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Who was responsible for the first sin – Adam or Eve?

We learn in Genesis 2:16-17 that the LORD God gave Adam a direct command to eat of every tree in the Garden except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if he ate of it, he would surely die. It was not long after this directive that God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18) The helper was Eve, who was formed from Adam’s rib. 

Since Eve had not yet been created when God gave the command to Adam, she learned God’s command second hand from Adam. It is interesting to note that when Satan tempted Eve, she misquoted God’s commandment. 

She said, “We may eat from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3:3) 

God never told Adam that he could not touch the tree, only that he could not eat of its fruit. Also, God told Adam that the tree was called the knowledge of good and evil. Eve never mentioned the tree by name. Instead, Satan told her that if she ate of the tree, she would be like God knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). Eve believed Satan’s lie that she would not surely die and then surrendered to temptation (the lust of the flesh – saw that it was good for food; the lust of the eyes – pleasant to the eyes; and the pride of life – desirable to make one wise). 

The Apostle Paul tells us that Eve was deceived when she sinned (1 Timothy 2:14). Not only did she sin, but she also became the agent of temptation for Adam. However, when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he was not deceived as Eve was. Adam sinned with his eyes wide open in rebellion against God. 

Eve was tricked into sinning. Adam knew exactly what he was doing. He hearkened unto his wife and disobeyed God (Genesis 3:17). Therefore, it is Adam, not Eve, who bears the responsibility for the fall of the human race and for the introduction of death into the created order (Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:22). 

To learn more about God’s plan for mankind listen to, “Does Christianity Preach the Gospel?”