GENESIS 29
theories of creation, recent surveys
in the United States have revealed
a widespread belief in the existence
of Adam and Eve. (They are partly
supported by a group of scientists
who have traced human genetic
history back many thousands of
years, potentially to the first men
and women.)
The Bible is clear—in Genesis
and elsewhere—that Adam is the
first man and not descended from
other humans. Adam is referred to
in Luke 3:38 as “the son of God,”
just as angels in the Old Testament
are made by God (for example,
Job 1:6, 38:7 and Daniel 3:25).
The Bible depicts Adam as a living
entity with many descendants who,
according to Genesis 5:5, lives until
he is 930 years old. ■Adam and Eve
The first human couple,
Adam and Eve were created—
as adults—in the image of
God. As they were not born
in the same way as their
descendants, they would not
have needed umbilical cords.
Despite this, navels are still
present in many artistic
representations of the pair.
Genesis 2:7 says that
Adam is created out of dust.
Adamah is Hebrew for
“ground” or “earth,” a
reference to both Adam’s
origins and his fate after the
Fall (see pp. 30–35). The word
Eve means “life.” She and the
man are inseparable, made
from one flesh, as they come
from the same body (Adam’s)
and are brought together, both
in marital union with each
other and in full communion
with God. Humankind’s
remarkable journey begins
with Adam and Eve. Without
them there is no fall from
grace or sin, and thereby no
need for suffering, mortality,
redemption, atonement, or
Jesus Christ.Other explanations are that
God is including his attendant
angels in the “us” of Genesis 1:26.
Another explanation is that the
plurals here and in Genesis 3:22
(“the man has now become like
one of us”) describe a conversation
that God the Father is having with
God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit, the Trinity, a concept
developed in the New Testament.Human origins
The creation of Adam and Eve
and the events unfolding in the
Garden of Eden are also described
in the Islamic Qur’an. While
many Christians reject a literal
interpretation of Genesis in favor of
a more allegorical approach that
also encompasses evolutionaryGod creates
Adam out of
the earth.God puts Adam to
sleep and removes a
rib from Adam’s body
to create woman as a
companion for Adam.Yet despite
their divine
spark, Adam and
Eve are limited,
unlike God.God breathes
his divine breath
into Adam, giving
him life.Unlike the
animals, Adam has
divine spark. God
sees that he needs
a companion.The pair tend
the garden and
commune with God.
They are innocent
and know no sin.US_026-029_Let_us_make_man.indd 29 21/09/17 11:25 am