Editing the Bible: Genesis 1-3

I’ve been batting this idea around for a long time. What would happen if I edited the Bible (since I am a book editor by trade)? How much of an impact would it make if I simply removed anything that was scientifically or morally debunked: i.e. miracles, the endorsement of slavery, etc. How much would be left? Let’s find out.

Using an NIV copy of the Bible, I adapted the first three chapters of Genesis, removing any claims that could not be backed up by current understandings of how earth came into existence. The result was sing-songy and lilting and best of all, accurate!

GENESIS 1

1 The heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was. 3 And there was light. 5 There was evening, and there was morning. 8 And there was evening, and there was morning. 10 The dry ground and the waters. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed and trees bearing fruit with seed in it. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning. 16 Also the stars. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning. 23 And there was evening, and there was morning. 27 Male and female. 28 Fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and every living creature that moves on the ground. 30 And all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground. 31 And there was evening, and there was morning.

GENESIS 2

1 Thus the heavens and the earth in all their vast array. 9 All kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. 10 A river watering the garden flowed; it was separated into headwaters. 14 The name of one river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the other river is the Euphrates.

19 All the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. Whatever man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

GENESIS 3

1Now the serpent. 14 You crawl on your belly all the days of your life. 16 Pains in childbearing are very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. 18 The earth produces thorns and thistles, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.

Did I miss anything? Do you have questions about why I eliminated certain passages? What other Bible passages would you like to see edited? Let me know in the comments!