Read the Passage: Genesis 3

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 3

Temptation (3:1–7)

Gen. 3:1 introduces a dramatic turn in the narrative of creation, as here we read about a cunning serpent who opposes God and tempts mankind. Later, we learn that this serpent is Satan (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:8–9; 20:2), whose fall occurred sometime after Gen. 1:31 and before Gen. 3:1 (cf. Isa. 14:12–21; Ezek. 28:11–19; Luke 10:18). In this passage Satan approaches Eve and asks if God has prohibited eating “from every tree of the garden.” This question seems designed to focus Eve’s attention on the one tree from which God had instructed her and Adam not to eat. Observe that in her reply, Eve claims that God had told them not to touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This added detail betrays the fact that there may have already been resentment in Eve’s heart regarding God’s command. Satan, then, deceived Eve as he lied about the results of eating the forbidden fruit (cf. John 8:44; 1 Tim. 2:14).

When Satan told Eve that eating the forbidden fruit would make her like God, knowing good and evil (cf. Gen. 3:5), he was telling a half-truth (cf. Gen. 3:22). Of course, a half-truth is a full lie, and Satan did not explain the burdens that accompany the knowledge and experience of evil. While Eve did not grasp all of the consequences of partaking from the forbidden tree, she nevertheless “took of its fruit and ate” (Gen. 3:6). Although this was sinful, Scripture repeatedly asserts that Eve was deceived when she ate the forbidden fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14). Adam, however, was not deceived; rather, he freely ate the forbidden fruit. Therefore, while they both sinned, Adam is arguably more culpable than Eve, as he both rebelled again God and failed to protect Eve. Upon sinning, then, the first couple began to cover themselves in a feeble attempt to avoid their shame and guilt.

Confrontation (3:8–13)

Upon eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve experienced shame and guilt, thus they tried to limit their vulnerability by sewing together fig leaves (cf. Gen. 3:7), and they “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:8). These actions communicate two important truths about fallen mankind: first, people are inevitably are aware of their shame and guilt before God; and second, people will try to fix their sin by working (i.e., self-salvation) or by hiding (i.e., denial). When God confronted Adam and Eve, rather than repenting, they compounded their sin by trying to shift their guilt elsewhere. Remarkably, Adam blamed Eve, while simultaneously impugning God, and Eve blamed the serpent. This poor attempt at avoiding incrimination is an example of how many people react when confronted by the truth of the gospel and of their own sin.

Condemnation (3:14–24)

Gen. 3:14–19 narrates the curse of mankind, as well as of creation, on account of man’s rebellion. In summary, Gen. 3:14–15 records the curse upon the serpent, Gen. 3:16 details the curse upon Eve, and Gen. 3:17–19 reports the curse upon Adam. The curse upon the serpent is a key passage, as Gen. 3:15 contains what theologians have labeled as the “first gospel” or the protoevangelium. In other words, for the first time in Scripture, we see a veiled reference to God’s triumph over the Satan via the death of Christ (cf. Rom. 16:20). Further, the curse upon Adam and Eve is helpful for understanding the current state of the world. Note that with the curse, God merely allowed Adam and Eve to have that which they’d chosen in the fall, which was to abandon their gender roles. Thus, Eve would now desire to rule over Adam, and Adam would find it hard to protect and to provide for Eve.

Despite the curse recorded earlier in this chapter, Gen. 3:20–24 ends the narrative with hope. First, Gen. 3:20 records, “Adam called his wife’s name Eve.” Given that Adam had already named his wife “woman” (Gen. 2:23), and since she needed a proper name, it may be easy to overlook this verse. Yet, the name Eve means “life,” which indicates Adam’s belief that Eve (or one of her descendants) would give birth to the promised one, who would crush the head of the serpent (cf. Gen. 3:15) and bring eternal life to mankind. Second, Gen. 3:21 reports that God graciously provided Adam and Eve with clothing, which they would need to survive in the harsh reality of the fallen world. Third, in what could be misconstrued as an act of anger, Gen. 3:22–24 records that God banished the first couple from the garden of Eden. This, however, was an act of grace, as it kept the couple from living forever in a fallen state (cf. Rom. 8:20).

Application Questions:

1. How long do you believe Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden before the fall? When do you believe Satan fell from heaven?
2. Like Adam and Eve, are you ever tempted to believe that God’s commands are not aligned with your best interests?
3. What would have happened to the first couple if Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, but Adam did not?
4. How does God usually judge the sin of mankind, prior to eternal punishment (cf. Prov. 1:31; Gal. 6:7–8)?
5. What did Paul mean in Rom. 8:20 when he wrote, in regard to the created order, that God “subjected it in hope”?