According to traditional Christian theology, Adam and Eve were the first human beings. There were no pre-Adamites. Theistic evolutionists usually disagree on scientific rather than exegetical grounds. About the only exegetical argument one runs across to challenge the traditional view is the claim that Cain's fear of retribution (Gen 4:13ff.) implies the existence of other human contemporaries (besides Adam, Eve, and Cain's late brother).
Now, there are multiple problems with that inference, but for now, let's grant, for the sake of argument, that this solves the alleged problem of Cain's statement. That solves one problem by creating another.
If Adam and Eve were not the first humans, then why did God make a wife for Adam? if there were other humans on the scene, why didn't Adam simply take a wife from one of the many eligible women already in existence? The theistic evolutionary appeal to Cain's statement implies the availability of other women. Why didn't Adam get a wife the way Isaac got a wife? According to theistic evolution, as well as the theistic evolutionary interpretation of Gen 4:13ff., there were plenty of women to choose from. So why does the narrator depict God specially creating Eve to resolve Adam's lack of female companionship.
To have your argument speak to my rationalizations, I say that God did make a wife for Adam. Adam, the first souled human, breathed onto by God, looked at Eve, and saw God's promise in her un-souled appearance. By reaching out to her in bonding (empathy, friendship, love, faith), Eve caught the fire in her mind/heart from God through Adam. To follow the biblical truth, she was younger than Adam. This would allow her to be more malleable. I even agree that Eve would have God's Spirit at work in her for Generation, akin to our regeneration.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the previous paragraph, I believe you will consider it a speculation. It has no supporting evidence. It is only that God created Man and Woman. Good inspired writers of the Bible books accepted it. Jesus accepted it. I do agree. Someday, if God wills it, He will tell us more details. The light of Heaven is from God Himself! --no sun to light our way.
Rob.
Historically, proponents of the Co-Adamite theory have often argued that God created different Adams to discourage or forbid miscegenation of the races. Proponents of the Pre-Adamite theory might argue that Adam was the next step in God's creation (whether the next evolutionary step or by special creation). And so in order to maintain the uniqueness of (this) Adam's genotype among his descendants God created a woman out of a part of him. Interbreeding would too quickly dilute his genes. They may also argue that as a type of Christ, Adam's bride must be genetically pure as the Church is to be pure in doxology and praxis.
ReplyDeleteIn another of Steve's blogs I gave reasons why I think both theories seem to conflict with the implied teaching of Scripture. Though proponents of the theory could still technically wiggle out of the weight of the evidence by claiming that by the time of the Apostle Paul's preaching in Acts 17:26 all humans were by then really descendants of Adam due to interbreeding. Similar to how Genghis Khan's genes have diffused into a good portion of humanity even though he only lived less than 800 years ago.
Regarding 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 47 & Rom. 5:12-21, a proponent of the theories might argue that only those descendants of Pre-Adamites or Co-Adamites who have interbreed with Adam's descendants had a spirit and therefore were eligible for spiritual death. In which case, it's still true that by one man (Adam) came death.
Regarding Gen. 3:20, that statement might be interpreted as proleptic.
Regarding Gen. 9:19 they may argue that the term "earth" may merely mean "land." So, by context, it would have reference only to that general area and at that time period. It's not addressing, nor does it preclude the possibility of polygenism.
But all these ways to wiggle out of the weight of Biblical data (explicit & implied) seem to be ad hoc.
Some (not all) proponents of Pre-Adamitism have argued that the creation account of man in Gen. 1:26-27ff. is of Pre-Adamites while that of Gen. 2:7ff. is of Adam. But Gen. 1:26ff. is not in the plural, but singular Implying one creation of man not of many men when it says, "in the image of God he created him."
DeleteMore importantly, the Lord Jesus seemed to combine both creation accounts to refer to the same event (Mark 10:5-9; Matt. 19:4-6). His statement that God made man male and female is a reference to the Gen 1 account. While his statement about how a man is to cleave to his wife is a reference to the Gen. 2 account.
I've only ever said this to my kids in jest, but I've heard it said of a father to his kids, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out." A variation is, "I can replace you." I wonder if Cain didn't fear his father's wrath.
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