Creation of Adam and Eve

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Introduction: David marveled how that man was “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). In another Psalm, he glories that man was made just “a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:5). Study carefully the creation of Adam and Eve. Notice God’s original plan for man. See what you can learn about man’s original design.

I.      THE CREATION OF MAN (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7)

A.  God’s Plan for Man’s Creation (Genesis 1:26-27)

1.  In our image

2.  After our likeness

B.  God’s Creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7)

1.  Body – “of the dust of the ground”

2.  Soul – “man became a living soul”

3.  Spirit – “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”

II.     THE HABITATION OF MAN (Genesis 2:4-6, 8-14)

A.  The Watering of the Earth (Genesis 2:4-6)

B.  The Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-9)

1.  Planted eastward in Eden (v.8)

2.  Planted with every good tree (v.9)

3.  Planted with the tree of life (v.9)

4.  Planted with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (v.9)

C.  The Rivers Out of Eden (2:10-14)

1.  The Pison (v.11-12)

2.  The Gihon (v.13)

3.  The Hiddekel (v.14; Daniel 10:4); same as the Tigris

4.  The Euphrates (v.14)

III.     THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN (Genesis 1:28; 2:15-17)

A.  His Commission (1:28)

1.  Be fruitful

2.  Multiply

3.  Replenish the earth

4.  Subdue the earth

5.  Have dominion over the living things

B.  His Vocation (2:15)

1.  To dress the garden

2.  To keep the garden

C.  His Restriction (2:16-17)

1.  To freely eat of the trees (v.16)

2.  To not eat of the tree of knowledge (v.17)

IV.    THE CREATION OF WOMAN (Genesis 2:18-25)

A.  The Problem (2:18-20)

1.  On the occasion of naming the animals (v.19)

2.  Adam recognized that he was alone (v.18,20)

3.  God determined to make an help meet for Adam (v.18)

B.  The Creation (2:21-22)

1.  Causing a deep sleep on Adam (v.21)

2.  Created from the rib of the man (v.22)

C.  The Woman (2:23-25)

1.  Taken out of man (v.23)

2.  The institution of marriage (v.24)

3.  The innocence of the man and woman (v.25)

Conclusion: We know that man has fallen from God’s original purpose for him. However, some of God’s original design remains. What should God’s lofty design and goals for man mean to us today? How can we get back to this original plan?

COMMENTARY:

1:26 – God refers to Himself in the plural (“us”, “our”). Creation was the work of the trinity. However, there is more to see here. God determines to make man in His image and in His likeness. Let us look at the possible distinction between these two words and their application in the original creation of man.

Image as a word emphasizes the idea of form. An image is a representation of the appearance or shape of something. It is similar to a model or pattern of that person or thing. Since God is a spirit (John 4:24), He does not have a physical shape. However, He does have a form or structure which is revealed in the word of God. He is a trinity. In like manner, man is also a three-in-one being. He has a spirit, soul and body (Genesis 2:7; 1Thessalonians 5:23). He lost this image when Adam sinned because Adam’s spirit died but can regain it again through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; 2Corinthians 3:18).

Likeness as a word emphasizes the idea of nature. Likeness means to have the same general qualities or characteristics. Though there is a great gulf between God and man, there are also likenesses that lift him above the nature of animals and make him capable of fellowshipping with God. Man has a dignity (Psalm 8:5) and has been given dominion (Psalm 8:6-8). He has an eternal soul (Genesis 2:7; Mark 8:36) and is capable of communion with God (Genesis 3:8). Therefore, both in his basic structure (image) and in his basic nature (likeness), man was created with God in view

Man differs from animals not just in degree but also in kind. He is not an animal but is a totally different kind of created being in at least five distinctions. First, in his self-consciousness. This refers to his ability to mentally step aside from himself and consider himself as the subject of his own thoughts. He can consider whether or not he is good and think about what kind of person he is. He can even recognize that he is considering himself. This picture of self looking at self looking at self is thought by some to be a type of the trinity.

Second, in reasoning. Only man can understand, judge, imagine and work with ideas in his mind. Third, in language. The few signals that animals give to one another are in no way similar to the simplest language of man. Fourth, in morality. Man’s ability to understand and act on the concept of right and wrong sets him apart. Fifth, in divine communication. Only man can pray and fellowship with God. This is indeed complex. However, if it interests you, go one step further and state the differences between man and angels. They are also of a different kind from one another.

1:28 – This is the first commission given to man. It is part of the Adamic covenant. It was given in the first dispensation—the Dispensation of Innocence. It has five points which you should be able to easily see. There is no record of this commission ever being removed. How are we to fulfill this commission today?

2:5-6 – Rain did not fall on the earth until the time of the flood. This covers a time period of over 1600 years. This difference in pre-flood climate would have required a totally different atmospheric model for this period of time. There may have been a water canopy above the atmosphere that created a green-house effect on earth before the flood.

2:7 – God made man’s body from the dust of the earth. Then, He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God’s breath is His spirit (Isaiah 42:5; John 20:22) and man’s spirit comes directly from God (Ecclesiastes 3:21; 12:7). Man’s soul (“and man became a living soul”) seems to be the direct result of the body of man coming into contact with the breath or spirit of God. Man’s soul is his immortal nature which acts as a communicator to both body and spirit.

2:8 – The garden of Eden is not identical to Eden. The garden is planted eastward in Eden.

2:10-14 – The four rivers do not flow into Eden, but are four parts of the river that flows out of Eden. It is obvious that the geography of the Bible lands has changed drastically since the time of creation—much change certainly came at the time of the flood. Two rivers can still be identified: the Euphrates and the Hiddekel (which is the Tigris). The Gihon flows into Ethiopia. This does not fit present geography at all since the Nile flows north from Ethiopia, not south towards it. The Pison and even the land of Havilah are impossible to identify. Some put it in India; others in Arabia. It is interesting, however, that the sources of the Euphrates and the Tigris are close to one another. Perhaps that area was the original location of the garden of Eden.

2:15 – Man, in his innocent state, was put to work dressing and keeping the garden of Eden. Man, in his eternal redeemed state, will again work in his service to God (Revelation 22:3). Work is not one of the results of judgment after the fall of man. The judgment came in the frustrated results of our labor, not in the idea of labor itself. “In all labour there is profit…” (Proverbs 14:23). Work is one of the noble things man can do.

2:17 – Man was given one and only one restriction on his activities. He could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Some have wondered why God placed in paradise the potential for man’s fall. But consider. If man could not have sinned, then he could not obey God of his own will. He would have been no better than a robot. If he could not have chosen something other than God than he could never really choose God. God wants us to love and serve Him of our own will and not because we can do nothing else.

2:18 – Adam had a threefold need. He needed a companion to keep him from being “alone.” He needed a comforter to “help” him in his day to day life. And, he needed a complement to round out his character that was “meet for him.” Meet means ready, prepared, just right (see 2Timothy 2:21 where we are to be “meet for the master’s use”).

2:21-23 – Jesus Christ is the “last Adam” (1Corinthians 15:45). His bride is the church (Ephesians 5:23-25). Adam’s “deep sleep” is a type of the death of Christ and His giving of Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25). The rib taken from Adam and the declaration that Eve is “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” is a type of the relationship of Christ to the church. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:30). No wonder Paul said that this was a “great mystery” (Ephesians 5:32).

2:24 – From the beginning, marriage consisted of a man leaving his family, cleaning unto his wife and becoming one with her. Read especially Matthew 19:4-6. As such, marriage is the first earthly institution established by God. The other two are human government and the church.

MEMORY VERSES:

1. Psalm 139:14

2. Genesis 2:7

3. Genesis 2:18