Content Exchange: Genesis 1-3

So recently another friend and I arranged a “content exchange” — we both give each other something to read and after reading it I provide some commentary about what I read.

In this case my friend gave me three distinct pieces of content to review, so I will write a brief review about each one.

Genesis Chapters 1-3

As many people know the beginning of the Old Testament is the book Genesis which outlines the primary creation myth of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is allegedly written by Moses as a prophet of God.

Naturally I have read these chapters several times before. But in any case, I read through them again with fresh eyes to analyse them from a secular standpoint.

Basic, Primary Response

These three chapters outline a story — the Bible’s version of why humans exist and how we got here on the earth.

My primary, extremely basic response is: Why should I believe this story, instead of any other creation myth? 

I want to put things into perspective for a minute.

Look at this webpage on Wikipedia about “list of creation myths”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_creation_myths

Note, if you scroll down the page, eventually you arrive at a category of creation myths called “ex nihilo” (out of nothing), and underneath that you will see the Genesis creation myth.

Along with an entire massive list of creation myths we’ve probably not heard of.

The main reason we’ve not heard of them is purely chance — we were born into, or converted into religions that subscribe to certain creation myths. But to many people around the world, these other creation myths are just as real — and explain the purpose of life just as profoundly.

Think about it: based on what reason do we believe in the Bible’s story of Adam and Eve, instead of the Greek creation myth of a universe emerging out of chaos?, which describes:

“He begins with Chaos, a yawning nothingness. Out of the void emerged Gaia (the Earth) and some other primary divine beings: Eros (Love), the Abyss (the Tartarus), and the Erebus.[24] Without male assistance, Gaia gave birth to Uranus (the Sky) who then fertilized her. From that union were born first the Titans—six males: Coeus, Crius, Cronus, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Oceanus; and six females: Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Rhea, Theia, Themis, and Tethys. After Cronus was born, Gaia and Uranus decreed no more Titans were to be born…”

And on and on it goes, in great detail. Why not believe that creation myth? Why believe in Adam and Eve? Where’s the evidence?

Bible Authorship and Analysis

Now, we turn to something a bit more interesting.

If you go to a modern university and learn theology, chances are you will encounter information about the Bible’s authorship — who were the original authors of the various sections of the Bible?

Regarding the Torah, among the three major possible models (which all agree that the Torah did not have a single author), there is the JEPD model (The Documentary Hypothesis).

This model explains by source analysis that there were four primary authors of the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy):

1. The Jahwist Source — who names God Yahweh
2. The Elohist Source — who names God Elohim
3. The Priestly Source — concerned with priesthood, ritual and genealogies
4. The Deuteronomist — likely a school or movement who redacted the texts

As I was reading Genesis 1, 2 and 3, I was struck with how obvious the transition is between The Priestly Source (who wrote Genesis 1:1 – 2:3), and then the sharp cut to the Jahwist source (wrote the rest of chapter 2 and 3). It’s quite obvious that there’s a sharp change in tone and language, furthermore the entire creation story is re-told (rather obviously), with several points contradicting!

These chapters and the identified writer are highlighted in this article: https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Bible/King_James/Documentary_Hypothesis/Genesis — as you can see there’s a sharp cut from verse 3 to 4 in Genesis 2:

Without reading any external analysis, here are my notes about the differences between the Priestly Source and the Jahwist Source’s creation accounts:

The Priestly Source (Genesis 1:1 – 2:3)	The Jahwist Source (Genesis 2:4 – Genesis 3)
Man created last chronologically, AFTER the animals (1:27)	Man created first chronologically BEFORE the animals (2:7-8)
No mention of the Garden of Eden	Man created within the Garden of Eden first (2:8, 2:15)
No mention of man naming the animals	Animals created after man, in the garden, and man names them (2:19)
A lot more information about “pre-man/animal creation”	A lot more information about “post-man/animal creation”
No mention of Tree of Knowledge, serpent, “the fall”	Tree of Knowledge, Satan, Fall, all details contained
God is named Elohim (Hebrew / English reference)	God is named Yahweh (Hebrew/English reference)
English deity name is “God” (Elohim)	English deity name is “the LORD” (Yahweh)

 

Conclusion

Nothing much more to say here. It’s been fun.