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The Creation of Man & Woman

The Principle of Recapitulation

Genesis, Chapters 1 & 2

 

The creation of man and woman is specifically addressed in Genesis 1 & 2.  It is mentioned in chapter 1 and then followed up in chapter 2.  Chapter 2 introduces one of the prime “principles of revelation” known as either “recurrence” or “recapitulation.”  This principle occurs when the Holy Spirit after stating a series of facts, subsequently elucidates and/or enlarges on one or more of the facts.  This He does in other sections of the Bible such as in the book of Deuteronomy, which is not simply a repetition of the Law but an interpretation of it.  Likewise, we see this principle employed with His use of four, instead of one Gospel.

 

Here in chapter 2 of Genesis, the Holy Spirit amplifies certain creative steps of God that He mentioned in the first chapter, specifically the creation of man and woman, which is the primary theme of the chapter.  This chapter expands on Genesis 1:26-30.

 

Genesis 1:26-30

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.    And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

 

This passage indicates the following facts.

 

  1. Man was created.  He did not evolve.  Science established on fact instead of assumption and presumption is in total agreement with this Biblical truth.  Jesus Christ also confirmed this truth in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6.  (Strong recommendation:  acquire and read everything possible by Chuck Missler, www.khouse.org).

 

  1. The creation of man reveals the Trinity.  This is specifically seen in the use of the plural pronouns in this passage.  The Trinity is taught throughout the Word of God, e.g., Genesis 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; 48:12-16; Psalm 2; 45:7; 110:1; Matthew 11:27; John 8:42; 10:30, 33; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7; etc.  Notice also that God states 3 times in this passage that He will create man in His own image.  Why the repetition?  Why exactly 3 times?

 

  1. Man is created in the “image of God.”  What does this mean?  Just as God is the Trinity, we are a trinity.  1 Thessalonians 5:23:  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Body – link to the physical world.

 

This component is fully functional at birth and involves physical “feelings.”

 

Soul – link to self-consciousness, reason, volition, emotion and conscience.

 

This component is developed through time and exposure to the environment.  A newborn is not aware of his existence, but eventually becomes aware of his individuality.  A newborn is ignorant, but eventually becomes educated and rational.  A newborn cannot make decisions, but eventually becomes decisive.  A newborn is without emotion, but quickly develops the feelings of anger, sadness, happiness, etc.  A newborn can’t distinguish right from wrong, but eventually develops norms and standards.

 

Spirit – link to God.

 

This component is “dead on arrival.”  Man’s spirit died at the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 6:6; 7:5, 18; Ephesians 2:1, etc.).  It becomes activated for all eternity at the “Second Birth” (John 3), when a person accepts by faith alone Christ alone for his own personal salvation.

 

  1. Man was given a mission, e.g., “fill” the earth, and “subdue” the earth and “rule” over it.

 

  1. Man and animals were initially meant to be vegetarians.  All this changed after the flood in Genesis 9:1-3 – Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

 

Genesis 2:4-7

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.  When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens – and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground – the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

 

In this passage the Holy Spirit, using the “principle of recapitulation,” gives further details of creation.

 

  1. The source of water prior to the existence of rain upon the earth.

 

  1. The creation of man – from (1) the dust of the ground and by (2) the breath of God.  It is interesting to note that human bodies are made up of the very same 17 elements that make up the dust of the ground.  The atoms that make up human molecules are fungible, that is, the carbon atoms needed are readily available and chemically interchangeable with any other carbon atoms (suggested reading:  Cosmic Codes by Chuck Missler, or visit his web site, www.khouse.org).  Man did not become a “living being” until God breathed [the spirit of] life into him.  Due to the fall of man in chapter 3, the spirit of man died immediately, and, the deterioration process of the body and soul was initiated.

 

Genesis 2:18-24

 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.  So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.  The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

 

The Holy Spirit provides further details on the creation of other living species and the reason for and the creation of woman.

 

  1. The creation of other living species – again, out of the elements of the ground.  The difference between man and all other living species is the “spirit of life” that God includes in every man and woman.

 

  1. The reason or “mission” of woman – to cure the loneliness of man and to be his “partner” in filling, subduing and ruling the earth.  This was accomplished after a review and naming of all other living species, confirming that this purpose could not be filled by any of them.

 

  1. The creation of woman – from a bone from (literally) “the side” of the man.

 

  1. The three-fold concept of marriage – (1) the concept of “cleaving,” which involves effort upon the part of man, (2) the concept of “leaving,” which involves a decision on the part of man (to leave his “childhood” and become a man who is responsible and accountable) and (3) the concept of “transformation,” i.e., “becoming one flesh,” which is both instantaneous and a process that matures over time.