Somebody said Adam had no intellect.
A bit of thought soon shows that this is wrong.
He NAMED the beasts of the field that God brought to him. That alone shows a substantial vocabulary in his mind.
He also understood perfectly clearly the words a, grammar and syntax of : In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.
And 'let them have dominion...etc'.
He understood his commission to a. dress the garden (ie act as a gardener and b. keep it (act a a watchman).
The fierceness of Paul's condemnation of Adam is completely underestimated.
1 Adam was not deceived, he says. He is entirely blameworthy for the whole thing because
2 No fewer than
10 times does Paul say in Romans 5 that it was by one MAN that sin entered the world, and death by sin
And
3 In Philippians 2 the most dreadful contrast is drawn by him between Jesus and Adam:
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being
in the form of God,
[
'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness']
thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
[this rendering makes no sense. The ERV is far better: Who thought equality with God not a thing to be grasped/snatched.
This is a direct reference to 'ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil...]
7 But made himself of no reputation,
ERVmg 'emptied himself', which suits the NT use of the word very well indeed. See below for the other uses of that word
kenow
How does one empty a vessel?
One pours out the contents: in perfect agreement with Isa 53:
He hath poured out his soul unto death...
The emptying is in direct contrast with Adam who was full of himself.
and took upon him the form of a servant,
Adam was a gardener - and didn't like it for one moment, because he was to have, or did have, dominion over the planet: and here he was, picking up leaves etc etc.
and was made in the likeness of men:
[Adam!]
8 And being found in
fashion as a man
4
976 σχημα schema skhay’-mah
from the alternate of 2192; TDNT-7:954,1129; n n
AV-fashion 2; 2
1) the habitus, as comprising everything in a person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, mannerof life etc.
In other words, he was entirely human, and remains so, as 1 Tim 2.5 says.
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Adam disobeyed, and brought death upon all men. The cross brought life.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
[Which was what Adam wanted - that dominion over the planet]
10 That at [the ERV and others changes AT into] IN the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
{which was what Adam wanted more that anything else: and we now pay the price for his evil.}
Eve is not mentioned in this drastic condemnation anywhere. In i Tim. Paul says 'the woman being deceived
became involved in the transgression. Suggesting a very low order of blame being laid at her door.
In Gen 3, it says the God
drove out the MAN. Clearly didn't want to go: disobedient to the last.
----------------------------------------------------------
Uses of kenoo:
Romans 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void <2758>, and the promise made of none effect:
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect <2758>.
1 Corinthians 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make <2758> my glorying void <2758>.
2 Corinthians 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain <2758> in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
Philippians 2:7 But made <2758> himself of no reputation <2758>, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
