First and Last Adam

[Skyangel]

The bible talks about the first and last Adam in 1 Cor 15:45

Christianity teaches that the first man named Adam was the first literal man ever created by God on planet earth.
If the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on planet earth then is the last Adam also a literal man who is the literal last man on planet earth?


If so, why is mankind still on planet earth?

If not, why do people teach and believe that the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on earth?

The "voice" in Revelation 1:11 said He is the first and the last.
"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:"

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

[ChaosBorders]

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

Since we're in the theology subforum and the bible is considered authoratative here, then guess we got to go with Adam being the first man on the planet.

But Jesus is portrayed as sinless, whereas Adam is not. So though they may fulfill parallel roles, Adam cannot be stated as being literally Jesus.

[Skyangel]

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

Since we're in the theology subforum and the bible is considered authoratative here, then guess we got to go with Adam being the first man on the planet.

But Jesus is portrayed as sinless, whereas Adam is not. So though they may fulfill parallel roles, Adam cannot be stated as being literally Jesus.

That all depends on the perception.
These scriptures say he can.

Isaiah 41:4 Who hath wrought and done [it], calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I [am] he.

Isaiah 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I [am] he; I [am] the first, I also [am] the last.

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.



What is Adam ( man )? A soul without a spirit or a spirit without a soul or a spirit in a soul?
Was the first Adam a human being with the Spirit of God in him?
Was the last Adam also a human being with the Spirit of God in him ?

Is Jesus/Adam the first and last human being on earth or is God the first and last human being on planet earth and all the human beings in between the first and last as well?

[ahigherway]

The bible talks about the first and last Adam in 1 Cor 15:45

Christianity teaches that the first man named Adam was the first literal man ever created by God on planet earth.
If the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on planet earth then is the last Adam also a literal man who is the literal last man on planet earth?


If so, why is mankind still on planet earth?

If not, why do people teach and believe that the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on earth?

The "voice" in Revelation 1:11 said He is the first and the last.
"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:"

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

Great thread, Skyangel!

The First Adam/Last Adam situation has been first and foremost on my mind lately, and it has many facets to it.

It is clear that Jesus was not the last person born on earth, so it may be true that "Last Adam" is in reference to something other than the physical body. I believe that "Adam" refers to a quality, a role, a title. Adam 1 was special because he polluted ALL mankind. Adam 2, since Jesus had this title, must have a similar impact on humanity. That is, He purified ALL mankind.
We also read that Jesus was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." So it would seem that although He was the Last Adam, He was also before the First Adam who fell.
Perhaps in this sense, He is the "First and the Last." He was sacrificed before the world began, and He is the one who purified all the rest who would come after.

Like the hand that releases and the hand that catches. The beginning and the end.

So...
Jesus the Last Adam existed in the beginning. Then the "First Adam" was created, who fell. Then the Last Adam was revealed again to purify all that had been polluted by the "First Adam."

Just thinking/typing out loud..

Blessings,
brian

[Skyangel]

The bible talks about the first and last Adam in 1 Cor 15:45

Christianity teaches that the first man named Adam was the first literal man ever created by God on planet earth.
If the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on planet earth then is the last Adam also a literal man who is the literal last man on planet earth?


If so, why is mankind still on planet earth?

If not, why do people teach and believe that the first Adam mentioned in Genesis is the first literal man on earth?

The "voice" in Revelation 1:11 said He is the first and the last.
"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:"

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

Great thread, Skyangel!

The First Adam/Last Adam situation has been first and foremost on my mind lately, and it has many facets to it.

It is clear that Jesus was not the last person born on earth, so it may be true that "Last Adam" is in reference to something other than the physical body. I believe that "Adam" refers to a quality, a role, a title. Adam 1 was special because he polluted ALL mankind. Adam 2, since Jesus had this title, must have a similar impact on humanity. That is, He purified ALL mankind.

You are correct that it is clear enough to anyone that the last Adam is not the last literal person on earth so logically I agree it is in reference to something other than the physical body. If that is true for the Last Adam, it must also be true for the first Adam if we use the scriptures the first will be last and the last will be first.
It is not talking about literal men ( Adams) in either case (first or last) but I agree it is more about quality. I tend to see it more as two sides of the nature of mankind. Adam #1 represents the fleshy side or carnal side of the nature which is always at enmity against God. Adam #2 represents the spiritual side of the nature of mankind which is the part of the nature which has the power to overcome the carnal side in the same way light overcomes darkness yet both still exist.

We also read that Jesus was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." So it would seem that although He was the Last Adam, He was also before the First Adam who fell.
Perhaps in this sense, He is the "First and the Last." He was sacrificed before the world began, and He is the one who purified all the rest who would come after.

Like the hand that releases and the hand that catches. The beginning and the end.

So...
Jesus the Last Adam existed in the beginning. Then the "First Adam" was created, who fell. Then the Last Adam was revealed again to purify all that had been polluted by the "First Adam."

Just thinking/typing out loud..

Blessings,
brian

I understand and agree with what you say.
The Spirit was first before the flesh and then the flesh is created ( born ) and rebelled against the Spirit so it gets sacrificed (dies) and then the Spirit is in charge again.
In that sense you have Spirit first and Spirit last as well as flesh first and flesh last.
The moral of the story is to begin in the Spirit and stay in the Spirit and do not walk in the flesh for if you do, you will surely die because the flesh was created to die in the first place. We cannot be made perfect through the flesh. We already are perfect in the Spirit since the Spirit of God begets the same Spirit. Gods children are perfect from the beginning because He made us perfect from the beginning. The only way to fall from perfection is to be disobedient to our God given conscience within us which is the same as rebelling against God.
When the Spirit overcomes the flesh, the flesh dies and we can die daily in that sense by being overcomers of the flesh daily as we live in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

[EduChris]

...Christianity teaches that the first man named Adam was the first literal man ever created by God on planet earth...

Actually there are a number of views within Christianity. You seem to be forcing scripture into woodenly literal interpretations, but the problem with that is, such interpretations do not take context and genre and other literary factors into account.

[Skyangel]

...Christianity teaches that the first man named Adam was the first literal man ever created by God on planet earth...

Actually there are a number of views within Christianity. You seem to be forcing scripture into woodenly literal interpretations, but the problem with that is, such interpretations do not take context and genre and other literary factors into account.

I understand there are different views but the basic concept that Adam was the very first man created by God is taught to children in Sunday Schools before they ever understand any other concept.
This is most "woodenly literal interpretation" which is taught by Christianity. I am saying I do not believe the first Adam was literally the first single man on planet earth any more than the last Adam is the last literal man on planet earth.

If you see something wrong with my interpretation, please give a clearer explanation of where you see me taking something out of context and how does it change my interpretation or make it false if you leave what you perceive as being taken out of context, in its context?

We need to look at the bigger picture as well as all the small parts to see it in its complete context. It is like looking at the bigger picture of the puzzle in order to put all the puzzle pieces in the right place.

[EduChris]

...If you see something wrong with my interpretation, please give a clearer explanation of where you see me taking something out of context and how does it change my interpretation or make it false if you leave what you perceive as being taken out of context, in its context?...

In 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Paul's point is that our resurrection bodies will be different from our present-day bodies.

Adam (the word in Hebrew means "earth" or "earthling") represents all people who have earthly bodies. Jesus, the "eschaton" man, represents all people who will one day have resurrection bodies. This is all that Paul is saying with the comparison between Adam and Jesus.

...We need to look at the bigger picture as well as all the small parts to see it in its complete context. It is like looking at the bigger picture of the puzzle in order to put all the puzzle pieces in the right place.

Agreed.

[Skyangel]

...If you see something wrong with my interpretation, please give a clearer explanation of where you see me taking something out of context and how does it change my interpretation or make it false if you leave what you perceive as being taken out of context, in its context?...

In 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Paul's point is that our resurrection bodies will be different from our present-day bodies.

Adam (the word in Hebrew means "earth" or "earthling") represents all people who have earthly bodies. Jesus, the "eschaton" man, represents all people who will one day have resurrection bodies. This is all that Paul is saying with the comparison between Adam and Jesus.

...We need to look at the bigger picture as well as all the small parts to see it in its complete context. It is like looking at the bigger picture of the puzzle in order to put all the puzzle pieces in the right place.

Agreed.

Then in the bigger picture the bible also points out the first body is natural and the second one is spiritual so why do people believe and teach that Jesus literally rose from the dead in a new physical or natural body when the bible teaches the resurrected body is a spiritual body not a natural physical body?

1 Cor 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.



Since a spirit is invisible to all except spirits, those who live in the earthy realm cannot see the Spirit of God or His children, the image of the heavenly, who are also gods since the invisible God begets invisible gods who are just as perfect as He is.

Can you see Jesus on earth today in His spiritual body? if so, where is He? He never left the earth ( earthy realm ) since He promised to never leave or forsake His disciples (Matt 28:20, Heb 13:5 ) and I am one of them who can see Him daily. That is how and why I know He exists on earth yesterday today and for ever.

[Cathar1950]

Does that mean the first Adam is also Jesus?

Since we're in the theology subforum and the bible is considered authoratative here, then guess we got to go with Adam being the first man on the planet.

But Jesus is portrayed as sinless, whereas Adam is not. So though they may fulfill parallel roles, Adam cannot be stated as being literally Jesus.

That all depends on the perception.
These scriptures say he can.

Isaiah 41:4 Who hath wrought and done [it], calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I [am] he.

Isaiah 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I [am] he; I [am] the first, I also [am] the last.

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.




What is Adam ( man )? A soul without a spirit or a spirit without a soul or a spirit in a soul?
Was the first Adam a human being with the Spirit of God in him?
Was the last Adam also a human being with the Spirit of God in him ?

Is Jesus/Adam the first and last human being on earth or is God the first and last human being on planet earth and all the human beings in between the first and last as well?

The answer is no.
Only 1 Cor 15:45 is related to Adam and Jesus and the other passages are about First and Last. You are trying to iterpret the other passages with your misunderstanding of 1 Cor. 15:45.
When Paul writes of the New Adam he is using Adam as humanity. The first Adam was the first Human(metaphorical) and represents humans while the Last Adam or New Adam represents the New humanity being raised in Christ.
Paul is using an allegory.

Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

These two passages are about ranking and not Adam of Jesus.

The others are about first and last but are not specified so it could mean first light, first being, or even the first anything and the last everything and Adam and Jesus are not part of the context.