Sunday, November 15, 2009

Were Adam and Eve naked before the fall?

The story of the creation of man up to the time of expulsion from the Garden of Eden consists of many hard to comprehend portions that I liken to an anvil were a majority of Bible Scholars have broken their hammers. One such portion of scripture is that which refers to Adam and Eve as being naked both before the fall and after the fall. The question is: Where Adam and Eve really naked before the fall?

God and the Angels are clothed

We know from the bible that both God and the angels are dressed in white garments. When Isaiah saw the LORD, he saw that His skirt filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1). Peter too saw an angel standing before him in bright clothing (Acts 10:30). Actually we know that the heavenly beings are dressed in linen cloth.

Furthermore, we understand from the bible that God created man in his own image and likeness. If Adam resembled God, how then would he have been naked?

Understanding Adam’s nakedness

There 2 naked instances that the bible refers to in Adams case:

1. Where he was naked and not ashamed

2. Where they knew that they were naked and cover themselves with fig tree leaves.

Firstly, none of these instances refers to PHYSICAL nakedness. Secondly, these two instances refer to two different forms of spiritual nakedness.

Spiritual Nakedness Number One

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25 KJV)

In this verse nakedness means that they were not covered with shame. Compare with the following verse:

For thy violence (SIN) against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee (CLOTHED), and thou shalt be cut off forever (EXPELLED FROM EDEN). (Obadiah 1:10 KJV)

Hence from this scripture we learn that shame also covers. Genesis 2:25 was actually supposed to be written like this:

And they were both naked, the man and his wife: not clothed with shame. (Genesis 2:25)

When you remove the word and, and introduce a colon instead, the meaning is clear because the word not ashamed then becomes a supportive word and not a separate meaning word.

You see it’s like saying, “Matthew was naked: he did not even wear underpants on.” The second part of the sentence is merely adding more meaning to the first part of the sentence.

This carries more meaning to me because at this time Adam had known no sin i.e. he was not guilty.

Spiritual Nakedness Number Two

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:7 KJV)

In this verse they were not covered with righteousness. Compare with the following verses:

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. (Job 29:14)

David had the same understanding too.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. (Psalms 132:9)

Isaiah had the same understanding too.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Therefore, righteousness that is to stand right with God is clothing. Which means not standing right with God is nakedness. Hence, Jesus Christ put it this way:

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. (John 15:22 KJV)

You see, there is always a certain spiritual awareness of things not being right when a righteous person compromising with sin. That’s the explanation for Adam’s awareness of the second nakedness.

Were Adam and Eve naked before the fall? Certainly not! They were clothed in linen woven from durable fabric made from the spun fibers of flax found in the Garden of Eden. People who fail to comprehend this reality are those who had believed that we are apes that evolved. Dear reader, God made as humans beings and it’s an insult to Him to belittle human creation as apes.

Watch out for another post in the near future where I explain what the fig tree means and the leaves that they covered themselves with after sin. Moreover, you might be interested in knowing which sinful act they committed; this too shall be explained soon.

Remain blessed.

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