Was Adam the first man?
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:02 am
I'm having a discussion on TheologyWeb about whether Adam was the first man, as the Bible clearly teaches. I asked the questions:
1) Is Adam the common ancestor of all men living today?
2) How did sin enter the world?
My debate opponent replied:
1) Is Adam the common ancestor of all men living today?
2) How did sin enter the world?
My debate opponent replied:
What are your thoughts on this?srvfan wrote:For #1, based on anthropological evidence, the answer is no. There is no trace of Mesopotamian influence on tribes such as Maoris, Igorots, Ainus, Native Americans, etc. But I trust in the Bible that Adam's descendants are Israel and of course, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is true it is difficult to answer #2 if Adam is beyond reasonable doubt proven to be not the first biological human being. In the context of the reading, I understand Paul is a Jew and naturally, he'd point Adam as the first man because he's the primary ancestor of the Jews. This is not to say Paul is lying, but he's not an omniscient person and that was what tradition had revealed to him.
The possibilities I have in mind are the following:
A. Adam is an example, rather than the sole reason of sin entering the world. Perhaps those who had lived before (and away from) Adam also had their own experience of "The Fall" in a different way. I remembered some Native American stories about their ancestors who abused the gifts of the Great Spirit, and later those people sought for His forgiveness. Sure, God delivered judgment on them but to the best of my knowledge, they're not as violent and harsh compared to the punishment God had delivered to the Canaanites, and even to his own chosen people.
B. Adam was privileged to receive special revelation from God compared to other tribes and cultures. But he was accountable for his wrongdoing because he knew what would displease God and he chose to do so. Other tribes are not accountable to God, or at least as accountable as Adam because they do not possess the revelation Adam was privileged to have. Sin then, is any act displeasing to God and you have full knowledge of it.
I am still gathering more data on this, so the possibilities I've written above are simply speculations on how evil had planted deep on the heart of mankind.