God formed man out of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). Science has learned that, quite literally and physically, man is made up of elements that are found in nature–oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, making up 96 percent of the elements composing man’s material body. As man’s physical body was taken from the dust of the ground, it shall return back thither (Gen. 3:19). As the years go by, the natural world reclaims the elements from which the outward man is composed, as it slowly perishes day by day (II Cor. 4:16). The world’s cemeteries constitute a sad testimony to this truth.
Adam, was that first man. In the Hebrew, the word for “Adam” and the word for “man” are cognates. Smith says that the words seems to refer to the ground from which man was formed and the “idea of the redness of color seems to be inherent in either word.” It has been said that the word “Adam” means “red clay.” The first man’s name, Adam, reminds us of our very humble origins. No wonder the Psalmist in understandable amazement asks “What is man that Thou art mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). God took a handful of dirt and fashioned something wonderful! If it were not for the life-giving Spirit and power of God, we would be less than the worms which inhabit the soil (Job 25:6). For this reason alone we ought to adorn ourselves in humility (I pet. 5:5).
Yet, while Adam’s origins were very humble, he was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26,27). Whatever else this may mean, it certainly means that man was also very special. This is not said of the animals and they are not afforded a special relationship with the Creator nor are they the subjects of Christ’s redemptive work. The animals were brought to Adam to see what he would call them, not the other way around. God gave man dominion and authority over all the creation (Gen. 1:26,27). Later, animals were given to be food for man and for man to do with as he wanted, as long as he was a good steward in the act (Gen. 9:1-3).
But man is special, made in the image of God and given an intellect that far exceeds that of any animal. God gave man the intellectual power to name, or classify, the animals that were brought to him (Gen. 2:19). Whatever Adam called them, that was the name of it, or, rather, it fitted the animal’s nature perfectly. Adam was created so that he could understand the word of God and thus communicate with his Creator. When God spoke to Adam, he could understand His will. As God revealed His will to man down through the ages, it was this ability to reason and to think and communicate that would benefit him eternally (Is. 1:18). It allows us to show ourselves approved unto God (II Tim, 2:15).
Adam was also created a social creature. God said it was not good that man should be alone, therefore He made an help meet (or suitable) for man (Gen. 2:18). Right from the beginning, God commanded Adam to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, to make more people, in part at least, to meet the needs of man’s companionship. One of the qualities which Jesus exhibited as He grew up was His ability to interact socially (Luke 2:52). Man specifically needed marital companionship and it was for this cause that a man would leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife, and the two would become one flesh (Gen. 2:21-24).
Unfortunately, it was his dependence on companionship which also made him vulnerable to persuasion from his wife. It was Eve, his wife, who influenced him to take the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). The story of a woman’s power over a man is nearly as old as the creation, itself. That story is replayed over and over again throughout history: Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Solomon and his wives, Salome and Herod, Jezebel and the church. However, Eve’s proffer of forbidden fruit cannot excuse Adam’s actions in any way. Adam is responsible for his own actions and his own weaknesses, just as we are responsible for ours (Ezek. 18:20; II Cor. 5:10).
It is not Eve, but Adam, that is described as bringing sin into this world. “For by one man sin entered into the world…” (Rom. 5:12). It is upon his shoulders the scriptures place the responsibility (Rom. 5:12), because he stands at the head of the human race. Adam was not deceived, as was Eve (I Tim. 2:14). Eve was in the transgression because of deception; Adam knowingly broke God’s law, giving in to his wife’s urgings and abrogating his responsibility as head of the home. Eve was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and his responsibility (Gen.2:23).
And though by one man–a man of clay of the earth–sin entered into the world, by one man–a man of the Spirit from Heaven–a way was made for the removal of sin (Rom. 5:14-21). “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (II Corinthians 15:45). “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (I Corinthians 15:47). “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:20-22).
Eric L. Padgett