It is often claimed that the creation accounts of Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 contradict each other, and so either the Bible is obviously flawed, or it is figurative rather than literal. The supposed contradication is that in Genesis 1, Adam and Eve are both created after the animals, whereas in Genesis 2, animals are created between the creation of Adam and Eve. This misunderstanding finds ground only in a misreading of the verses.

18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him." 19 The Lord God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man's side and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.Genesis 2:18-22

Verse 18 tells use that God had decided to make a companion for Adam. Verses 19 and 20 do not present a proceding chronological event, but rather an interlude, the events that led to God's decision in verse 18. Verse 21 picks back up with the story of the creation of Eve. Also, in Matthew 19:3-6, Jesus refers to both accounts, clearly believing them to be free of contradiction.