The First Adam.

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 6
The name is supposed to be derived from Adamah, "earth, or red earth," agreeing with the fact that "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7). He differed from all other creatures, because God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life by which he became a living soul. He differed also in being made after the image and likeness of God; he was God's representative on earth, and to him was given dominion over all other living things, and he gave them names. He was placed in the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it, showing that occupation was a good thing for man even in innocence. God said that it was not good for man to be alone, so He caused him to sleep, took from him a rib, and of this "builded" a woman. Adam called her Isha for she was taken out of Ish (man), the two being a type of Christ and the Church, in the closest union. (Eph. 5:31, 3231For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31‑32).)
Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of all the trees of the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they ate of that tree, God said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. 2:1717But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17). Eve, beguiled by Satan, ate of that tree, and at her suggestion, though not deceived as Eve was, Adam also took of it. Their eyes were at once opened. They knew they were naked, and hid themselves from God. They were transgressors, had fallen from their state of innocence, and acquired a conscience, and with it the sense of their own evil and guilt. When questioned by God, Adam laid the blame on Eve, ungratefully saying, "the woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." The ground was then cursed for Adam's sake. In sorrow he would eat of it all his life; thorns and thistles would be produced, and in the sweat of his face he would eat bread.
God made for Adam and Eve coats of skins and clothed them, foreshadowing the need for a vicarious sacrifice, and the righteousness that could only come to them through death. They were driven from the garden, and cherubim with a flaming sword prevented them reentering, lest they should eat of the tree of life and live forever in their sin. Adam did not beget a son until after his fall; hence all mankind are alike fallen creatures. (Acts 17:2626And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26); Rom. 5:18,1918Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:18‑19); 1 Cor. 15:2222For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22).) Adam lived 930 years and begat sons and daughters. We have no details of the life of Adam as a fallen man. Viewed typically as head of a race, he stands in marked contrast to Christ, the last Adam.
In contrast to the first man, Adam, who was made a living soul, the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, was a life-giving Spirit. The first was natural, the second spiritual. The first man was of the earth, earthy; the second Man was out of heaven. (1 Cor. 15:45-4745And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45‑47).) Everything committed to man having failed in Adam, Christ as the last Adam becomes the head of a new and redeemed race. He is the last Adam because there will be no other. Every man must come under one of these two headships: the first Adam, man, or the last Adam, Christ. (see 1 Cor. 15:2222For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22); Psa. 8:3-93When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. 6Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:3‑9); Heb. 2:6-96But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:6‑9).)
Concise Bible Dictionary