A prerequisite for believing in evolution is

Excellent Blueberry Sponge - well said.

Remember that to adopt a non-literal perspective is to step outside the boundary of protection that the word itself grants us against foul doctrine:

Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

1Ti 6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

1Ti 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,


2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

What is being said here? If I take this word literally, I am cautioned to hold fast to the word of God and not be distracted by the latest trend that has swept the world in its quest to replace God with falsehood.

Non-literally, I then have the liberty to believe as I wish, obviously Paul was writing to Timothy about a select group of people with a specific "doctrine" that was fouling up a particular church - not to be confused with modern times (I write in jest here).

The FACT is: God's word is under 24/7 assault from the devil and the world and our sinful flesh does not want to hearken to God because we are born into sin, through Adam, to run amok and seek after our own ways. It is ONLY by grace that any of us are saved, THROUGH FAITH, even which that is a gift from God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Where then does this faith come from?

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

I would consider that the word of God is in fact the source, while evolution is merely a theory by which man has sought to find answers of his origin in fossils, rocks, and notional speculation of universal origins. God has already told us where everything came from - He even WROTE IT WITH HIS FINGER ON THE STONE TABLETS AT SINAI (Ten Commandments):

Exo 20:11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

God's word tells us that we can know these things with confidence:

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

1Co 2:13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

1Co 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

1Co 2:15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

1Co 2:16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

More words to constrain ourselves by, that we may be found by Christ on the last day walking in faith...not in speculative notions that contradict what He has given us;

*** 1:9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1Co 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1Co 1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

1Co 1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Co 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

1Co 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

1Co 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,

1Co 1:29 so that no man may boast before God.

AMEN, AND AMEN.

The word "man" can either mean one male human being or mankind as a whole.

Being consistent with the "same truth value" you would then end up with many christs instead of one Christ.

Obviously this can't be, as Scripture clearly reveals that there is one Christ.

Paul attests to the Scriptures, which include Genesis 3, as did Jesus and the other NT writers. Genesis 3 tells us where, how, and when; as does Paul in the following NT passages:

Perhaps this was their allegorical way of explaining evolution, assuming it occurred. How the heck could somebody explain DNA in 25 B.C., let alone mutations?

Paul is more specific than that.

1 Tim. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty...

These are direct references to the detailed account given in Genesis 3.

Again, these could be allegorical references.

The New Testament differentiates between adam and anthropos in the Greek so that there’s no "needless" repetition of terms.

Wherefore, as by one man [anthropos] sin entered into the world ... Nevertheless death reigned from Adam [adam] to Moses ... Romans 5:12-14;

For since by man [anthropos] came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam [adam] all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22, and so on in the NT.

What's the Greek for "man" when used as a synonym to "mankind"?

Not in the context of the Romans 5 passage. Try it for yourself; read through the passage and substitute mankind for man. You'll find that Jesus is "one mankind" in verse 15. Which indicates to me that if you're going to allegorize the creation account and remain consistent, you'll have to allegorize the revelation of Jesus in the NT to where you end up with a form of pantheism (Jesus is one mankind).

Your statement is true but it's a generalization that ignores the specific wording of a biblical context.

So what now? Is Adam just an allegorical reference? Was Paul lying altoghether?

No, Adam was a real individual. Paul wasn't lying at all.

Maybe I am stupid, but I don't really understand the poll.

Is the bible infalible? Of course not. God is not the bible, however.

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"We’ve been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of the culture," Pastor Ray Mummert speaking out against teaching evolution in Pennsylvania schools
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Blueberry, I posted this some time recently in this forum:

A survey in the UK of clergy (anglican, catholic, etc) found that over 80% are in agreement that Adam and Eve were not actual people.

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"We’ve been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of the culture," Pastor Ray Mummert speaking out against teaching evolution in Pennsylvania schools
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And yet 100% of that 80% descended from those 2 actual people. So much for popular opinions.

This is the same group of people that rejected the validity of some crucial Scriptures years ago.

Why should I deny the literal interpretation if the NT writers didn't?

Why should I filter Genesis through evolutionISM?