Greg Boyd: Apologies & Explanations Did God Kill an Animal to Dress Adam & Eve?
Oct 2, 2025
The discussion kicks off with a listener's intriguing question about the first animal death in Genesis and its implications for God's character. Greg challenges the assumption that God killed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve, suggesting alternative interpretations like tunics or leaves. He emphasizes that the Hebrew term for 'covering' doesn't strictly imply violence. Instead, he frames God's actions as accommodating shame rather than a violent act. The conclusion reinforces that Genesis doesn't explicitly state any animal was killed.
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Listener's Question About The First Animal Death
- Carly described being confident debating nonviolence but getting stumped by the Genesis animal-death question.
- She wondered whether God killed an animal to clothe Adam and Eve and how that fits the cruciform thesis.
Mind The Genre When Reading Genesis
- Genre matters: Genesis 3 isn't primarily trying to give historical or chronological detail.
- Greg Boyd cautions against pressing the text for specifics it never aimed to answer.
Don't Presume Literal Animal Death
- Avoid forcing modern historical questions onto symbolic biblical passages.
- Accept that God 'made coverings' without assuming God had to kill animals to clothe Adam and Eve.