The Fall of Man

Some interpret the fall of man as allegorical, saying it is just a figurative story to represent all people and their temptation. Some interpret the fall as a myth story that personifies the struggle between good and evil. These interpretations do injustice to the text and are inconsistent with the rest of Scripture. Additionally, an allegorical interpretation of the fall does nothing to explain the nature of evil or the horribly destructive events we see in nature. In reality, the fall is an actual, historical event as described in Genesis 3. Apart from a literal interpretation of Genesis 3, the entire Bible loses its foundation and therefore its credibility.

After God created everything, He declared it “very good”. Adam was placed by God in the Garden of Eden and told not to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He did not sufficiently protect his wife, so she was deceived by Satan to eat the fruit. Satan appealed to her eyes, pleasure, and pride and she succumbed. In turn, she gave the fruit to Adam – who had received the face to face law from God – and he ate it. Immediately, they felt shame and guilt and tried to justify themselves by covering their nakedness. They hid from the presence of God in the Garden. By God’s grace, He set the pattern of showing mercy and grace to His rebellious creatures. He covered their immediate sins with the sacrificial blood of an animal and clothed them with its skin. Then He pronounced judgment on creation in the form of a curse. Finally, He provided the promise of a savior – the Seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15).