This was after He had formed him out of the dust of the ground (another
"its-the Earth" kind?) Genesis 2:7
>This could be viewed as a solution of the problem
>of what the "kinds" mean: there are only three kinds: material, spiritual,
>and material beings who carry the image and likeness of God. In any case
>it is not in any way saying that God directly made any of the living plants
>or creatures.
I think this needs some more work. I did a quick word study of the word
usage of "kinds" and can find no reference to "spiritual kinds"
although the Bible does record spiritual beings. In Genesis 1:24
reference is made to kinds of creatures (lit. Hebrew "nephesh" which
denotes soul) but obviously they were not spiritual creatures.
In Genesis, the Bible does not use the term "kinds" in describing all
material things, only those that were living.
For example, Genesis 1:11 (NAS) says.. "Let the Earth sprout vegetation
(or grass), plants (or herbs) yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing
fruit after their (literally "its") kind, with seed in them (literally
"in which is its seed"), on the Earth"...
The obvious use of the word "kind" in this instance could denote
reproductive relationship or capability. The other quotes in Genesis
are not as specific in terms of reproduction, however the initial
meaning is first set in verse 1:11 and the verses that follow do not in
any way contradict or redefine it.
Then in Leviticus 19:19 we read... "... Ye shall keep my statutes.
Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind..." Again, a
reproductive relationship.
All other reference to the use of the word kind fit the common usage
and definition i.e. 1 Chron. 28:14 "... for all instruments of every
kind of service", 2 Chron 10:7 "... If thou be kind to this people, and
please them", etc.. in both the Old and New Testament.
>In any case
>it is not in any way saying that God directly made any of the living plants
>or creatures.
Neither does it say that God indirectly made them either (unless
someone on this list is an expert at Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew and can
enlighten us). This is obviously the problem with the English
translations, we tend to attach several meanings to the same word.
Paul Durham