Bible Characters – Adam and Eve
(Genesis 1-4)
In the first four chapters of Genesis we learn about God, our human ancestors – Adam and Eve, Satan (the devil), sin and evil.
God creates the universe, the earth, plants, animals and human beings (Genesis 1:26-27). Here we find out that people resemble God’s likeness (Imago Dei – which means being ‘made in God’s image, that is resembling the character of God while not being God himself).
Moving from a broader to a more detailed perspective, Adam’s creation (Genesis 2:7) and Eve’s creation (Genesis 2:21-25) are specified. God creates them as real people (mankind’s ancestors) and the location – the Garden of Eden – is a real place (Genesis 2:10-15). All events recorded here are real and true.
The reason God creates people is to have a personal relationship with us, since He loves us and cares about us. However, a fallen angelic being, namely the devil (Satan) deceives and tempts Adam and Eve to sin (disobeying God’s commands) and thereby participating in evil (Genesis 3:1-13). Yet, as God pronounces judgment on the devil, God also sets in motion His plan of redemption for mankind (the Protoevangelium) in the last part of Genesis 3:15. He then addresses both Eve and Adam individually (Genesis 3:16-19), performs the first animal sacrifices, as atonement for their sin, and provides the animal skins as clothing to help them cover their nakedness. God then banishes them from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24).
In the final segment, chapter 4, we learn about the first child being born, Cain, who then succumbs to evil and sin, leading him to the murder of his younger brother, Abel. However, God is still there, and through His grace, love and mercy, He initiates the ancestry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, through Adam and Eve’s other son, Seth (Genesis 4:25-26), who is recorded in our Lord’s genealogy (Luke 4:38).
God keeps His promise (see Protoevangelium, Genesis 3:15), and comes Himself as ‘God in the Flesh’ to redeem mankind, as Jesus Christ is born, then dies on the cross, is resurrected in order to make the last and final sacrifice to atone for our sins.
While evil still exists today, and Satan (the devil) is still active in deceiving some people that God cannot be trusted, tempting people to engage in sin and evil (1 Peter 5:8-9), to rebel and reject God (Romans 1:18-32), ultimately, at Jesus’ second coming on judgement day, God will finalize His ultimate plan of redemption and destroy sin, Satan, death and evil for all eternity (Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:10-15). Yet, by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour (Romans 1:17), growing in our relationship with Him – in word (the Bible) and prayer, He helps us in our walk of faith, and to persevere through the work and power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Ephesians 6:10-18). Jesus Christ is with us and for us (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:5-6).
For further study:
Gardner P. New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters: The Complete Who’s Who in the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.
Bible-Based & Christ-Centred 