Why were animals affected by the Fall?

[Sheila Davis]

The digestive systems of carnivores would render them dead by starvation if they only ate grasses. This means that perhaps there were no carnivores in the garden, or the digestive systems of carnivores in the garden were radically altered after the fall, or that carnivores in the garden did eat meat. We simply don't know, because the text does not tell us anything in that regard.

Scripture tells us that animals were herbivores. The question is before God placed man here were all animals herbivores are both herbivores and carnivorous. It would seem that even the ancient people would know that animals ate meat so why would they write that all beast ate grass during the time of Adam.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1:29-30 - King James Version


And when you read scripture, man was a herbivore before the flood, it wasn't until after the flood that God gave men permission to eat meat.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 9:3 - King James Version

Scientific studies say that the majority of even the dinosaurs ate greenery.

What did dinosaurs eat?

https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dinosaurs/food.html

The Rise of Meat-Eating Dinosaurs Is More Complicated Than We Thought | Science| Smithsonian Magazine

 

[ChetSinger]

Sure, but...
- death is the wages of sin
- it is hard to believe carnivores ate grass
- the verses I quoted give three reason why the animals were indeed sinful. We must deal with this in our theology, not just pass it off, sigh.

The text says they were given the grasses. And Isaiah 11:7 prophesies that present-day carnivores will be eating grasses in the future. I'll accept those texts as they are.

I have no opinion on the sinfulness of animals. What I don't see is the text requiring animal immortality prior to the Fall. If anything, I see the opposite implied, because there is no tree of life described for them.

I don't think the serpent is relevant here, because the serpent was Satan himself, not an animal (Revelation 12:9).

 

[Job 33:6]

One of our problems with this story is that we do not know how old Cain and Abel were when they had their fight.

Because they are mentioned without any other child being mentioned it is assumed they are the only children and the first children. BUT that is not proven in the text...Genesis 4 is about Cain and Abel, not anyone else, so no one else is mentioned until their story is over.

But if Adam and Eve had a child each year and these children started to have their own children at age 15 or so, in a very short time, 125 years, (out of a 900 year lifespan that is) the exponential increase would be huge with 125 years being between 9 and 10 generations, on the order of between 20 billion and 289 billion people in this model (math available). So, if Cain and Abel were born during Adam and Eve's 100 year on earth, it might have had a very large population indeed by that time, given exponential growth. If they were even only 25 years old themselves by the time their religious war came to a head, how many people were populating the earth?

Also it is not proven by the text that these two were just kids when the religious war happened. Cain was trying to supplant the religion of the coats of skins for righteousness instituted by GOD with his first fruits fertility / weather cult of the Ba'als and Asherah (groves).

Genesis doesn't describe Adam and Eve having children before Cain and Abel, but it does describe them having children after Cain and Abel.

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:1‭-‬2‭, ‬14‭-‬15‭, ‬17‭ NRSV

Then Seth is even highlighted as a replacement of Abel:
Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25 NRSV

As if God had not yet given Eve a child in place of Abel until Seth. And it doesn't say that Adam knew his wife many times over many years. The text simply says that the man knew his wife, she bore Cain and Abel, then Adam knew his wife again, and she bore Seth as a replacement for Abel.



When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:3‭-‬4 NRSV


"Now the man knew his wife, Adam knew his wife again, God has appointed me another child instead of able." Then the text reads, "Adam became the father of Seth, The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters"

A plain reading of the text Implies that Adam bore Cain, Abel and then Seth, and then other children in the later 800 years. It doesn't say "the days of Adam before he became the father of Seth", it says, the days of Adam, after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters.

The story says what it says, we just have a problem with what the text says because it sounds abnormal to us.

Saying that Adam and Eve could have had countless children before Seth, is like saying that God could have been creating more people out of clay in the garden alongside Adam and Eve. Sure, some things are possible, but that's just not what the text Implies.

 

[Sheila Davis]

Genesis doesn't describe Adam and Eve having children before Cain and Abel, but it does describe them having children after Cain and Abel.

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:1‭-‬2‭, ‬14‭-‬15‭, ‬17‭ NRSV

Then Seth is even highlighted as a replacement of Abel:
Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25 NRSV

As if God had not yet given Eve a child in place of Abel until Seth. And it doesn't say that Adam knew his wife many times over many years. The text simply says that the man knew his wife, she bore Cain and Abel, then Adam knew his wife again, and she bore Seth as a replacement for Abel.



When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:3‭-‬4 NRSV


"Now the man knew his wife, Adam knew his wife again, God has appointed me another child instead of able." Then the text reads, "Adam became the father of Seth, The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters"

A plain reading of the text Implies that Adam bore Cain, Abel and then Seth, and then other children in the later 800 years. It doesn't say "the days of Adam before he became the father of Seth", it says, the days of Adam, after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters.

The story says what it says, we just have a problem with what the text says because it sounds abnormal to us.

Saying that Adam and Eve could have had countless children before Seth, is like saying that God could have been creating more people out of clay in the garden alongside Adam and Eve. Sure, some things are possible, but that's just not what the text Implies.

Genesis doesn't describe Adam and Eve having children before Cain and Abel, but it does describe them having children after Cain and Abel.

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:1‭-‬2‭, ‬14‭-‬15‭, ‬17‭ NRSV

Then Seth is even highlighted as a replacement of Abel:
Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25 NRSV

As if God had not yet given Eve a child in place of Abel until Seth. And it doesn't say that Adam knew his wife many times over many years. The text simply says that the man knew his wife, she bore Cain and Abel, then Adam knew his wife again, and she bore Seth as a replacement for Abel.



When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:3‭-‬4 NRSV


"Now the man knew his wife, Adam knew his wife again, God has appointed me another child instead of able." Then the text reads, "Adam became the father of Seth, The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters"

A plain reading of the text Implies that Adam bore Cain, Abel and then Seth, and then other children in the later 800 years. It doesn't say "the days of Adam before he became the father of Seth", it says, the days of Adam, after he became the father of Seth; he had other sons and daughters.

The story says what it says, we just have a problem with what the text says because it sounds abnormal to us.

Saying that Adam and Eve could have had countless children before Seth, is like saying that God could have been creating more people out of clay in the garden alongside Adam and Eve. Sure, some things are possible, but that's just not what the text Implies.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1:28 - King James Version
Before the fall of Adam God had already told them to be fruitful multiply and replenish the Earth.


GENESIS 3:16 KJV "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring..."
God gave Adam permission to eat the fruit from the Tree of Life when he put him in the garden and told him what to eat and what not to eat. According to Genesis 3:22 the fruit of the Tree of Life gave immortality. Healing as written in the book of Revelation chapter 22.

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now

 

[Job 33:6]

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1:28 - King James Version
Before the fall of Adam God had already told them to be fruitful multiply and replenish the Earth.


GENESIS 3:16 KJV "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring..."
God gave Adam permission to eat the fruit from the Tree of Life when he put him in the garden and told him what to eat and what not to eat. According to Genesis 3:22 the fruit of the Tree of Life gave immortality. Healing as written in the book of Revelation chapter 22.

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now

What does this have to do with anything? God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiple, so as the text goes, they conceived of Cain and Abel and then Seth.

 

[Sheila Davis]

What does this have to do with anything? God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiple, so as the text goes, they conceived of Cain and Abel and then Seth.

What does that have to do with anything?

Not trying to change your way thought _ it is your right to think how you choose.

Just giving a couple of reasons on why it is believed that Adam and Eve had many, many, many, children before they sinned and that they lived an extra, extra, extra, and some, long time.

Many, Christians believe that Adam and Eve had many children before they ate from the tree of knowledge, disobeying God by doing so.

Many believe this is how the Land of Nod came to be, through Adam's offspring before sin.
But the majority of Christians still believe Cain and Abel were the first two and Cain married his sister and move to a land that was already called Nod. Who did Seth marry?

Yet

The Bible doesn't say Adam and Eve had daughters until much later in Genesis 6 - but Cain move to a land that already existed a and took a wife. And Seth had to have a wife too - meaning he had to marry his sister too _ but God says sister and brother should not marry. (No more access to the healing properties of the fruit of Tree of Life)

There is a lot in Genesis that is not spoken of and there is a lot throughout the entire Bible in the lives of the people mentioned, even in the life of Jesus, that is not spoken of.

Thank you for your time _ PEACE

 

[Job 33:6]

What does that have to do with anything?

Not trying to change your way thought _ it is your right to think how you choose.

Just giving a couple of reasons on why it is believed that Adam and Eve had many, many, many, children before they sinned and that they lived an extra, extra, extra, and some, long time.

Many, Christians believe that Adam and Eve had many children before they ate from the tree of knowledge, disobeying God by doing so.

Many believe this is how the Land of Nod came to be, through Adam's offspring before sin.
But the majority of Christians still believe Cain and Abel were the first two and Cain married his sister and move to a land that was already called Nod. Who did Seth marry?

Yet

The Bible doesn't say Adam and Eve had daughters until much later in Genesis 6 - but Cain move to a land that already existed a and took a wife. And Seth had to have a wife too - meaning he had to marry his sister too _ but God says sister and brother should not marry. (No more access to the healing properties of the fruit of Tree of Life)

There is a lot in Genesis that is not spoken of and there is a lot throughout the entire Bible in the lives of the people mentioned, even in the life of Jesus, that is not spoken of.

Thank you for your time _ PEACE

That's called concordism, and reading a modern scientific perspective into the text where it doesn't actually say such things.

You assume that the text should make some sort of sense in reference to your current modern understanding of things like genetics and the origins of mankind.

The Bible teaches us of a talking snake and a solid dome in the sky which held up a celestial ocean with windows in it which would open and close to let water through, Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, yet despite scripture clearly not giving a scientific account of things (unless you actually think that stars are stuck in a dome above your head, Gen 1:14), you still seem to hold some expectation that scripture ought to make sense with respect to the scientific origins of man and woman through a 21st century modernist concordist perspective.

This form of logic thereby forces you, ad hoc, to believe that Adam and Eve had numerous children before the fall, despite the Bible very clearly not saying any such thing, but rather indicating that Seth was a replacement for Abel.

Here's the reality of the situation: the authors of the Bible weren't interested in our modern scientific logic. It was written for us, but we have to remember that it wasn't written to us. And the reality is, hominids, from a scientific perspective, existed long before the time in which Adam was suggested to have existed in the days of sedentary agricultural practices. And so who did Cain fear? He feared other people who weren't children of Adam and Eve. And the story shouldn't even be expected to align with modern 21st century science, because that just isn't the intent of it's authorship.

 

[Job 33:6]

That's called concordism, and reading a modern scientific perspective into the text where it doesn't actually say such things.

You assume that the text should make some sort of sense in reference to your current modern understanding of things like genetics and the origins of mankind.

The Bible teaches us of a talking snake and a solid dome in the sky which held up a celestial ocean with windows in it which would open and close to let water through, Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, yet despite scripture clearly not giving a scientific account of things (unless you actually think that stars are stuck in a dome above your head, Gen 1:14), you still seem to hold some expectation that scripture ought to make sense with respect to the scientific origins of man and woman through a 21st century modernist concordist perspective.

This form of logic thereby forces you, ad hoc, to believe that Adam and Eve had numerous children before the fall, despite the Bible very clearly not saying any such thing, but rather indicating that Seth was a replacement for Abel.

Here's the reality of the situation: the authors of the Bible weren't interested in our modern scientific logic. It was written for us, but we have to remember that it wasn't written to us. And the reality is, hominids, from a scientific perspective, existed long before the time in which Adam was suggested to have existed in the days of sedentary agricultural practices. And so who did Cain fear? He feared other people who weren't children of Adam and Eve. And the story shouldn't even be expected to align with modern 21st century science, because that just isn't the intent of it's authorship.

And this is the same reason that people have difficulty with Genesis 1 contradicting Genesis 2. In Genesis 1 Adam and Eve are made on day 6 well after plants and animals, but Genesis 2 blatantly describes Adam being created first then plants and animals and then Eve at the end.

And people try to misconstrue Genesis 2 to make it fit the sequence of Genesis 1, by saying that plants and animals and birds were created before Adam I'm Genesis 2, but it doesn't make any sense, and it's just poor hermeneutics conducted by concordists who think that Scripture ought to fit our modern 21st century scientific perspectives.

People can't just change scripture and change what it says anytime they feel uncomfortable with it. If it says that there's a solid dome in the sky with windows in it, you just have to accept it as it is and let it be as it is. See the truth that it presents rather than trying to change it in order to find truth that it doesn't present.

I could say that maybe God formed 1,000 people out of clay alongside Adam and Eve, and that's where the people came from for the land of Nod, But this would be extra biblical. It would be improper hermeneutics.

 

[Sheila Davis]

That's called concordism, and reading a modern scientific perspective into the text where it doesn't actually say such things.

You assume that the text should make some sort of sense in reference to your current modern understanding of things like genetics and the origins of mankind.

The Bible teaches us of a talking snake and a solid dome in the sky which held up a celestial ocean with windows in it which would open and close to let water through, Genesis 7:11 and 8:2, yet despite scripture clearly not giving a scientific account of things (unless you actually think that stars are stuck in a dome above your head, Gen 1:14), you still seem to hold some expectation that scripture ought to make sense with respect to the scientific origins of man and woman through a 21st century modernist concordist perspective.

This form of logic thereby forces you, ad hoc, to believe that Adam and Eve had numerous children before the fall, despite the Bible very clearly not saying any such thing, but rather indicating that Seth was a replacement for Abel.

Here's the reality of the situation: the authors of the Bible weren't interested in our modern scientific logic. It was written for us, but we have to remember that it wasn't written to us. And the reality is, hominids, from a scientific perspective, existed long before the time in which Adam was suggested to have existed in the days of sedentary agricultural practices. And so who did Cain fear? He feared other people who weren't children of Adam and Eve. And the story shouldn't even be expected to align with modern 21st century science, because that just isn't the intent of it's authorship.

I don't assume text should make some sort of sense in reference to my current modern understanding of genetics and the origin of man. That is your assumption that I do.

The Bible does speak of a talking serpent which is the devil, the one that's called Satan, Lucifer, the dragon and the term serpent is a description of his personality. And the curse put on him is a description of his lowliness.
The Bible also speaks of a talking mule BUT it doesn't say anything about talking parrots, or animals that mimic talk dolphins and some whales, as well as chimps that are alive and living today.

And it doesn't say a dome in the sky which held up the waters - it says The fountains of the deep broken up and the windows of heaven were open.
And there is water in space, they even discovered planets that's covered in water, even analyze the Earth itself was probably a water world. But he did but that's another conversation when God separated the tournaments and the Waters of the deep.

NASA - Astronomers Find Largest, Most Distant Reservoir of Water

NASA - Astronomers Find Largest, Most Distant Reservoir of Water

Harvard scientists determine early Earth may have been a water world

Genesis 1:14 does not say anything about stars being stuck in a dome over one's head.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1:14 - King James Version

You wrote I seem to think that scripture should make sense with the scientific origin of man - no you think that I think that way.
_ the scientific origin of man is totally off, man did not evolve - God created man from the dust of the Earth and "placed" him here. Romans 5:12-19 tells us that it was Adam's sin that brought death into the world and it passed upon all men. Genesis 3:22 tells us God put them out of the garden so that they would not eat from the tree of Life and live forever.
As I said there is a lot of things the Bible does not say - which is one reason why we were told to study, to pray, to ask, and seek, the hidden things.

DANIEL 2:22 KJV "He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him."

Bible Gateway passage: Jeremiah 33:3 - King James Version

I have told people in different conversations people when the Hebrews wrote the scrolls their way of thinking was different than modern day - their usage of words was different than modern day - nor do the translators really know what the words they use meant in their usage. I already know that.

You wrote: whom did Cain fear - he feared other people not from Adam and Eve - (going back to your original comment concerning God creating more people other than Adam and Eve.) Which would means you don't believe scripture when it says Eve is the mother of ALL living.

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 3:20 - King James Version

And your last comment about Cain, the "story" aligning with modern day 21st century science wasn't the intent of its "authorship" - says a lot. Which is a different conversation which would be a waste of words.

 

[Job 33:6]

I don't assume text should make some sort of sense in reference to my current modern understanding of genetics and the origin of man. That is your assumption that I do.

If you aren't assuming things about the text based on a modern understanding of science, then where in scripture do you get the idea that Adam and Eve had hundreds of children before the fall? Because clearly scripture describes no such thing as having occurred. There's no lost book of Genesis between chapter 1 and 2 where Adam and Eve have hundreds of children that are living with them in the garden.

 

[Sheila Davis]

If you aren't assuming things about the text based on a modern understanding of science, then where in scripture do you get the idea that Adam and Eve had hundreds of children before the fall? Because clearly scripture describes no such thing as having occurred. There's no lost book of Genesis between chapter 1 and 2 where Adam and Eve have hundreds of children that are living with them in the garden.

Based on the Land of Nod. Cain went to the Land of Nod and knew his wife.
There were people there the land had a name.

 

[Sheila Davis]

If you aren't assuming things about the text based on a modern understanding of science, then where in scripture do you get the idea that Adam and Eve had hundreds of children before the fall? Because clearly scripture describes no such thing as having occurred. There's no lost book of Genesis between chapter 1 and 2 where Adam and Eve have hundreds of children that are living with them in the garden.

Bible Gateway passage: Isaiah 23:13 - King James Version

GENESIS 13:12 KJV "Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom."

ZECHARIAH 5:11 KJV "And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set..."

The Land Of _____ represents people and those are just three.

 

[Job 33:6]

Based on the Land of Nod. Cain went to the Land of Nod and knew his wife.
There were people there the land had a name.

But none of these say anything about Adam and Eve having hundreds of babies before the fall. It's simply not in the text and indeed the text is written in a way which implies that such things never happened.

Just because you're uncomfortable with what scripture says, doesn't mean that it's ok to then go and just make up your own verses or inject personal ideas into the text.

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:1‭-‬2 NRSV

Eve didn't say, I have produced my hundredth man with the help of the Lord. She's announcing her first son.

Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25 NRSV

And Adam knew his wife again, as in, a second time. It doesn't say that Adam knew his wife for the 300th time.

"Another child instead of Abel" as if Eve had not already had hundreds of children beforehand who otherwise would have received this title as Abel's replacement.

When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.
Genesis 5:3 NRSV

It doesn't say that Adam had 100 children and that none of them were in his likeness until Seth. No, Seth was his first born in His likeness, given that Abel was dead and Cain committed murder.

It's not as if Adam and Eve had 100 children before the fall, yet somehow none were actually of the likeness of Adam for no apparent reason though they had not sinned.

The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:4 NRSV


The idea that Adam and Eve had hundreds of children isn't stated in the text and further is heavily implied by the text as having never occurred until later on in Genesis 5 after Seth.

It doesn't say "and the days before Adam became the father of Seth were 100 years and he had other sons and daughters". It explicitly says "after".

It's the same thing with Genesis 1 and 2. Genesis 2 clearly and blatantly describes Adam as being created before plants and animals. We can't just change Genesis 2 to make it sound as if Adam wasn't created until after plants and animals just because we are uncomfortable with it's contradiction to Genesis 1. We have to let the text say what it says.

 

[Sheila Davis]

But none of these say anything about Adam and Eve having hundreds of babies before the fall. It's simply not in the text and indeed the text is written in a way which implies that such things never happened.

Just because you're uncomfortable with what scripture says, doesn't mean that it's ok to then go and just make up your own verses or inject personal ideas into the text.

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:1‭-‬2 NRSV

Eve didn't say, I have produced my hundredth man with the help of the Lord. She's announcing her first son.

Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
Genesis 4:25 NRSV

And Adam knew his wife again, as in, a second time. It doesn't say that Adam knew his wife for the 300th time.

"Another child instead of Abel" as if Eve had not already had hundreds of children beforehand who otherwise would have received this title as Abel's replacement.

When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.
Genesis 5:3 NRSV

It doesn't say that Adam had 100 children and that none of them were in his likeness until Seth. No, Seth was his first born in His likeness, given that Abel was dead and Cain committed murder.

It's not as if Adam and Eve had 100 children before the fall, yet somehow none were actually of the likeness of Adam for no apparent reason though they had not sinned.

The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:4 NRSV


The idea that Adam and Eve had hundreds of children isn't stated in the text and further is heavily implied by the text as having never occurred until later on in Genesis 5 after Seth.

It doesn't say "and the days before Adam became the father of Seth were 100 years and he had other sons and daughters". It explicitly says "after".

It's the same thing with Genesis 1 and 2. Genesis 2 clearly and blatantly describes Adam as being created before plants and animals. We can't just change Genesis 2 to make it sound as if Adam wasn't created until after plants and animals just because we are uncomfortable with it's contradiction to Genesis 1. We have to let the text say what it says.

Scripture says Eve is the mother of all living. Therefore there were no other people created. And the late Pastor Arnold Murray of the Shepherd's Chapel, whom I have a great deal of respect for, taught that God created other people who were all the other races. But I don't agree with him on that subject.

Where in scripture does it say Cain married his sister? Ministers teach it and have been teaching it for centuries. Since you tell me I'm injecting words into scripture.

I have not made up my own verses and injected anything into scripture - people who have rewrote the Bible in the modern-day translations are the ones that have changed what King James Version translated. I have not changed one single scripture. I state my beliefs on the event that are not recorded in scripture based on certain scriptures.
As I have said neither am I trying change anyone's beliefs.

Many churches today are beginning to view the Adam and Eve story differently than what was taught by the ancient founders of the Roman and English churches and there are continual ongoing debates about how long Adam existed on Earth before sin. How old the Earth is. Whether the Hebrew word yom actually mean one literal 24-hour day or a span of time.

It is your right and each and every individual.
Christians right to believe as they choose especially when details are not given. Those types of beliefs will not damn one or save one.

How many different denominations are in the Christian faith because of different beliefs / doctrine? From the Catholics to the Mormons there are maybe 30, and different branches in most of those.

What is relevant to personal salvation is what is important - as it is written what must I do to be saved on a personal note. Differences in beliefs concerning Adam and Eve is irrelevant.

On another note:
Another thing I don't believe - I don't believe in pre tribulation rapture theory - I don't believe the church will be taken away before the rise of the Antichrist. Nowhere does it say the church will be taken up before the tribulation. Yet it is taught by ministers. I believe the church will be here through the tribulation - and many churches are beginning to see that theology and change their way of teaching concerning the church and the tribulation. Move over John Nelson Darby and Margaret McDonald.

 

[ViaCrucis]

If we are to believe that the Bible is the entire truth, then Cain married one of his sisters. He took her along with him when he was banished. Abraham also married his half sister

The Bible doesn't say who Cain's wife was or where she came from. So using the Bible on its own we simply can't answer that question; instead people have speculated about where Cain's wife came from or who she was, and have often speculated that he must have married his own sister. But that's not a biblical answer to the question, it's only a speculation.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Sheila Davis]

The Bible doesn't say who Cain's wife was or where she came from. So using the Bible on its own we simply can't answer that question; instead people have speculated about where Cain's wife came from or who she was, and have often speculated that he must have married his own sister. But that's not a biblical answer to the question, it's only a speculation.

-CryptoLutheran

That is so true the Bible does not say who Cain's wife was it was assumed by the early churches it was his sister and that teaching was passed down from generation to generation.

 

[Job 33:6]

On the topic, I have to share one of Walton's lectures on the topic.

Around 11 minutes in, he starts jumping into Genesis 2. Id recommend it for curious parties. It's something that I've heard inspiring philosophy propose as an explanation for why there is this awkward situation where Cain mysteriously finds a wife out of the blue.

This video is the third part of a three part series that I'd recommend checking out.

And of course Walton has his lost world series, which consists of something like 5 or 6 books on Genesis that clarify on many of these questionable situations.