Who are the first human male and female?
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
India
May 30, 2008 12:21pm CST
I have come up with a point that confuses me in Genesis, and I would like your help with it.
Now Genesis chapter 1, verse 7 says: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Genesis chapter 2, verses four to seven say: "..when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD GOD had not caused rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground--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."
Please read those two carefully. I have copied them from the Bible and you may check them. Now I am really confused. I have been told right from childhood that man was created in the image of God and woman was carved from his rib.
But the first chapter of Genesis, verse 7 clearly says that God created the first human male and female in his own image. No mention of man being created first and woman coming from his rib later in this chapter and verse. They are created equally and given dominion over all creation.
And in contrast the second chapter of Genesis speaks about how God created man of dust and breathed life into him because there was no man to till the field. We are descendants of this "dust man" who will go back to dust, whose mate was carved of his rib. This man is NOT created in the likeness of God; on the contrary, God only breathes life into the dust image!!
So, I see two couples here: The couple in chapter one, created in the likeness of God, male and female created simultaneously, AND the second couple, our parents, the famous Adam and Eve we know so well and the apple story associated with them.
My question is this: Who are the male and female created in the likeness of God in Genesis Chapter one, verse 7? What happened to this couple?
Please note that I mean no disrespect to anybody's religious beliefs. I genuinely have a doubt and I would like to know.
Cheers and happy mylotting!
4 people like this
7 responses
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
2 Jun 08
Do you know what? I really don't care which version is 'true' or believe that either is. I look upon Bible stories as a way for ideas to be carried mouth to mouth in a period when few people could read.
It doesn't make them any less valid, or dilute their message, but somehow my point of view has singled me out for rather allot of flack in the past.
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
2 Jun 08
Don't worry, Moo, I still love you!! ha ha ha LOL
You see, I am not at all religious. But, I am intrigued by the idea of God. I don't understand what makes man and woman so crazy whenever the topic of God comes up. Actually, my views are so different that many Christians have told me that if "I don't repent and accept the Lord at once, I will burn in the everlasting flames of hell." OUCH!!!
I am reading the Bible and starting all these discussion because I am intrigued. I want to know what people, especially believers have to say about all these points in the OT.
Cheers and thanks for responding3 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
3 Jun 08
Oh, we could just turn on the air conditioner to cool those flames.
2 people like this
@jillbeth (2705)
• United States
30 May 08
This is my view on the subject:
Adam and Eve were not the first humans God created, as many believe and you have observed. Humans were created on the sixth day, not just a man and woman, but a whole race of people, and given authority over the animals (hunters). Notice that Adam and Eve come after the seventh day. God created Adam to be the gardener of the Garden of Eden, and then created Eve as Adam's companion.
I believe Adam and Eve were the first humans created for his special purpose of bringing salvation to us; they were the first couple in the lineage of Jesus.
We know that their son Cain took a wife. Unless you believe, as some do (and I don't), that he married his sister (and no mention was made of other siblings except Able), then there must have been other humans already on the planet.
Man was not created in God's physical likeness, because God is a spirit and has no physical body, or at least he didn't until Jesus was born. Man was created in His spiritual image.
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
31 May 08
Hi jillbeth, thank you so much for your response. Actually, I was a bit shocked to read this. The Roman Catholic Church in which I was brought up somehow clubbed these two verses together. We were taught the Adam was the original man created in the likeness of God. I had no idea about the race created on the sixth day, nobody told me. Only when I read the Genesis closely yesterday, it struck me and I decided to ask you guys on Mylot.
So, do you think Cain married one of those original people, the ones created in God's likeness? Wow, it does seem possible.
Thanks so much for responding. :)
Cheers and happy mylotting!
2 people like this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
4 Jun 08
as with all religions, the bible is a lie. It is made up to explain complex events to simple people. Im sure no one ever expected anyone ever to take it as literal truth, niether the bible, qaran or any other book for that matter, at the end, its still a lie
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
5 Jun 08
Hi Eskarena, I started reading the Bible carefully because I was totally confused by some of the religious discussions here. Some people begin discussions condemning others' faiths and scriptures while saying that the Bible is God's word and the Biblical God is the only God who can save you, otherwise you will go to hell. I admit I was confused while reading all this, and that inspired me to read the Bible.
Well, I have closely read the Genesis, and all I see is that it is the tale of one small tribe (the Israelites) The Bible doesn't explain the other races of the world. The records of one little tribe, their fortunes and misfortunes and their faith in a monotheistic deity is faithfully given here. This could be history, or a beautiful story. To put it in a nutshell, you are RIGHT! The Bible is definitely not what many people claim it to be.. I find it to be a nice story.
I can also add something interesting here. If the Biblical heroes were alive now and living in modern times, nobody would have approved of them. They were corrupt, cruel, and liars. Incest and adultery were common. And the condition of women was horrible.
Cheers and thanks for your lovely response.
1 person likes this
@carinio98 (2929)
• Philippines
30 May 08
you make me confuse on it too...
but i know the first man to be on earth was adam...
and then lately god created eve from adams rib so the 2 being was born... thats all i know for sure...2 people like this
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
you are confused bro.. ^_^ read Chapter 2 very well.. check this out..
correction -- not Genesis 1:7 but Genesis 1:27
Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were CREATED.
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
4 Jun 08
The Bible is absolutely clear regarding this matter. Your quoted line "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created."
You are stressing on "they" and arguing that "they" stand for the first man and woman. But it is clear that "They" stand for heavens and earth. :)
It is clear that God created two different races of people--one in His own image. He gave this couple everything he created.
He created Adam to take care of Eden. He did not give Adam anything else. And Adam annoyed Him by eating fruits he was not supposed to touch. There were important fruits there, and imagine what would have happened if a half-breed like Adam ate of the "Tree of Life." No wonder He kicked Adam out! He gave Adam nothing but curses. LOL It is quite clear. But being a merciful God, he did take care of Adam as well.
Late in the Genesis, we have a verse like "sons of God mated with the daughters of earth." I think these "sons of God" belonged to the first race of humans. And "daughters of the earth" came from Adam.
The Bible records nothing about the very first couple (the sixth day couple). I think these were the Pagans. No wonder even Jesus was fond of the Gentiles.
Cheers and happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
haha.. ^_^ what kind of mind do you have.. it is clear that Genesis Chapter 2 where focusing on Adam and Eve.. ^_^ can't you understand.. the whole scenario.. read it ^_^ are you a 3 year old girl? ^_^ you said that "they" is referring to heaven and earth.. then what is in the earth..?? obviously plants, animals etc.. and Man and Woman.. ^_^
@senjacob (124)
•
3 Jun 08
hi positive minded,
God created adam as a first man in the world,there is no doubt for that.. In Genesis first chapter ,moses wrote a story,later he explains briefly in second chapeter,there is no doubt for that,adam is the first man created by god...
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
4 Jun 08
If you keep reading Genesis chapter 1, it also says at the end of verse 27, "God he created him; male and female he created them." Then it goes on to say on verse 28, "And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful & multiply......." I'm not saying either or but if they were different then Adam & Eve, first couple was "Blessed" by God as well...
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
and notice one more... ^_^
in Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
