Who Gets the
Blame for Original Sin—Adam or Eve?
Genesis
3 states that Eve ate the fruit first, but Romans 5 states that Adam caused sin
to enter the world.
Genesis 3 states that Eve ate the fruit first,
but Romans 5 states that Adam caused sin to enter
the world.
Dr. Georgia Purdom, AiG–U.S. examines
these Scriptures.
The “Problem”
The Genesis account of the Fall indicates that Eve ate the fruit first.
This has led many people throughout history and even in our modern times to
believe that she was the person responsible for original sin.
You have likely
heard the old canard, “We wouldn’t be in this mess [meaning the general
sinfulness of our fallen world] if it weren’t for a woman.” But is that an
accurate statement?
Is Eve to blame for original sin?
So when the woman saw that the tree was
good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make
one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her,
and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)
This verse makes
it clear that Eve was the first to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. God had told Adam not to eat from the tree, but Eve also had knowledge of
this (Genesis 3:2-3).
Adam ate but only
after Eve. From this verse alone it might be easy to think that Eve is indeed
to blame for original sin since she sinned first. Some have said that verses in
the New Testament also support the idea that Eve is to blame because Eve was deceived
and Adam was not.
For Adam was
formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:13-14)
But I fear, lest somehow, as the
serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians
11:3)
The Solution
However, Eve being
deceived does not necessarily imply that she is to blame for original sin. If
anything it might be tempting to think the opposite—that because Eve was deceived
while Adam knew full well what he was doing that his sin is worse, and he
should be blamed.
However, the Bible
never states that Adam’s sin was worse than Eve’s. Both were punished for their
sin (Genesis 3:16-19).
It is necessary to
look at other passages in both the Old and New Testaments to understand why Adam is to blame for original sin rather
than Eve.
Adam was created first
from the dust of the ground, and Eve was created from a rib taken from Adam’s
side (Genesis 2:7,21–22).
From these verses and
others in Genesis 1–3 it is clear that the
husband was created to be the leader in the marital relationship and that the
wife was created to be the helper (Genesis 2:18).
As the leader it was
Adam’s responsibility to protect and provide for his family. This leadership
role was clearly demonstrated when God talked with Adam and Eve following their
sin. Even though Eve sinned before Adam, God questioned Adam first (Genesis 3:9).
This was because of
the leadership role God ordained for husbands in marriage. Adam, as the leader
of the family, was held responsible, not only for his own sin of eating from
the tree, but also because he did not provide adequate protection for his wife,
allowing her to sin.
In
the New Testament, Adam is clearly presented as both progenitor and
representative of all mankind. The following passages state that Adam is the
person through whom sin and resulting death entered the world:
For
since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as
in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
And so it is written, “The first man
Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1
Corinthians 15:21-22, 45,45)
Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men,
because all sinned.
But the free gift is not like the
offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God
and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
For if by the one man’s offense death
reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of
the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in
condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all
men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many
were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans
5:12, 15,17, 17-19)
Just
as sin and death came through one man,
Adam, it is also through one man, Jesus Christ, that grace and
righteousness are given as free gifts to sinners.
The
naming of Christ as the Last Adam
and the multiple comparisons of Adam to Christ would be invalid and nonsensical
if original sin came through Eve.
Interestingly,
although Eve was the first to sin, the solution to sin came through “her Seed” (Genesis 3:15).
The Seed, Jesus Christ, was born of a
virgin named Mary. He paid the price for sin and will redeem those who receive
the salvation He offers.
Conclusion
Scripture makes it
clear that that sin and death entered this world through Adam, and thus he is
to blame for original sin.
God will grant us the ultimate gift, eternal life in His
Kingdom through His grace if we repent of our sins and obey His commands.
To experience God as a personal, caring, loving Father,
you have to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You will
become a child of God and begin the fulfillment of the reason you were created
by God.
Say the following prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my
sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn
away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid
sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died
for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my
life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that
according to Your Word, I am now Your child, and I am born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me
obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your
Word – the Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”
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lyrics
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am find out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart
In the joy of what Thou art
I am find out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart
Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee
And Thy beauty fills my soul
For by Thy transforming power
Thou has made me whole
And Thy beauty fills my soul
For by Thy transforming power
Thou has made me whole
O, how great Thy loving kindness
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee Beloved
Know what wealth of grace is Thine
Know Thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine
Know what wealth of grace is Thine
Know Thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine
REFRAIN
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of The loving heart
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
Of The loving heart
Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus
Earth's dark shadows flee
As I work and wait for Thee
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus
Earth's dark shadows flee
Brightness of my Father's glory
Sunshine of my Father's face
Keep me ever trusting, resting
Fill me with Thy grace
Sunshine of my Father's face
Keep me ever trusting, resting
Fill me with Thy grace
REFRAIN
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart
Dr. Georgia Purdom received her PhD in molecular
genetics from Ohio State University. Her professional accomplishments include
the winning of a variety of honors, research presentations at national
conferences, and the completion of six years of teaching at Mt. Vernon Nazarene
University (Ohio), where she served as a professor of biology.
https://answersingenesis.org/sin/original-sin/who-gets-the-blame-for-original-sin/
https://answersingenesis.org/sin/original-sin/who-gets-the-blame-for-original-sin/
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