Adam and Eve--the first marriage

[Katydid]

OK my husband and I were discussing this last night....


Did you notice that after Eve ate the fruit, then convinced Adam to, God addressed Adam first? Eve's punishment affected only herself (well and all of us women that followed) but Adam's affected the very earth itself. Afterwards, God was concerned that Adam now had knowledge, he didn't mention Eve again. We were talking about this in relation to submission. Women are asked to submit to husbands, and I was saying that I found it interesting the God seemed to hold Adam more responsible than he did Eve. We also discussed WHY the serpent sought out Eve rather than Adam, and how that relates to why women struggle so much with the concept that we are to submit to our husband's. I was wondering what other people thought about this.


Now, before I get a whole bunch of people saying, "submit to each other", I want to discuss this from the standpoint that the husband is the head and wives are to submit. If you don't agree with this philosophy, then please refrain from commenting. I don't want a debate on that issue, I just want to discuss this passage in the context of submission.

 

[E-beth]

I think it is telling that even though Adam is not metioned during the whole temptation scene, when she takes the fruit she eats and then gives it to Adam, who suddenly is right there. I wonder, was he there the whole time, NOT stopping her from disobeying? Was he secretly just as tempted but let her go first just to see if she would fall down dead or something?

I believe God addressed Adam because He had made Adam responsible for her, and maybe if he had stood by and watched as she sinned, he would be held to a higher standard.

Nice of Adam to turn it around on God and Eve, though..."That woman that you made for me did it." Sounds like something my husband would say, but that is neither here nor there. Anyway, I think it is sort of like when you catch a four-year-old and a two-year-old in the act of doing something wrong. You ask the four-year-old to explain for the both of them, because being older and wiser, he should have been a better leader. Same with Adam. God had made him head of the first household, and he did not actively stop her from making a mistake and did not take accountability for his own part as well.

 

[Yitzchak]

Adam was there while Eve was tempted. He refused to speak up. I think that there is a verse in the new testament somewhere that says that Adam was not deceived like the woman was. He did it willfully.

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

Adam was there while Eve was tempted. He refused to speak up. I think that there is a verse in the new testament somewhere that says that Adam was not deceived like the woman was. He did it willfully.

Yeah I don't recall ever seein a scripture to that effect to say Adam was there while Eve was tempted, I also don't think it really matters if he was standin beside er er not, I kinda figure he wasn't but that's beside the point, I don't think scripture says one way er the other. As far as Adam willfully eatin the fruit I agree he did it willinly, we did a study on this bunch of years back an the thin I took away from it was Adam's love for Eve. They both already knew what was gonna happen if they ate of that tree, God forbid it an it was disobedence if they did. So when Adam found out er seen er what have you that Eve had done it, he knew that God would be angry an he also must have known that God could have created a better woman then Eve.... but like you an your spouse, do you not love em enough to die with em? So I think Adam loved Eve enough to die with er. Cause God is certainly able an I believe would have created another for Adam IF Adam had disowned Eve.

As far as Adam bein held to a higher standard yes I agree, as men of our house holds we are responsible for the actions/conduct of our families. An if'n they screw up it's not them that God looks at, it's us, why aren't we contendin wit it, why aren't we makin thins right. It's simply the order God setup. Does that mean we're to rule over our house holds like a dictatorship? Of course not, we're to govern our homes like Christ loves the church an willinly gave Himself up for it.

 

[~Nikki~]

Yeah I don't recall ever seein a scripture to that effect to say Adam was there while Eve was tempted, I also don't think it really matters if he was standin beside er er not,

In Genesis it says that Adam was there with Eve though as you say, that might not make any difference anyway (not sure about whether it would or not)...

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Not to have a theological debate er anythin.... but that's not in the new testament. Also that does not say Adam was standin beside er. It says (to me) that she consumed the fruit, as she did. Then bible says she took the fruit to Adam an he ate with her. We should move this off to general theology er sumthin if'n we wanna keep hashin on this one cause it doesn't pertain to the OP in anyway. I'm very careful of some words that get translated, for example one commentary makes it sound as though he wasn't anywhere around, while like the NIV makes it sound like he helped er climb the tree hehe so I am weary of words like "of", "with", "from" alot of em can get fowled up in translations an the debates that have formed outta the word "of" an "from" hehe but like I says it's really not important, certainly not important enough to fiddle fart round in here with.

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

We also discussed WHY the serpent sought out Eve rather than Adam, and how that relates to why women struggle so much with the concept that we are to submit to our husband's.

I sorta missed this on the first run through an I apologise, this isn't gonna come out right an I'ma gonna get a bunch of women folk who are somewhat strong willed to throw a hissy fit an I'm sorry but I really don't know how to word it any better.

Men an women are of course different where as mentally a woman can deal with child birth a man can not, women are weaker minded in some thins then are men. There's nuthin wrong wit it of course it's the way God made us, men are like wise weaker minded in other thins. I think in general though women are more suseptible to suggestion then our men. That's of course not cross the board for everone but I think speakin in general terms women can be convinced more easily then men, I think it's because for the most part women are far more trustin of thins then men are. Er perhaps men aren't as susceptible to this cause our heads are so thick hehe Maybe we would if someone drilled more on us. Then again, I could say as easily Eve was the one standin closest to the tree at the time, but the more accurate explanation would be it was by God's design.

 

[WolfGate]

Our Pastor has discussed this several times. FWIW, he says the NIV mirrors well the original language which makes it apparent Adam was with her the whole time.

She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

He should have intervened and removed Eve from the temptation, but did not. IMHO, that, combined with the fact he was to be head of the woman, is why God addressed him first.

Titus also makes it clear he wasn't deceived; therefore his actions were willful sin.

 

[~Nikki~]

Not to have a theological debate er anythin.... but that's not in the new testament. Also that does not say Adam was standin beside er. It says (to me) that she consumed the fruit, as she did. Then bible says she took the fruit to Adam an he ate with her. We should move this off to general theology er sumthin if'n we wanna keep hashin on this one cause it doesn't pertain to the OP in anyway. I'm very careful of some words that get translated, for example one commentary makes it sound as though he wasn't anywhere around, while like the NIV makes it sound like he helped er climb the tree hehe so I am weary of words like "of", "with", "from" alot of em can get fowled up in translations an the debates that have formed outta the word "of" an "from" hehe but like I says it's really not important, certainly not important enough to fiddle fart round in here with.

 

[Crazy Liz]

OK my husband and I were discussing this last night....


Did you notice that after Eve ate the fruit, then convinced Adam to, God addressed Adam first?

Notice that the woman was not named Eve until AFTER this conversation.

Also note that the Hebrew word adam means "human being" or "humankind." So translation of the word adam in Genesis 2-4 is problematical. When it appears with the article (ha-adam) I usually translate it "the human." When it appears without the article, "Adam," "a human," or "humankind" are all possible, and context does not always make it perfectly clear which is best.

Eve's punishment affected only herself (well and all of us women that followed) but Adam's affected the very earth itself. Afterwards, God was concerned that Adam now had knowledge, he didn't mention Eve again.

In this case, I think it would be much better to say humankind had knowledge. Remember that earlier it uses the plural, "Their eyes were opened..."

Beyond this, I see you don't want my comments. However, I did think the translation of Genesis issues were worth clarifying.

 

[Katydid]

Crazy Liz,

Thank you for the clarification! I never knew that. Now I need to go and look at my strong's and figure this out.

Thank you also for respecting my wishes on the discussion, that takes alot of maturity and I truly appreciate it.

 

[Yitzchak]

Eve was given her name because she became a mother. Her name means life in hebrew and her name is given to her because she is the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20.

 

[Grishnak]

Adam was there while Eve was tempted. He refused to speak up. I think that there is a verse in the new testament somewhere that says that Adam was not deceived like the woman was. He did it willfully.

Not sure if he was there, but thats a good point.

It took a wiley deception to get Eve....It just took Eve offering it to Adam.

I can see why Adam would have been held more accountable.

 

[holyroler2]

I was saying that I found it interesting the God seemed to hold Adam more responsible than he did Eve.

God told Adam, Adam told Eve. Eve ate, she disobayed Adam, Adam ate, he disobayed God. JMO

 

[Crazy Liz]

God told Adam, Adam told Eve. Eve ate, she disobayed Adam, Adam ate, he disobayed God. JMO

Where does it say Adam told Eve?

 

[LegacyOfLove]

To the OP's question: I find it very interesting too. I also am thinking that it's interesting that man is the head, the wife is to be submissive; yet...a woman has a certain way of addressing her husband, which he may be more likely to yield to. (Kind of like, she's the apple of his eye and by her charm, etc. he pays more attention to her). Would that make him more easy to lead astray...being that Eve ate it then gave it to Adam and he ate it. The serpent didn't lure Adam in and tempt him. He got to Eve first...so what was it about her ability to persuade him versus the serpent's ability to persuade him?

Sorry if that seems to not fit...but in my mind, it seems that you have to look at both aspects of the relationship...understand that Adam is the head (leader)...yet he willfully disobeyed God when his wife handed the fruit to him. Hmmm....(scratching my head now)....

 

[HeatherJay]

Notice that the woman was not named Eve until AFTER this conversation.

Also note that the Hebrew word adam means "human being" or "humankind." So translation of the word adam in Genesis 2-4 is problematical. When it appears with the article (ha-adam) I usually translate it "the human." When it appears without the article, "Adam," "a human," or "humankind" are all possible, and context does not always make it perfectly clear which is best.



In this case, I think it would be much better to say humankind had knowledge. Remember that earlier it uses the plural, "Their eyes were opened..."

Beyond this, I see you don't want my comments. However, I did think the translation of Genesis issues were worth clarifying.

I always though Adam translated to mean "red earth". Are there different translations for different usages or something? LOL, I'm truly ignorant when it comes to this kind of stuff.

 

[holyroler2]

Where does it say Adam told Eve?

You're right I assumed.ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh nnnnnnnnnoooooooooo

bad girl,bad girl

 

[Crazy Liz]

I always though Adam translated to mean "red earth". Are there different translations for different usages or something? LOL, I'm truly ignorant when it comes to this kind of stuff.

No, but close. The Hebrew word adam (human, humanity) is related toadamah, which means dirt, earth, dust. Both words appear in Genesis 2-3, and the words are played off each other.

 

[HeatherJay]

No, but close. The Hebrew word adam (human, humanity) is related toadamah, which means dirt, earth, dust. Both words appear in Genesis 2-3, and the words are played off each other.

Ahh, thanks.