the first family to have
offspring and to be stewards of His creation. After making all things that
God described as "good",
He made the first man and woman, blessed them, and said all that He had
made was now "very
good" (v31).
Now in Gen. 2:18, God observed that a man alone was not good. Obviously
this is prior to the completion of the creation week in Gen.1:31 where
God said it was "all"
very good. God determined to make a female who would complement the man,
Adam. Animals are not mentioned until verses 19-20. God brought all the
animals to Adam to help Adam himself understand that while each of the
different types of animals had a helper (or helpmeet), Adam had no human
like himself. It was at this point that God made Eve from Adam's rib. So
we see that woman is a complement to the man so that one does not have
to go through life alone. This was in God's perfect world that He made
in the beginning.
We see the woman referenced through chapters 1 through 3 and not until
Gen. 3:20 that Adam named her "Eve."
I hope this is helpful to your understanding of this critical passage
of the Bible. All the essential doctrines of the Bible are rooted
in a proper understanding of God as the Creator of a perfect world, the
human choice to sin, God's judgment of sin (separation), and even a glimpse
into God's provision for sin, our Savior Jesus Christ (Gen. 3:15 mentions
the "seed
of the woman" who will "crush
the head of the serpent" indicating His triumph
over the work of Satan).
May God bless you with wisdom for salvation through Jesus Christ, grace
to handle every moment, and the fulness of His Spirit to guide you daily!
Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth.Com Ministry
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would
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Copyright 5/17/2000, Randy Lariscy.
