Topical Encyclopedia Adam, the first man, holds a foundational place in the biblical narrative as the progenitor of the human race. His creation and life before the Fall are detailed primarily in the Book of Genesis, providing insight into God's original design for humanity and the world.Creation of Adam According to Genesis 1:26-27 , God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it." Thus, God created man in His own image, male and female He created them. This passage underscores the unique status of Adam as being made in the image of God, a distinction that sets humanity apart from the rest of creation. Genesis 2 provides a more detailed account of Adam's creation. In Genesis 2:7 , it is written, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This act of divine craftsmanship and the impartation of life highlight the intimate relationship between God and Adam. The Garden of Eden Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, a paradise designed by God as his dwelling place. Genesis 2:8-9 describes the garden: "And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food, and in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Adam's role in the garden was both caretaker and steward. Genesis 2:15 states, "The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." This responsibility reflects the divine mandate for humanity to work and maintain creation, emphasizing the dignity and purpose inherent in labor. The Command and the Companion God provided Adam with a command regarding the trees in the garden. Genesis 2:16-17 records, "And the LORD God commanded him, 'You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.'" This command established a moral framework and the concept of obedience to God's will. Recognizing that it was not good for man to be alone, God created a companion for Adam. Genesis 2:18 states, "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.'" God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and from his rib, He fashioned Eve, the first woman. Adam's response upon seeing Eve is recorded in Genesis 2:23 : "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for out of man she was taken.'" Life Before the Fall Before the Fall, Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence and harmony with God and creation. Genesis 2:25 notes, "And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed." This indicates a pure and unblemished existence, free from sin and its consequences. Adam's life before sin was marked by direct communion with God, stewardship of the earth, and a harmonious relationship with his wife, reflecting the ideal state of human existence as intended by the Creator. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 1:26-30And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 2:16-25 Library The Doctrine of Man Epistle xxxiv. To Eulogius, Bishop. The External History of the Pelagian Controversy. The Apocalypse of Baruch. Letter cxliii. (AD 412. ) The First Great Deception. The First Great Deception The Man Christ Jesus His Freedom from Sin. Moses the Type of Christ. Resources Is the Adam and Eve story to be understood literally? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Book of Adam and Eve? | GotQuestions.org How tall was Adam? | GotQuestions.org Adam: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Adam in the Old Testament and the Apocrypha Adam: The First Man: Brought Sin Into the World Adam: The First Man: Creation of Adam: The First Man: His Death Adam: The First Man: History of, Before he Sinned Adam: The First Man: Progenitor of the Human Race Adam: The First Man: Subsequent History of Adam: The First Man: Temptation and Sin of Adam: The First Man: Type of Christ Related Terms Transgression (70 Occurrences) |
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