#128 Why did God make childbirth difficult? More questions about Eden and the Fall
Jul 28, 2022
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NT Wright, a theologian, answers questions about the Garden of Eden and the Creation story. Topics discussed include Adam and Eve's pre-fall bodies, the accommodation of marriage post-Fall, and God making childbirth more difficult after the fall. The podcast explores the consequences of the fall, particularly Eve's curse and the difficulty of childbirth. It also delves into the connection between childbirth and the groaning of creation described in Romans.
The Garden of Eden was a place where heaven and earth overlapped, allowing God to dwell with humanity as illustrated by God's interaction with Adam and Eve.
Marriage and procreation were originally intended to reflect God's purposes and will continue to reflect God's faithfulness in the new creation.
Deep dives
The Overlapping of Heaven and Earth in the Garden of Eden
The creation story in Genesis suggests that the Garden of Eden was a place where heaven and earth overlapped. This is highlighted by the fact that God walked and spoke with Adam and Eve in the garden. While it is unclear whether Adam and Eve had pre-fall bodies like the resurrected Jesus, it is evident that God's intention was to create a world where he could dwell with his image-bearing human creatures.
The Purpose of Marriage and its Role in the New Creation
Marriage and procreation were part of God's original plan for humanity. The command to be fruitful and multiply in Genesis indicates that these aspects of human relationships were meant to reflect God's purposes. In the new creation, however, there will no longer be a need for procreation due to the absence of death. While the specific details of relationships in the new creation are unknown, fidelity and spousal relationships will continue to reflect God's faithfulness.
The Pain of Childbirth and God's Character
The pain and difficulty of childbirth, as described in Genesis, has often been used to impose suffering on women and perpetuate negative attitudes towards them. However, it is important to view this through the lens of Jesus' compassion and his elevation of women in the New Testament. The pain in childbirth represents the present fallen state of the world, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the new birth and new creation that is to come, just as creation itself groans in anticipation of redemption.
Were Adam and Eve's pre-fall bodies like the resurrected Jesus? Was marriage a post-fall accomodation? Why does Genesis say God made childbirth more difficult after the fall? NT Wright answers more questions on the Garden of Eden and the Creation story.