The alleged contradiction between the two reports in Genesis 1 and 2 has unfortunately become the prevailing opinion of our society. Even various translations of the Scriptures have adopted it. The historical-critical theory assumes, on the basis of the names of God used in them, that the the two narratives originated from separated sources, an elohistic one and a yahwistic one, and believes them to be two completely unreconcilable conceptions.
This kind of differentation of sources cannot be gener- ally refuted here, but note that there is no justification for a differentiation on the basis of the names of God. “Elohim” is a title, “Yahwe” (usually translated “LORD”), a personal name. The so-called “second” account in Genesis 2:5-25 makes this clear, for “Yahwe” is not a substitute for “Elohim,” as many believe. Rather, the narrative continually speaks of “Elohim Yahwe” (the LORD God). This corresponds to the name, “Jesus Christ,” which also consists of a personal name and a title. Besides, deities and rulers in the ancient Near East frequently had several names. There were Egyptian pharaohs, for example, with 300 different ones.
The question is, whether or not the two narratives essentially contradict each other …
TS_Contradiciton_Creation_Account_Christianity_and_Society_Vol_7_1997
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