Thank you for the question on contradictions in Genesis, “Why do the Genesis accounts contradict each other?”
As one reads especially Genesis 1–2, one notices difference between those two chapters. Some individuals label them as contradictions while others label them as complimentary or clarification of the details in Genesis 1.
Quite often in my opinion, readers have not taken the time to study the text carefully and the wholeness of Scripture.
For example some Bible scholars or atheists have noted that there are two different names for God in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Genesis 1 uses the word, Elohim, for God and in Genesis 2 it uses the words, YHWH Elohim. Their conclusion is that there are either two gods or two writers with the second writer ignoring the first writer. This is a plausible explanation but not a satisfactory one. It seems unreasonable to me that the writer of Genesis 2 would ignore the writer of Genesis 1. Certainly he must be aware the difference of using Elohim and YHWH Elohim. Is there a reason for it?
In my opinion, there is. As one reads the Scripture, God is depicted as sitting on the throne in heaven, pronouncing declarations. The throne in heaven is never vacant. God reigns supreme. For God to “leave’ his throne would imply that he is “absent” or unaware of what may be happening in heaven or in the Universe while he is on earth. God is always on his throne in heaven.
In his pronouncement of the six days of creation, the text states that God acted in a way to make that announcement a reality. For example on Day 5, the text says this, “20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day” (NIV).
There is the pronouncement by God and the action of God. Genesis 2 states that YHWH Elohim created the Garden of Eden with its plants and animals. In the New Testament, it reveals greater details of the Godhead and the Creator of the life on earth.
John 1 says this, “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…10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him” (NIV).
Colossians 1 says this, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (NIV).
The question then becomes who is the person who created the things in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2? Is it God the Father, the first person of the Godhead or God the Son, the second person of the Godhead also known as YHWH Elohim? The New Testament states that it is Jesus, the incarnated Second Person of the Godhead who created the heavens and the earth.
Jesus stated that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18) so who did the Old Testament saints saw and talked to when they spoke to God? Jesus further stated that before Abraham was, he was and Abraham saw him and rejoiced (John 8:54–56). Abraham spoke to YHWH Elohim, that is to the Second Person of the Godhead, not to God the Father. Is this a plausible explanation and supported by Scripture. I believe so.
Thus the reader has to evaluate is there a “contradiction” between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 on the names of God or is Genesis 2 a further explanation of the Godhead who created the Universe and Earth supported by the New Testament.
Careful reading of the text and further comparison of other Scriptures may enable a person to resolve the seemingly contradictions within Genesis 1–2.
SUMMARY: Genesis 2 is a further explanation of how man fitted into the Garden of Eden with Genesis1 giving an overview of creation events.