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The BioLogos Forum is designed to foster a serious and comprehensive discussion of Christian faith and the sciences. We believe that charitable engagement of different perspectives within the Church helps sharpen our thinking and deepen our commitment to the truth that is hidden in Christ. So while many of the articles and videos under the distinctive Forum banner come from BioLogos staff and Senior Fellows, we feature a range of voices, including those that disagree with us and with each other. Unless otherwise noted, views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of The BioLogos Foundation. You can read more about what we believe here, and join the conversation in the comments section at the end of each post.
Paul’s Adam
In this four part series, Pete Enns delves into Paul’s views, backgrounds, and culture to understand his views of Adam and the Old Testament scriptures. Though many would like to hold a strict, literal interpretation of the Genesis writings and Paul’s letters, Enns brings to light the various problems that inevitably arise from this view. To obtain a richer perspective on this dilemma, he takes a look at nine different pieces of the puzzle including the consequences of the Fall, the appearance of Adam in the Old Testament, Adam theology in the Old Testament, the parallels between Christ and Adam in Romans, the limitations of Paul’s time period, and the interpretative methods used by Jewish rabbis at the time.
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Paul’s Adam, Part I
In my experience, a lot of Christians have come to some peace with all of this. They may handle it in different ways, and some may not have arrived at a conclusion, but they at least recognize that something has to be done.
Paul’s Adam, Part 2
Can Paul have a clearer view on the true depth of our alienation from God that is not yet present in the Old Testament? Does Paul’s use of the Adam story actually depend on him not reading it literally?
Paul’s Adam, Part 3
Thinking through questions like these takes some patience, a fair amount of knowledge, and even more wisdom. At the end of the day, wrestling through these issues will yield a greater understanding of Paul and how his Gospel is summed up in the risen Messiah.
Paul’s Adam, Part 4
Here are three final issues that arise when trying to understand Paul’s use of the Adam story.