The Difference between Genesis 1:1-2:4 and Genesis 2:4 25

Marlene D'Souza

The Difference between Genesis 1:1-2:4 and Genesis 2:4?25:

Genesis 1:1-2:4 "GOD" is used in Genesis 1 A very structured account on how the world was created in 6 days and that God then rested on the 7th day. A description of what God created on each of the six days is given. God started his creation with the waters: "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:2 NIV)

The sequence of creation is: Vegetation, animals, man and woman (who are created simultaneously)

Everything that God created was good. "And God saw that it was good" is repeated for each day.

Genesis 2:4?25 "LORD GOD" is used in Genesis 2. No definition on how the world was made, no mention on how long it took to create.

There is no mention of God creating the sun, moon or light. The world is created from arid ground: "Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground." The sequence of creation is: Man is created first, the Garden of Eden, the rest of the vegetation, the animals and then woman was created from Man's rib. God creates the Tree of Life: "In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." And forbids Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the tree.

Important ideas that emerge about God from this exercise:

The most important idea that is reinforced in me from this exercise is that God, and God alone is the creator of everything. This comes through in Genesis 1 and 2. And although there may not be any scientific backing to the story of creation, as Guinan describes in "Creationism: What's a Catholic to do" Pope John Paul II taught that these passages are in the Bible "not in order to provide us with a scientific treatise, but in order to state the correct relationships of man with God and with the universe." This exercise help me reconfirm my faith that there need not be a contradiction between evolution and creation, but that God is in fact the creator of all things made.

Secondly, this exercise highlights that God is good and personal. It is repeatedly said throughout Genesis 1 that all that God made was good. All of creation was made with God's love. In addition, when God creates man, he creates everything man needs (food, shelter and a mate). He creates humanity from his own image and breathes life through his nostrils. This conjures an extremely intimate image with God and highlights the personal relationship that God is forming with humanity over all other living creatures.

The first Catholic Expectation is A Discerning Believer formed in the Catholic Faith who actively reflects on God's Word as communicated through the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. I believe that it is important to reflect on the story of Creation in order to understand the metaphors and to reflect on the

how a relationship can be formed between the stories of creation and evolution. I believe Pope Francis explains the relationship most eloquently in his address at Casina of Pius IV: "The Big Bang theory, which is proposed today as the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of a divine creator but depends on it. Evolution in nature does not conflict with the notion of Creation, because evolution presupposes the creation of beings who evolve."

My Understanding of Original Sin

I believe that original sin stems from the sin of our original parents "Adam and Eve". As stated in Language of the Heart : "When a child comes into the world, the child's potential is limited by the oppressive forces, the evils ins society, that surround the child." The story of creation is a reminder to the believer that humanity will always be tempted to sin, and that we will fall into temptation. However, we are also given the chance to repent for our sins, we can also put faith in God's everlasting love.

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