First Book of Adam and Eve

[tall73]

I want to make sure I am not debating in the Traditional section so I will put this here.

This is in relation to Woob's thread in which he is looking in the First Book of Adam and Eve for evidence of them having kept the Sabbath:

http://christianforums.com/t6517257-the-book-of-adam-and-eve.html


The story contains some odd elements. At one point Adam and Eve throw themselves on rocks to kill themselves. But God restores them. They then offer their own blood. He tells them they shouldn't do that. They tell God they will do it anyway as a sacrifice and this apparently becomes a "custom" as the text says.

Woob contends that this is an extra-biblical story, so it may or may not be true. He has not yet reached that part of the story, however.

Not only are they resurrected but three angels bring them gold, incense and myrrh at one point. The three days and three nights of Jesus being in the tomb are predicted etc.

If indeed this was written in advance then it is some text. And there are Christological prophecies in Scripture. If not then we see evidence of literary borrowing.


The book does have some non-Adventist theology. I am therefore quoting some statements for him to look over while making his determination if it is inspired.


Chapter XXVI

17 Then when Adam heard these words from God, he and Eve worshipped before Him, and their hearts were comforted. They returned into the cave after their custom, while tears flowed from their eyes, sorrow and wailing came from their hearts, and they wished their soul would leave their body.



Chapter XLVII

2 "Look, the fire has burnt our flesh in this world; but how will it be when we are dead, and Satan shall punish our souls? Is not our deliverance long and far off, unless God come, and in mercy to us fulfil His promise?"


Chapter LIX

8 Then Adam cried before the Lord, and said, "O Lord because I transgressed a little, You have severely punished me in return for it, I ask You to deliver me out of his hands; or else have pity on me, and take my soul out of my body now in this strange land."

 

[freeindeed2]

I'm not familiar with this book. Just a couple of questions:

Where did it come from?

Who wrote it?

When is it supposed to have been written?

EDIT: OK. I just found the book and am getting ready to read the prologue. Maybe my questions were a bit pre-mature. If you know simple short answers to them though it would probably be helpful for others who are not familiar with these writings.


EDIT 2: I'm adding this to my existing post, and I'm not really sure why! LOL! I guess I don't want to 'mess' up the thread. But there are some things recorded in the prologue that I found interesting.

This book is considered by many scholars to be part of the "Pseudepigrapha" (soo-duh-pig-ruh-fuh). The "Pseudepigrapha" is a collection of historical biblical works that are considered to be fiction. Because of that stigma, this book was not included in the compilation of the Holy Bible. This book is a written history of what happened in the days of Adam and Eve after they were cast out of the garden. ​

Does anyone know who the scholars are? Conservative Christian scholars?

Obviously, based on the few quotes already produced, it does NOT line up with the Bible (the ONLY written authoritative source for truth). So why should we believe ANYTHING it has to say?

Although considered to be pseudepigraphic by some, it carries significant meaning and insight into events of that time. It is doubtful that these writings could have survived all the many centuries if there were no substance to them.​

According to whom?

This book is simply a version of an account handed down by word of mouth, from generation to generation, linking the time that the first human life was created to the time when somebody finally decided to write it down. ​

Who is the somebody?

This particular version is the work of unknown Egyptians. ​

Isn't that a bit convenient?

Also, where is the original version of these writings in Egyptian?

The lack of historical allusion makes it difficult to precisely date the writing, however, using other pseudepigraphical works as a reference, it was probably written a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. ​

How do they arrive at this conclusion? What is the evidence?

Parts of this version are found in the Jewish Talmud, and the Islamic Koran, showing what a vital role it played in the original literature of human wisdom. ​

When was the Quran written again? Wasn't it like only 500 years ago or so? A document from 500 years ago (1500's) is considered 'the original literature of human wisdom???

The Egyptian author wrote in Arabic, but later translations were found written in Ethiopic.​

Where can those be found?

The present English translation was translated in the late 1800's by Dr. S. C. Malan and Dr. E. Trumpp. They translated into King James English from both the Arabic version and the Ethiopic version which was then published in The Forgotten Books of Eden in 1927 by The World Publishing Company. ​

Who are those guys and what is their background that indicates their agenda?

In 1995, the text was extracted from a copy of The Forgotten Books of Eden and converted to electronic form by Dennis Hawkins. ​

Who is he? What is his agenda?

It was then translated into more modern English by simply exchanging 'Thou' s for 'You's, 'Art's for 'Are's, and so forth. The text was then carefully re-read to ensure its integrity.​

By whom? Does it contain ANY authority for truth in the first place?

Why read this when we have the Bible, which God did preserve for his church (not a reference to denominations)?

 

[tall73]

EDIT:

A poster objects to my quoting his posts here.

So I will just state that if you only go by the things that the Bible affirms in this document and reject the rest--then why do you need this document at all?

 

[mva1985]

Why read this when we have the Bible, which God did preserve for his church (not a reference to denominations)?

I think this is the best question you have asked.

Personally, I have entirely to much reading to do and will not be able to make time for the Book of Adam & Eve.

 

[freeindeed2]

I think this is the best question you have asked.

Personally, I have entirely to much reading to do and will not be able to make time for the Book of Adam & Eve.

At least it's not called the 'Book of Adam & Steve'! That would raise all kinds of theological problems! Not to mention biological ones!

 

[mva1985]

At least it's not called the 'Book of Adam & Steve'! That would raise all kinds of theological problems! Not to mention biological ones!

LOL.... that's funny!