When it comes to original sin, I think Eve gets a bum rap. She’s always blamed for leading Adam into sin, but I think the responsibly for his sin should fall squarely on his own shoulders. I just read an article that said, “she must have used the same twisted arguments [as satan] to convince Adam [to eat the forbidden fruit.]" I have two arguments against this:Argument One: In Genesis 2, Adam was the one who received the command from God not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. GE 2:16 “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Eve was not there when God gave this command to Adam; her creation is not recorded until verse twenty two. GE 2:22 “Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.”
We know Eve is aware of this command because of her reply to the serpent in Genesis chapter three. GE 3:2 "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, `You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" Now, her version of this command is exaggerated because “you must not touch it” is added, but we don’t know if this addition came from her or if it came from Adam and she was merely repeating it. Maybe Adam added this warning for emphasis. We have no way of knowing if God also spoke the command directly to Eve or if it was left to Adam to relay it to her. Either way, we know Adam did hear it directly from God.
Argument Two: Adam was no innocent bystander. Eve did not walk up to Adam out of the blue and offer him the forbidden fruit. He was fully aware of the discourse that took place between Eve and the serpent because he was there! GE 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
We’re all responsible for our own actions, and Adam is responsible for his regardless of what Eve did or who sinned first.
2 CO 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
GA 6:4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.
I don’t think Adam needed any convincing, nor is any recorded. We’re only told that she “gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” As James says, JA 1:14 “each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
We often wonder what it would be like to live in a world without sin, and for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, one day we will know. But did you ever wonder what would have happened if Eve had eaten the fruit and then Adam refused? What would have happened if Adam had said, “I can’t believe you did that! Eve, I am so sorry. This is going to change everything…”
We are all responsible for our own actions, but unfortunately, we’re not the only ones who pay the price.
Father, forgive me for the times I've doubted you and relied on my own reasoning. It leads me into trouble every time! Help me to walk closely with you and trust fully in your promises to provide me with all I need. I love you! Lisa
