It would have been better for the English reader had the Bible been sectioned off into paragraphs, instead of into chapters and verses; as the present arrangement, while not without its excellencies, is yet exceedingly defective and arbitrary in numerous instances. Of this we have an example in chap. 2 of Genesis, the first three verses of which ought to have concluded chap. 1. The subject then of the first 34 verses of the Bible is creation; God, the creatorial title, which occurs 34 times, is the one there used It is an interesting thought, that "God," the historical name of the Deity, will be found in the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament in a plural form about 2,700 times: it is the broad and comprehensive title used when man as such, or creation are in view. When the moral purpose of that creation is in question, and man's special position and relationship therein, as in chap. 2., then the compound title LORD GOD or LORD simply, is the fitting and expressive one. The revelation of the Deity to the pilgrim fathers of old was as "God Almighty" (Exod. 6:33And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:3)); to the covenant people of Israel as Jehovah (Exod. 6:33And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:3)); but as Father of Christ to Christians (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17))-thereby putting us in the Son's relationship with the Father.
Instead, therefore, of "double documents" forming the materials from which Moses wrote the book of Genesis, and in place of "two independent and contradictory accounts of creation," as furnished in chapters 1 and 2, as alleged by modern religious infidelity, it is the very reverse of what Rationalism would assert.
Nor dare we own the work, however well intentioned, of so-called "Christian Apologists," who have so little faith in God and His word that they seek to gloss over or reconcile the numerous differences in the Scriptures. Two essential requisites are needed for the removal of Biblical difficulties: first, unbounded confidence in God and unquestioning faith in His Word; and second, an honest confession of ignorance, and willingness to wait for light. The theory of previous and more ancient documents from which Moses compiled the early chapters of Genesis, is a mere idle figment of the schoolmen's brain. Pray, whoever read those old curious documents? Can you tell us of one person who ever saw them I Nay, we go further, Can you tell us of a writer previous to Moses, or heard you ever of a scrap of writing anterior to the books of Genesis and Job? Why this determined effort to get rid of Scripture—to destroy its divine character? Ah! because in their souls men know it to be the Word of God, their consciences are troubled at the future judgment it reveals. Blessed Word of God! We welcome it, for it has spoken peace to our souls: it has searched us, but in the presence of grace which has blotted out the sin and revealed the work of the Savior, which has set Him and us in the same position in the presence of God—spotless and in glory. The testimony of Jesus to Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (Matt. 19:3-93The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:3‑9); Luke 24:4444And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44), etc.); and to its divine character (John 5:45-4745Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:45‑47); Luke 24:2727And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)), is worth more than cartloads of ponderous German and English religious skepticism.
The first two chapters of the Bible are not contradictory of each other, nor do they contain separate accounts of creation, nor are divine names used there in a loose and arbitrary manner; but all is divine, inspired, and perfect. The first chapter, including the first three verses of the second, treat of creation—of the work and rest of God, hence in the account the creatorial title or historical name—God, is alone employed: whereas in the second chapter, the man's special and unique place in the created scene, and his moral relationships, are fully unfolded, so we have the fitting title LORD GOD used about 20 times.
It will be observed that, while in chapter 1 the creation of the man and his headship over all wind up the account, the additional features, such as the Lord God breathing life into man's nostrils, the special creation of the woman, the intelligent naming of the animals, and the account of the garden of Eden as the place of testing, mark the special teaching of the second chapter-which is to found the moral relationships of the responsible man with God, with creation, and with the woman.