Old Testament · character
Adam and Eve
The first humans — made in God's image, the beginning of humanity in Eden.
Adam and Eve were the first humans God made in his own image. Through their life in the garden of Eden and their first act of disobedience, the story of all humanity begins.
Timeline at a glance
- CreationThe first humans formed from dust (Genesis 2)
- EdenWalking with God, and the one prohibition (Genesis 2)
- The FallThe forbidden fruit and disobedience (Genesis 3)
- The PromiseThe first hint of restoration (Genesis 3:15)
Formed from the Dust
God formed the man from the dust and breathed life into him so that he became a living being (Genesis 2). Saying it was not good for him to be alone, God made Eve as his companion.
Life in Eden and a Single Prohibition
The two tended the garden and lived close to God, receiving just one prohibition: "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."
Disobedience and Its Consequence
Falling for the serpent's deceit, the two broke the one command and came to know shame and fear, and were sent out of the garden. Yet God clothed them and gave them, too, a promise of restoration (Genesis 3:15).
Related verses
- Genesis 1:27"So God created mankind in his own image" — human dignity.
- Genesis 3:15"He will crush your head" — the first promise of restoration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the heart of the Adam and Eve story?
That humanity was made with dignity in God's image, and at the same time that the relationship broken by the first disobedience became the problem of all humanity. The healing of that brokenness is the storyline of the whole Bible.
What does it mean that humans were made in "God's image"?
It is understood to mean that humans bear a God-like dignity and worth and are called as stewards to care for the world (Genesis 1:27). For this reason every person is seen as precious, regardless of status or ability.
Why is Eve called Adam's "helper"?
Because God, saying "it is not good for the man to be alone," made Eve as his companion (Genesis 2). Here the word "helper" is understood to point not to inferiority but to a counterpart and partner.