There are many, modern Christian theories regarding God's purpose in creation including the fall of Adam. Even Historical Restorationists, interested in a return to early Christian doctrines regarding Adam will have difficulties BECAUSE of those many competing voices and multiple competing traditions.
Regardless, I do not believe any “modern” Christian models or theories are any clearer, nor more logical nor have any other advantage over the earliest Judao-christian doctrines and beliefs regarding Adam and Eve and the “fall of mankind”. I think the early Judao-Christian doctrines have many profound contextual advantages over modern theories. For example, consider the fall of Adam and Eve if one simply adds two simple, but important ancient contexts.
The first principle is reflected by the Prophet Sedrach’s observation to God the Father that : “It was by your will that Adam was deceived, my master” (The Apocalypse of Sedrach 5:1-7). The second principle was the early doctrine that Adam partook of the “TREE OF WISDOM” (1st Enoch 32:3-6). It was not simply the tree of "knowledge”.
The implications of both ancient principles was the basis of an entirely different paradigm. Combined and paraphrased, this ancient doctrine was : “IT WAS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL THAT ADAM ACQUIRED WISDOM”.
Just as the origin of Satan is not to be understood outside of pre-mortal Christian theology, I do not think the fall of Adam can be well understood without considering the ancient doctrine of Pre-mortality; what God was attempting to do with Adam (and the rest of us) and the role of gaining moral wisdom in God’s plan for mankind. I believe that a correlation of the ancient texts could help us understand the early Christian concept that “It was according to God’s will that Adam acquired wisdom”.
A) PRE-CREATION CONDITIONS RELATING TO ADAM - “GOD WAS IN THE MIDST OF SPIRITS”
According to this early Christian doctrine, before the creation of this world, God was in the midst of spirits. Early textual testimonies describe innumerable spirits existing in “heaven” before creation and, they describe what God intended to do with these innumerable spirits. Regarding pre-creation heaven, Enoch records :
Regarding the doctrine that “IT WAS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL THAT ADAM ACQUIRED WISDOM”
B) GOD THE FATHER’S PLAN FOR MANKIND - “TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THINGS”
If the early Christians were correct that spirits existed prior to creation, then one may ask what a moral and loving God would plan regarding these spirits?
The ancient Jewish doctrine that God had instituted a divine plan is interwoven into multiple texts :
Early records also describe the great authority and various roles the pre-mortal Jesus fulfilled in administrating much of the Father’s plan from early on (God’s "right hand" was one of the Pre-Creation Jesus’ appellations). For example, Diognetus relates :
If the gaining of wisdom WAS the very thing God wanted to share with man, then it was as much a Jewish doctrine as a Christian one. In fact, the dead sea scrolls celebrate God’s giving of knowledge and understanding (wisdom) to Adam :
The Zohar explains this doctrine of moral education of spirits leaving heaven for earth for a short time, to become educated, only to return to heaven.
Clearly
Regardless, I do not believe any “modern” Christian models or theories are any clearer, nor more logical nor have any other advantage over the earliest Judao-christian doctrines and beliefs regarding Adam and Eve and the “fall of mankind”. I think the early Judao-Christian doctrines have many profound contextual advantages over modern theories. For example, consider the fall of Adam and Eve if one simply adds two simple, but important ancient contexts.
The first principle is reflected by the Prophet Sedrach’s observation to God the Father that : “It was by your will that Adam was deceived, my master” (The Apocalypse of Sedrach 5:1-7). The second principle was the early doctrine that Adam partook of the “TREE OF WISDOM” (1st Enoch 32:3-6). It was not simply the tree of "knowledge”.
The implications of both ancient principles was the basis of an entirely different paradigm. Combined and paraphrased, this ancient doctrine was : “IT WAS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL THAT ADAM ACQUIRED WISDOM”.
Just as the origin of Satan is not to be understood outside of pre-mortal Christian theology, I do not think the fall of Adam can be well understood without considering the ancient doctrine of Pre-mortality; what God was attempting to do with Adam (and the rest of us) and the role of gaining moral wisdom in God’s plan for mankind. I believe that a correlation of the ancient texts could help us understand the early Christian concept that “It was according to God’s will that Adam acquired wisdom”.
A) PRE-CREATION CONDITIONS RELATING TO ADAM - “GOD WAS IN THE MIDST OF SPIRITS”
According to this early Christian doctrine, before the creation of this world, God was in the midst of spirits. Early textual testimonies describe innumerable spirits existing in “heaven” before creation and, they describe what God intended to do with these innumerable spirits. Regarding pre-creation heaven, Enoch records :
Enoch continues :
In this ancient doctrine, God was in the midst of spirits of all the spirits who ever lived or will live on this earth. The spirit that was to be clothed in Adam’s body was among these spirits. Jewish haggadah relates :
The pre-mortal Jesus is among these spirits as well. Enoch describes his vision of seeing the pre-mortal Jesus with the Father. Upon seeing these two individuals, Enoch asks who this individual (the pre-mortal Jesus) was and what role he had in the Father's Plan :
The fact that the original plan called for a savior to redeem meant that it was known from the very beginning that man would both fall and need a redeemer to save them from the fall. Early texts such as Jewish Zohar confirm this doctrine that it was known from the beginning that some of these spirits would do evil (and thus a redemptive mechanism was going to be needed) :
Regarding the doctrine that “IT WAS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL THAT ADAM ACQUIRED WISDOM”
B) GOD THE FATHER’S PLAN FOR MANKIND - “TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THINGS”
If the early Christians were correct that spirits existed prior to creation, then one may ask what a moral and loving God would plan regarding these spirits?
The ancient Jewish doctrine that God had instituted a divine plan is interwoven into multiple texts :
The Prophet Enoch describes the earliest stages of God’s plan before it was known among the heavenly host :
However, in this ancient Christian model, once God sets in motion his great plan, God seems to take great care in both the planning of and in ensuring the deep involvement of the Heavenly Hosts (for whose benefit the plan existed).
Early records also describe the great authority and various roles the pre-mortal Jesus fulfilled in administrating much of the Father’s plan from early on (God’s "right hand" was one of the Pre-Creation Jesus’ appellations). For example, Diognetus relates :
Such early Christian texts explain that the purpose of the plan was to “share in the benefits and see and understand things”; i.e. to gain wisdom. This is the very thing Adam and Eve sought to gain FROM the tree of wisdom.
If the gaining of wisdom WAS the very thing God wanted to share with man, then it was as much a Jewish doctrine as a Christian one. In fact, the dead sea scrolls celebrate God’s giving of knowledge and understanding (wisdom) to Adam :
In explaining Adam’s assignment upon the earth, God says of the pre-eminent Adam :
God continues explaining to Enoch regarding Adam :
The text continues on to explain reasons WHY God wanted to give Adam (and all of the rest of us) knowledge and wisdom :
There was something even “more lamentable” about an eternal existence in moral ignorance and social unrest than a temporary and limited sin IF it contributed to mankind acquiring moral wisdom sufficient to live in eternal social joy and harmony. The texts also make clear that mankind had to understand moral law BEFORE mankind could understand EITHER moral reward OR moral punishment BASED on moral law. When the Prophet Baruch complains about apparent inconsistencies in reward and punishment in mortality, God explains the principle underlying this moral education. God tells Baruch :
If man was not educated regarding good and evils they do, they would not understand the rewards nor the punishments that follow moral actions nor would they have understood the ultimate justice of God’s judgment.
The Zohar explains this doctrine of moral education of spirits leaving heaven for earth for a short time, to become educated, only to return to heaven.
I’ll have to continue tomorrow if I can find time - I’ve run out of time tonight
Clearly
Last edited: