Commentary on Genesis 1 and 2

From Whit:

After all the Bible does not state Adam was the first human.  It is simply a story for how the characters of Adam and Eve were created and came to know knowledge.  Also, their "eyes were opened" perhaps referring to a new sense involving vision.  For all we know the opening of the eyes could refer to a multi-dimensional seeing or greater sense.  And when the Bible tells of Adam and Eve's creation, He does not say Adam was the first.  It is our assumption that Adam was the first; for why else would God refer to Himself as "us." When God refers to Himself as "one of us," He is entitling man (Adam and Eve) to life amongst His presence. Having banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden He still states that Eve should give birth again and Adam shall work the land.   So while they are banished from the Holiest of areas they may still live.  So considering God is omnipresent (& this is my faith) He is still with humanity and our fruit bearing generations.  So, what are we to think of God's use of the title and expression "us" when it refers to Himself? Wether the expression "us" refers to Adam as new creation and altogether worthwhile novelty; or wether, Adam is a series of created humans God has given life and vision to; we may never know.

 From Aaron:

Any time we read the bible we need to ask the question, "what am I assuming here?"  We have to be careful even with our knowledge, perspective, etc. in trying to read and apply the bible to our lives.  Needing to ask this question in interpreting and applying what I believe is God's inspired inerrant truth is what is so helpful when getting insights from Whit.  He isn't afraid of the big question. He puts it all on the table. He wonders about certain phrases and helps me personally look at a passage of scripture in a whole new light.  With that said, when Whit speaks to God's use of the word "us" my understanding of that word use would attach to a trinitarian belief in God.  In other words, God is made of the three parts; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  One passage that comes to mind in thinking about this is John 1:1-5 when it says,  

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

What I find a great mystery is speaking to Whit's first point about Adam being the first human.  Continuing with this train of thought would be looking later at Cain. Who did Cain marry? After Cain is cursed in Genesis 4 who would kill him if he was the first offspring of Adam and Eve?  

These are a great questions to think about but my bottom-line is to understand them as God's revelation and to the best of my limited brain can handle try to understand and apply to my life.