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If Adam and Eve's creation, as described in 2:4-25, was on the 7th day or later, who was created on the 6th day in 1:26-31?

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

But it doesn't say Adam and Eve. There are any number of opinions and theories on this subject (for example, that "day" here is the epoch of man, which we are still in, or that this was a "generic" creation of man in contract with the special creation of Adam, etc. The more secular, of course, suggest that it is merely the incorporation of two different creation myths, an idea that I find irrational).

I don't have any strong opinion on any of them (other than the theories that discount the text altogether), other than the basic principle that I think the text itself is accurate and not a "metaphor", and that if it seems to contradict what is known from the physical sciences, or seems to contradict itself, then it is merely our understanding of the scripture that is inaccurate.

I'm glad to see various beliefs fairly represented within this thread. My I ask, though, why is it hard to accept that there are two different stories, focussing on two different lessons, describing the same historical event?

>>for example, that "day" here is the epoch of man, which we are still in

Some say this is the 8th day of creation, that the 7th was previous to the incarnation. I do believe, personally, that the "days" refer to epochs, and there are several bible passages to support that notion.

>>or that this was a "generic" creation of man in contract with the special creation of Adam, etc.

Well, that would suggest that there were other *fully human* beings before Adam, a notion which is in great conflict with biblical literalism *and* doctrine held by even not-so-literalist Christians, such as Catholics, ECLAs, Episcopalians, etc (recognizing that all of these denominations contain literalists).

>>...two different creation myths, an idea that I find irrational

Well, if one asserts that they are *mere* myths, I certainly could see how you would disbelieve that notion, as a Christian. But what is irrational?

Here's something shocking I just discovered: I was going to point out how there even seems to be a conlusion to one story line (Gen 2.3), and then a new story line introduced, including a brief introduction to the creation of heaven and earth (Gen 2.4). But what amazed we was this:

In the DAY that the Lord made the Heavens and the Earth, and every plant BEFORE it was in the Earth...

First, this seems to say that the Heavens and Earth were formed on the same day, He just planted it all later. (I checked, and the Hebrew word, "before" is not used in the sense of placing something "before" something else.)

Second, casually reading the next few verses, in isolation to Gen 1, seems to suggest that this is when Adam was made (Gen 2.7-8), and only *then* were these plants set in the garden.