Genesis 2 © John Stevenson, 2009 The Crowning of God’s Creation

Why are there two separate accounts of creation?

Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

The Sabbath Given as a memorial to the work of God in creation. Served as a memorial of God’s redemption. “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:15)

The Sabbath Given as a memorial to the work of God in creation. Served as a memorial of God’s redemption. The Sabbath was designed to be a shadow of things to come and not as an end unto itself.

Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17).

Genesis 1 The heavens and the earth are created in six days. Genesis 2 Creation of the man and woman (no time element mentioned). Man in his cosmic setting Man as central to God’s purpose Panorama of creation as a whole Detailed focus on one aspect of creation Centers on God creating the heavens and the earth Centers on man as the crowning act of God’s creation

Genesis 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. ~yhil{a/ hw"hy> (Yahweh Elohim)

Genesis 2:5 Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Genesis 2:5 Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground. No rain (corrected in verse 6). No rain (corrected in verse 6). No man (corrected in verse 7). No man (corrected in verse 7).

Genesis 2:6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.

Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. hm'd' a] Adamah ~d'a' Adam

Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Literally: “breath of lives”

Genesis 2:8 The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. The word edenu in Akkadian means “garden” or “paradise.”

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14)

Genesis 2:9 Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers (Genesis 2:10). Pishon (around the whole land of Havilah) Gihon (around the whole land of Cush) Tigris (east of Assyria) Euphrates

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. (Psalm 46:4).

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.“ (Genesis 2:16-17)

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14) Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15) Forbidden fruit (16-17)

Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

Verse 18 It is not good that man should be alone Verses 19-20Verses The need for a companion for the man Creation and naming of the animals The inadequacy of the animals for this companionship Creation of the woman The providing of the woman as a companion for the man

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14) Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15) Forbidden fruit (16-17) Man in need of a helper: not good to be alone (18) Animals in garden are given names (19-20) Woman created: Formed from rib (21-24) Creation complete: Man & woman naked & unashamed in presence of God (25)

Formulate and discuss the idea of a “theology of clothes” from the following passages: Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:7, 21 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Revelation 3:17-18

Homework Due Next Week Write a prayer reflecting on God's work in Genesis 1-3