Whakapapa: Adam and Eve

Introduction of People in the Bible

WHAKAPAPA | GENEALOGY #1 : Adam + Eve [Gen 1-3]

At the beginning of the 6,000 years of Gods history, God created the Garden of Eden in the east and dwelt there.

Before we break down the content of these chapters and understand who Adam and Eve were, it is important that we recognise that Genesis is not just a book of history, it is something deeper. Genesis 1 doesn’t record the creation of the physical Heaven and Earth, but the spiritual Heaven and Earth which are expressed through figuative explanations, through examples in the natural world for us to understand. If we were to read this chapter literally, we would be confused and frustrated by the contradictions that it has in a natural sense. Furthermore, there is scientific evidence that points to the world being over 1 billion years old with most scholars saying that Earths first life forms only existed 3.8 million years ago. With this evidence proved by geologists and biologists, this wouldn’t make sense and would infer that all these evidences are mere lies.

When we read the story of Genesis 1, it unpacks the 6 day process God took to create the Heaven and the Earth. First animals are created, then man. Genesis 2 describes Adam and the Garden of Eden. This may seem confusing, but Gn 2:19 says that God brought the animals he had already created to Adam. It doesn’t mean that God first created Adam and then the animals, Genesis 1 and 2 are in chronological order.

The second point to highlight here is the question often asked. Was Adam the man was the first man that was created? -- and the answer to that is no. The evidence can be found in Gn 4:13-14 where Cain, Adams son, was afraid other people would try and kill him. Another example of this is Gn 2:24 where it is implied that Adam has parents through God telling him to leave his parents and unite with his wife.

Continuing on, when we read Genesis 2, it specifically outlines the process of the creation of man. The creation described in a more in detail story of regarding the work that went on during the 6th day in Genesis 1. And so we come to the Garden of Eden and the main featured character who we commonly know as Adam.

What was Garden of Eden?

The Garden of Eden was the creation made by God. It was made first before man in the east and contained the following:

- The Tree of Life
- The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
- A river that seperated into four head waters
- The serpant

Where was the Garden of Eden?

The four rivers that flow from the Garden are the Pishon, the Gihon, the Hiddekel, and the Euphrates. The Hiddekel and the Euphrates are can be found near the Persian Gulf which is between the modern day Saudi Arabia and Iran, however, the location of the Pison and Gihon is still unknown.

Who was Adam and how was he created?

Adam was the first man, created by the dust of the earth. God breathed the breath of life in him so that God could be with him. Through the breath of life, God’s Word of Life, he became the first living being, the first man acknowledged by God.

When the breath of life was breathed in Adam, his spirit became living. Since Adams spirit was alive he was able to communicate with God as Gods word was the food that gave him life.

What was Adams duty?

Adam was given the task of overseeing the governance of the Garden of Eden and naming the creatures that dwelt there, he was the pastor of that generation.

Gods Covenant with Adam

God then established his covenant with him: he mustn’t eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he will surely die. This was the Word that was entrusted to him that he was to keep.

Adam’s wife, Eve.

Among all that lived in the Garden, there was no suitable helper found for Adam. God saw that he was lonely, and caused Adam to fall into his sleep. During his slumber, he took one of the mans ribs and made a woman. God gave Eve to Adam and they became one, united in Gods words. They didn’t reveal each others faults which refers to them being naked without being shameful.

The Serpant

Within the Garden of Eden was a serpent who decieved both Adam and Eve through a series of events. The serpant approached Eve and questioned her, “Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”. Who was this serpant? Rv 20:12 says that the ancient serpant is synonymous with the dragon, the devil and Satan, so we know that the serpant was Satan.

The Fall

Eve had desire in her heart and this led to the sin of disobedience to Gods covenant (Jms 1:15), and she ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve saw that the fruit was good and pleasing to the eye so she took some to Adam and they both ate it. When they ate it, their eyes were opened and they saw their nakedness so they sewed fig leaves for themselves and hid.

Result of their Sin

God was walking in the Garden but because Adam and Eve were ashamed they remaining in their hiding. It was revealed to God what had happened and Eve said “the serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gn 3:13). Following from this God cursed the serpent, Eve and Adam for breaking the covenant. They knew the Word that was given and should have obeyed but due to deception, corruption got a foothold and begun to infuiltrate the world.

 As a result of all of this, Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden and God blocked the entrance to the Garden with an angel with a flaming sword. He was banished after he was decieved by Satan and God also left that place.