Account of Adam and Eve is about origin of sin

MAY I take issue with Michael Turner’s understanding of the account of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-5)?

It is indeed about the origin of sin and death. Following the ‘Fall’ of our first parents we immediately see the very serious consequences of sin: Cain murders his brother Abel, Lamech acts with uncontrolled furious, murderous revenge, and wickedness and violence prevail so much so that God has to destroy the earth with a worldwide flood.

Also, God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate from the forbidden tree they would die. This implies that they would not have died if they had obeyed God.

And, yes, the gospel the apostle Paul preached does connect Adam’s rebellion against God with the entrance of sin and death into the world. But he did not obtain this gospel from any human source. He clearly tells us that it was revealed to him directly by Christ. (Galatians 1:11&12). And, furthermore, it was fully in accord with what the other apostles were preaching (Galatians 2:1-10).

Moreover, they did become moral beings (with bad consciences) as a result of their disobedience: they were ashamed and tried to hide from the God Who had given them everything for their well being and placed them in a perfect paradise.

They had died spiritually. The death God had warned them about is firstly separation from Himself and then physical death. This follows in chapter 5, where ‘and he died’ is repeated eight times, to emphasise the point.

As for matters raised by Gill Ganley, Letters, 15.01.20, Genesis 7:8 tells us ‘the animals came to Noah and entered the ark’. And was an intoxicated Noah responsible for grounding the ark on Mount Ararat? No! The ark had no mechanism for steering; it just floated on the waters.

And it wasn’t until some long time after the flood had subsided that Noah planted a vineyard and made wine from its grapes.

Bryan Shingler.