Read Genesis 2 at Bible Gateway.
My belief is that the Spirit of God inspired men to write God’s words and not their own words. We first see this in action in Genesis 2.
The Chapter 1 and 2 Teaching Tool of Hebrew paragraph divisions are:
1:1-5 First day of Creation
1:6-8 Second day of Creation
1:9-13 Third day of Creation
1:14-19 Fourth day of Creation
1:20-23 Fifth day of Creation
1:24-31 Sixth day of Creation
2:1-3 Seventh day of Creation
2:4-3:15 …
Another common teaching tool is Comparison and Contrast, which comes to light right here. When we compare the creation account of Genesis 1 with that of Genesis 2, we find that they make a contrast. Genesis 2:5 seems to begin a new account of the Creation which differs from the account of Genesis 1:1-2:3.
These are the generations of the heavens and the earth … Gen 2:4
“Generations” is in Hebrew, toledoth, (meaning generation, account, or history) and is our first clue. In the ancient Near East, authors signed their records with their toledoth or signature at the end. It means that Genesis 1:1–2:3 is one account (the ‘origin’ or ‘history’ of the heavens and the earth), and Genesis 2:4 is its signature. Who wrote it? Logically, the only One who saw it all—God Himself! He relayed this history to Adam.
Then, Genesis 2:5 onward is Adam’s account, inspired by the Holy Spirit. As the first man, he witnessed the garden’s details and added his perspective. These aren’t contradictions—they’re two authors describing the same event from different angles. God’s account in Genesis 1 is chronological; Adam’s in Genesis 2 zooms in on the garden and people. When we expect every account to be in historical order, we miss the point. Understanding this eliminates half the “contradiction” claims critics throw at the Bible.
Why This Matters: Genesis is an ancient written record, not just an oral transmission, and the language embedded in these eyewitness accounts proves it’s been preserved. God is revealing to us the beauty of His creation and His plan through different lenses.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Genesis: Finding Our Roots – Ruth Beechick
Do Genesis 1 and 2 contradict each other? – Answers in Genesis
Linguistics, Genesis, and Evolution – Answers in Genesis
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