We've all heard the hoary old error that there are two versions of creation in Genesis: chapters 1 and 2.
Part of the problem we modern readers have is that the Bible was not written in 'chapters'. It was written in 'books'. Any chapter divisions are artificial, and as they say in legal documents, the headings (the chapters) do not form part of the contract.
Ignore the chapters, and the verses. They are just a location grid imposed on the organic unity of the books.
Besides, if one want's to talk about separate creation accounts in Genesis, I count three:
Genesis 1:1, 2
Genesis 1:3-2:4, and
Genesis 2:5-25.
However, not so.
This passage (Genesis 1-3) is composed like a journalist's telescope (or how I was taught to write governmental documents). It moves from the chief message to a sequence of more detailed elaboration.
Genesis 1:1, 2 is the grand revelation of God's creating.
Genesis 1:3-2:4 is about the cosmos in detail in terms, and elaborated on earth itself: the home of man-in-God's-image.
Genesis 2:4-3:8 focuses on man-in-God's-image and the relationship with God, coming to a jarring climax and crushing disruption in 3:8.
3:8 shows that this is the domain of God in fellowship with Man: God seeks Man. Man hides from God. This verse is where the idea of material evolution springs from: creation without God, without Word, wisdom, knowledge or understanding (Proverbs 3:19, 20); without purpose and without persons a creation where Man hides from God and puts Fortune and Destiny in his place (Isaiah 65:11),
The remainder of 3 is the denouement: man has rejected God. God leaves man to confront his choice, but yet acts to save (3:21).
All of this is the creation account. It tells us how and why we have arrived where we are.
