Was Adam Historical (And Does It Really Matter)?

So many Christians will ask me, “But does it really matter what we believe about Adam and Genesis?” Absolutely it does! You see, the gospel begins in Genesis with Adam. I encourage you to learn more about this connection in this video (an interview with our publisher, Master Books), featuring AiG–UK’s director, Simon Turpin:

Simon further explains:

The influence of evolution and millions of years has radically impacted how Adam should be understood.

Is belief in a first historical man named Adam important? Well, it would seem for many Christians today it’s not. The influence of evolution and millions of years has radically impacted how Adam should be understood. Since around 2010, there has been an explosion of books and articles written by Christian scientists and theologians on the question: who is Adam? For example, these are just some of the views out there in evangelical Christianity:

• Adam did not exist. (Denis Lamoureux)
• Adam is a metaphor. (Alister McGrath)
• Adam is a literary figure. (Scot McKnight)
• Adam is archetypal. (John Walton)
• Adam is a neo-lithic farmer. (Denis Alexander)
• Adam is the head of a tribe. (C. J. Collins)
• Adam is our genealogical (but not genetic) ancestor. (Joshua Swamidass)
• Adam is Homo heidelbergensis. (William Lane Craig)

All these views have one thing in common: they deny the supernatural creation of the first man Adam because they have imposed an evolutionary understanding of history (man’s fallible beliefs) onto the book of Genesis. Not one of these views is based on a careful exegesis of Genesis 1–3 or the New Testament. Sadly, many of these men relegate Genesis 1–3 to the genre of “myth” or “mytho-history” when it is clearly history. The view that Adam was a real person in a real past is a minority position within Christianity today. This issue is not about whether a person can be a Christian and believe in evolution but what one must concede theologically to hold to their belief in evolution and millions of years. While it is possible to believe in God and evolution (although what kind of God would use death, suffering and disease to create the world), this does not mean that you can believe in both with a consistent and coherent understanding of Scripture.

This is why I have written a new book Adam: First and the Last. The purpose of the book is to show Christians why Adam is foundational to the Christian faith. If you don’t understand Adam, you won’t understand God’s design for the family, what death is, what sin is, what salvation is, and most importantly who the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, is. In the book, I show why understanding Adam to have been the first man created is important for a coherent, logical, and internally consistent theological understanding of the biblical message of creation, the fall, and redemption. I also show how science not only came about through belief in a historical Adam, but that genetic evidence confirms a historical first man Adam. The latter half of the book explains the importance of Jesus as the last Adam in his life, his deity, his death and resurrection, and his view of Scripture. It also looks at how the Apostle Paul used creation to not only expose the folly of the unbelieving worldview but to share the gospel with unbelievers.

Christians who accept evolution are helping to erode belief in the supernatural creation of Adam and other vital doctrines of the Christian faith. Evolution not only destroys the creation of Adam but also the doctrine of original sin and the atonement of Christ (see Romans 5:12–21). This is a practical consequence of synthesizing evolution with the Bible. The debate over Adam is not an unimportant matter but is a biblical fact with huge theological implications. The significance of the supernatural creation of Adam for the church today has implications on many biblical doctrines. On many occasions, New Testament authors connect a historic Adam to foundational doctrine, and it does not make sense if Adam did not exist or was the descendant of an apelike creature. Consider the following passages that refer to a historical Adam.

• Jesus affirms the special creation of Adam and Eve at the beginning (Mark 10:6).
• Jesus links the doctrine of marriage to Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4–6).
• Luke connects the human lineage of Jesus to Adam (Luke 3:38).
• Paul argues for family order because of Adam and Eve (1 Corinthians 11:8–12).
• Paul connects the doctrine of the church to Adam (Ephesians 5:30–32).
• Paul argues that Adam was formed first and then Eve (1 Timothy 2:13–14).
• Paul connects death from sin to Adam (Romans 5:12–14).
• Paul based his gospel presentation, to a pagan audience, in creation and Adam (Acts 17:22–34).

By connecting Adam’s real existence and activity, the New Testament overwhelmingly affirms the historicity of Adam. It’s not possible to deny a historical Adam while at the same time believing the rest of the Bible. Therefore, it is vital to believe in a historical Adam to maintain a coherent biblical theology. Paul underscores why a historical Adam was so important, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The apostle said that we suffer the consequences of our sin because of Adam but also that Christ has overcome death, and therefore, we can be reconciled with God.

The Bible confirms the historicity of Adam. He was a real person, specially created by God, and every person born is related to him.

The Bible confirms the historicity of Adam. He was a real person, specially created by God, and every person born is related to him. Most importantly, the gospel is dependent upon a historical Adam. Both in the New Testament (Romans 5:12–19) and in the Old Testament, we see a historical Adam connected to the promised Messiah. When God judged the serpent (Satan) after the fall, there was a promise of hope that he hid in the judgment: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15).

This passage is famously known as the protoevangelium because it is the first proclamation of the gospel. God promised to deal a mortal blow to the serpent (Satan) through the offspring of the woman (Eve). This “offspring” of the woman is none other than Jesus Christ. And just as Eve found hope in God’s promised offspring, so also we look to God’s promised offspring, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 3:8).

Yes—a historical Adam is vital to the Christian faith! And that’s why we will continue to speak out about the truth of God’s Word . . . from the very first verse. I encourage you to order a copy of Simon’s new book, Adam: First and the Last, to be equipped on this vital topic.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.