Episode 22: Pete Enns - 5 Things Jesus Wants You to Know about the Adam Story
Oct 2, 2017
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Biblical scholar Pete Enns discusses 5 key insights about the Adam story, including its connections to the Old Testament and the concept of exile. He challenges traditional interpretations and explores the role of Adam in Christian thinking, questioning whether he was a real person or a metaphorical figure. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of building an online community and invites listeners to join.
The story of Adam in Genesis serves as an introduction to Israel's story and highlights the consequences of disobedience.
The story of Adam and Eve emphasizes the importance of growing in wisdom and maturity in obedience to God.
Adam's story in the Old Testament indirectly reflects the narrative of Israel's disobedience and provides a broader context for understanding the consequences of sin.
Deep dives
The Adam story as a preview of the story of Israel
The story of Adam in Genesis chapter 2 can be understood as a preview of the coming attractions or a table of contents for the rest of the Old Testament, particularly the story of Israel. Just as Adam was created from the dust of the earth and placed in the Garden of Eden, Israel was delivered from slavery in Egypt and brought to the promised land. Both Adam and Israel were given a command to follow, and disobedience led to exile. This parallel suggests that the Adam story serves as an introduction to Israel's story and highlights the consequences of disobedience.
The Adam story as a story of wisdom
The story of Adam and Eve can also be seen as a story of wisdom rather than focusing solely on the concept of sin. The crafty serpent and the nakedness of Adam and Eve offer clues to this interpretation. The serpent represents worldly wisdom and tempts Eve to gain knowledge before she is ready. In this view, the story highlights the importance of growing in wisdom and maturity in obedience to God, rather than seeking knowledge prematurely. It emphasizes the need for reverent obedience and the understanding that true wisdom comes from submitting to God.
Adam's limited prominence in the Old Testament
Contrary to popular assumptions, Adam is not a pivotal character in the Old Testament outside of the book of Genesis. Apart from a brief mention in 1 Chronicles as part of a genealogy, Adam's name is not directly mentioned. This suggests that the Old Testament does not place significant emphasis on Adam as an individual figure. Instead, Adam's story is indirectly reflected in the narrative of Israel's disobedience and exile, providing a broader context for understanding the consequences of sin.
The absence of sin as a punishment in the Adam story
The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis does not explicitly state that sin and sinfulness are consequences of Adam's disobedience. The punishments described in the story, such as laborious work and death, do not imply a universal inherent sinfulness in humanity. Rather, the story portrays the consequences of disobedience as specific to Adam and Eve's relationship with God and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The concept of sinfulness by birth is not present in the Adam story or the Old Testament.
The interpretive nature of Paul's use of the Adam story
Paul's interpretation of the Adam story, particularly in Romans chapter 5, is open to different interpretations and creative handling of the text. It is not definitive evidence that Adam must be understood as a literal historical figure. Paul's use of the Adam story serves his theological argument, highlighting the universality of sin and the need for Jesus' redemptive work. Recognizing Paul's creativity and his engagement with Jewish interpretations of the text can provide a more nuanced understanding of his use of the Adam story.
In this week's episode, Pete Enns lays out 5 things to keep in mind when reading the Adam story that will challenge your preconceptions, offer fresh points of view, and likely turn our entire political climate around for the better. Show Notes →
