The Nature of Man and the Fall  (Genesis chp 3)


However, there was a serpent in the garden that tempted the woman to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge, telling her that it would open her eyes, and make her like God - she would not die! So the woman ate the fruit, and gave some to the man. And then they realised that they were naked, and so they sowed fig leaves together to make aprons for themselves. But God questioned them about how they knew that they were naked - and Adam blamed Eve, and Eve in turn blamed the serpent

Punishments:

Snake:

• Crawl on belly on ground
• Eat dust
• Enemy of humans

Woman:

• Increased pain in pregnancy and childbirth
• Still want children, though

Man:

• Ground cursed - have to work hard for food
• Weeds and thorns will grow to make this difficult

All sent out of garden, and a flaming sword turned in all directions to stop anyone from entering again.



Themes

• Temptation - Adam and Eve tempted by the serpent.
• Selfishness - man's wish to have his way, even though he is disobeying God.
• Consequences and punishment - these are inevitable, if you don't follow the rules.
• Free will - Adam and Eve made their own free decisions to be disobedient.
  

NB Do not mention an "apple": there is no "apple" mentioned in the original text - simply call it a "fruit".

Contemporary Issues

• Differing roles taken by men and women in the world?
• Advantages/disadvantages of the fall.
• Euthanasia.
• Temptation in the world today.
• Rules and punishments in the world - especially in school.

Revision