John Longhurst’s discussion (“Genesis 1 or 3?,” North of the 49th, Feb. 13) regarding the different perspectives of Genesis 1 and 3 raises the interesting question of why the compilers of the Hebrew Bible included two creation stories when each one seems complete as it is. The answer is that both are needed for their different perspectives. Scholars conclude that they were written by different authors miles apart and years apart, but each makes an important point. As the archaeologist W.F. Albright once said, “There is a truer truth than a literal truth.”
Daniel Hertzler
Scottdale, Pa.
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