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| Earl Gillespie |
Who Was Adam and Eve?
Genesis 1:27-28 So
God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female
created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth.
The question of who was Adam and Eve does not rate high on the scale of biblical research, because we have been introdoctinated into a firm belief that all human life evolved from Adam and Eve. Yet, there is no biblical statement or verse that truly validates this long running conclusion, it is just something we have been taught based upon the merging of two seemly unrelated verses. Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image,"... And Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. There are those who questioned the validity of the merging of these two verses, but few stepped forward to search for a deeper answer. The acceptance of this conclusion opens the door to a host of questions that continue to plague modern man. The failure of modern religion to answer rightly certain questions that has arisen has stalled the advancement of Christianity in many arenas because there is this embedded doubt in the heart of man. The Devil first played on this doubt In his conversation with Eve. This hidden doubt was also expressed in Thomas acceptance of the risen Christ. The Bible teacher or preacher that cannot fully address the question of the dinosaurs or the different races will have a problem, fostering a true concept of Christianity in a world where young people on the average spend more than twelve years being acclimated to the teaching and benefits of science. They are forced into a dilemma, I believe what the Bible says or I believe what they teach in school.
To conclude many discussions, truisms are often inserted to preclude any further discussions. "God can do anything he wants to". Often we rejoice in the fact that there is nothing impossible with God, To the un-introdoctrinated these cute catchy cliches are nothing but cop-outs to addressing the real problem and questions that exist. We can also use these truisms to preclude or conclude any discussion on the question of who was Adam or Eve.
Other than basing the answer to this important question upon speculation, that tends to make the speaker look or sound religious, the first and only verse that adds credence to the accepted hypothesis is Geneses 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. In the King James Version there are only four references to Eve, two in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament. And interesting postscript to a very important lady.
Quoting from Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Concordance, we see the following, the name Adam was assigned to the man by God, which signifies red earth, Adam, in further token of dominion, named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve that of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given Because she was (that is, was to be) the mother of all living. Before this declaration Adam had called her Ishah--woman, as a wife; here he calls her Evah--life, as a mother. Now, 1. If this was done by divine direction, it was an instance of God's favor, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, and an assurance to them that, notwithstanding their sin and his displeasure against them for it, he had not reversed the blessings wherewith he had blessed them: Be fruitful and multiply. It was likewise a confirmation of the promise now made, that the seed of the woman, of this woman, should break the serpent's head. 2. If Adam did it of himself, it was an instance of his faith in the word of God. Doubtless it was not done, as some have suspected, in contempt or defiance of the curse, but rather in a humble confidence and dependence upon the blessing. (1.) The blessing of a reprieve, admiring the patience of God, that he should spare such sinners to be the parents of all living, and that he did not immediately shut up those fountains of the human life and nature, because they could send forth no other than polluted, poisoned, streams. (2.) The blessing of a Redeemer, the promised seed, to whom Adam had an eye, in calling his wife Eve--life; for he should be the life of all the living, and in him all the families of the earth should be blessed, in hope of which he thus triumphs
This interpretation seems to present a more truthful approach because it refuses to apply a literal interpretation of the scripture, that if it did so, it would create more problems that it would solve. Here again, I must apply the rule, if my brother who work with cattle asked me to stand in the gate and don't let anything pass, did he just offer me a lifetime job or was it something that need to be done at that moment in time? If he were to add an interpretation to his simple request he would have to assume I was mentally challenged.
The question of Adam being the first man created is not a biblical fact, it is an hypothesis or at worse an assumption created by merging two separate incidents. Adam was the representation of God's chosen people. I searched the entire King James version of the Bible for information concerning Adam. There are twenty nine references to Adam in the Old and New Testament, there is none that says Adam was the first man created. 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. What does this verse really say? The context is established between the first and last Adam. The only two men whose existed was "formed by God'. This verse should not be taken out of the context of the entire chapter and used to justify a point that is not being made here. This is a discussion of the first and the last Adam in reference to our salvation, not the creative works of God. The last man Adam restored what the first man Adam lost. 1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. Why did it not say "created"?
Jesus is the federal head of His elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham, when Melchizedek met him: it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure for ever. Thus, whatever Christ hath done, He hath wrought for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does, is ours as well as His, seeing that He is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution.
Genesis 4:16-18 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. Here it becomes necessary to prove that Cain married his sister. Why did God have such a burning hatred of the Canaanites. Were they not the same bloodline of Adam?
Genesis 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
The sixth chapter of Geneses opens up another interesting avenue of discussion that is often overlooked. Genesis 6:1-3 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God, (Who were the Sons of God?) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Some hold that these "sons of God" were the "angels which kept not their first estate" Jude 1:6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Genesis 7:5-10 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
This interpretation seems to present a more truthful approach because it refuses to apply a literal interpretation of the scripture, that if it did so, it would create more problems that it would solve. Here again, I must apply the rule, if my brother who work with cattle asked me to stand in the gate and don't let anything pass, did he just offer me a lifetime job or was it something that need to be done at that moment in time? If he were to add an interpretation to his simple request he would have to assume I was mentally challenged.
The question of Adam being the first man created is not a biblical fact, it is an hypothesis or at worse an assumption created by merging two separate incidents. Adam was the representation of God's chosen people. I searched the entire King James version of the Bible for information concerning Adam. There are twenty nine references to Adam in the Old and New Testament, there is none that says Adam was the first man created. 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. What does this verse really say? The context is established between the first and last Adam. The only two men whose existed was "formed by God'. This verse should not be taken out of the context of the entire chapter and used to justify a point that is not being made here. This is a discussion of the first and the last Adam in reference to our salvation, not the creative works of God. The last man Adam restored what the first man Adam lost. 1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. Why did it not say "created"?
Jesus is the federal head of His elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love. The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham, when Melchizedek met him: it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure for ever. Thus, whatever Christ hath done, He hath wrought for the whole body of His Church. We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head. As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does, is ours as well as His, seeing that He is our representative. Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution.
Genesis 4:16-18 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. Here it becomes necessary to prove that Cain married his sister. Why did God have such a burning hatred of the Canaanites. Were they not the same bloodline of Adam?
Genesis 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Numbers 21:3 And the
LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and
they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the
place Hormah.
The sixth chapter of Geneses opens up another interesting avenue of discussion that is often overlooked. Genesis 6:1-3 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God, (Who were the Sons of God?) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Some hold that these "sons of God" were the "angels which kept not their first estate" Jude 1:6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Genesis 7:5-10 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Genesis 6:3 And the
LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is
flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. The Bible is not a complicated book, if we study to rightly divide the Word of truth. it tells the story of the creative works of God and how God interacted with his creation. It tells of a time when God was actively fighting for his people and it it tell of a time when God was silent. It tells the story of his son coming to redeem the lost world and it tells of how his very own Son was rejected. The story ends when God pours out his wrath out on a sin cursed world. Humanity was tested and those that passed the test would be able to rule with his son,
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