The Ancient World (HUM 124 - UNC Asheville)/Texts/Genesis 2-3

Creation of Humans/The Loss of the Innocence of Man

Genesis 2-3 outlines the story of Heaven and Earth following the universe creation during Genesis 1-2. This section of the Bible mainly focuses on human creation. Man is formed from Earth by God and is named Adam. Adam is created from the image of God. God then forms out of Earth all living creatures and instructs man to name them. God creates the Garden of Eden, often interpreted as a metaphor for the Earth. On Earth, Adam is instructed to rule over the living world and the garden. Adam was in need of partnership so God created Eve. The humans were naked but felt no shame as their nature was created from innocence. Within this garden, God forms two trees, one the tree of life and the second the tree with knowledge of good and bad. The two were encouraged to eat and enjoy the garden, however were told never to eat from the tree of knowledge. Eating from this tree would open their eyes to shame. However one day, the serpent meets Eve and begins to instruct her to disobey God. The serpent is considered as a manifestation of the Devil. He claims that God wants to keep them limited for his own self-interest. Both Eve and Adam eat, despite their direct instruction not to, and their innocence disappears. They attempt to keep their mistake hidden from God, hiding behind shrubbery, embarrassed by their nudity. Their failed judgment immediately becomes obvious to omnipotent God, and he is furious at them for their disobedience. He clothes the humans and places a curse on the serpent. He also punishes the humans for their sin, making childbirth painful, and the woman subservient to her husband. God then tells Adam, "By the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground-for from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust, you shall return." With man's innocence gone, God worries for the prospect of human eternity and expels the couple from Eden and places guards around the tree of life.