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Dear Norman,
True, many different groups, Jewish, Muslim and
Christian, over time have accused Eve of the sin. Unfortunately, that is a
misreading of the text.
1. Whether or not Adam heard the discussion with the "serpent"
is not stated.
2. Eve quotes the commandment of God, cf. 2:16-17, but adds to
the commandment, "or touch it."
3. Then the "serpent" directly contradicts the commandment of
God in 3:5.
4. The text clearly states that Eve,
saw that the fruit of
the tree was good for food,
pleasant to the
eye,
desirable for gaining
wisdom,
took and ate
it.
5. It is here that the text has "immah;" LXX has "MET'
AUTHS."
6. It should be noted that Sirach 25:24, "For the woman sin
has its beginning, and because of her we all die." This contradicted in Romans
5:12-18 where Paul places the sin clearly on Adam. Adam was
there, he knew what Eve was doing and tried to pass the buck (Genesis
3:12). While she was deceived (Genesis 3:13), it was Adam who clearly and
deliberately disobeyed.
Pual even gives his comment on Genesis 3 in I
Timothy 2:14, "For Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived, and became
a sinner."
Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
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