How does Genesis 5:3 connect to the concept of original sin in Romans? Genesis 5:3 and Romans Side-by-Side • “Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and he named him Seth.” (Genesis 5:3) • “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Tracing the Image Transfer • Genesis 1:27 says humanity was created “in the image of God.” • After the fall (Genesis 3), Adam’s nature is altered by sin. • Genesis 5:3 deliberately notes that Seth bears Adam’s image—not God’s pristine image—signaling that Adam’s broken likeness is now the family trait. Original Sin Highlighted • The phrase “in his own likeness” underlines that what Adam now bequeaths is a corrupted image. • Romans 5:12–19 picks up that thread, teaching: – Sin originated with Adam. – That sin is transmitted to all humanity (“many were made sinners,” 5:19). – Death is the inevitable outcome of that inherited condition. Key Parallels Between the Passages • Genesis 5:3 = the genealogical proof of a fallen legacy. • Romans 5 = the theological explanation of how that legacy spreads to every person. • Together they present a cause-and-effect chain: Adam’s sin → altered likeness → children born in that likeness → universal guilt and death. Why This Matters • It grounds the need for redemption: if sin is inherited, merely reforming behavior cannot solve the problem. • It magnifies Christ’s work: Romans 5:18–19 contrasts Adam’s one trespass with Jesus’ one righteous act, showing how the second Adam undoes the first Adam’s damage. • It clarifies identity: we are born in Adam’s image by nature, but by faith we are reborn in Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). Take-Home Points • Genesis 5:3 quietly but powerfully introduces inherited sin. • Romans explains the mechanics and consequences of that inheritance. • The two passages together form a seamless narrative: our problem originates in Adam, and our solution is found only in Christ. |
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