Did God create Adam & Eve being that there were already people on Earth?

[George]

@Marston  Can you point out the post where you believe I insulted you?  I'd like to review my own actions.  Thanks!

[Marston]

14 minutes ago, George said:

@Marston  Can you point out the post where you believe I insulted you?  I'd like to review my own actions.  Thanks!

I quoted it several times. It should be easy for you to find. 

[Marston]

A Jewish woman on another site answered my question this way. 

The short answer? Not necessarily. Adam and Eve aren’t necessarily the first humans in a biological or historical sense—they’re the first in a very particular narrative role.

 

Let’s start with the Hebrew:

 

The word “Adam” (אָדָם) isn’t originally a name. It just means “human” or “humankind.” It’s closely related to adamah (אֲדָמָה), meaning “earth” or “soil.” So when Genesis says God formed ha’adam from the dust of the adamah, it’s playing with poetry: the earthling from the earth.

 

Adam is more like “the archetypal human,” not necessarily a guy named Adam with a birth certificate. Same with “Eve” (Chavah)—her name comes from the root chayah (חָיָה), “to live,” because she’s the “mother of all the living.” Again, archetypal language.

 

Now In Genesis 1, God creates humanity:

 

> “Male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27)

That sounds like a group, not two individuals.

 

In Genesis 2, we zoom in on a specific human, “ha’adam,” placed in Eden, a sacred space with symbolic and theological significance not necessarily the whole earth.

 

This has led many scholars (both Jewish and Christian) to interpret the Eden story as a symbolic or theological narrative, not a strict historical account. It’s about human consciousness, moral awakening, relationship with God, and freedom and responsibility. It’s not necessarily a play-by-play of population genetics.

 

Also, note that in Genesis 4, Cain fears other people will kill him after he murders Abel:

 

 “Whoever finds me will kill me” (Gen 4:14)

Wait—who? If it’s just Mom and Dad around? And Cain gets a wife (Gen 4:17), then builds a city.

 

So… were Adam and Eve the first? Maybe in spiritual significance, as prototypes of covenantal humanity, but not necessarily the first Homo sapiens if we’re reading the text with honesty and literary sensitivity.

 

They’re the beginning of the biblical story, not necessarily the biological story.

[Michael37]

7 minutes ago, Marston said:

They’re the beginning of the biblical story, not necessarily the biological story.

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament points to Christ, whose earthly genealogy includes Adam, and so He is termed the second Adam.

Those who want to unpick the weave of Biblical Truth do themselves a disservice, and weaken the whole foundation of their faith, given that the need for redemption is based on the disobedience of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people.

[George]

This is the ONLY POST in this thread that I made speaking of the subject directly....

I'm sorry you were offended @Marston ... 

[Edward429451]

2 hours ago, Marston said:

This has led many scholars (both Jewish and Christian) to interpret the Eden story as a symbolic or theological narrative, not a strict historical account. It’s about human consciousness, moral awakening, relationship with God, and freedom and responsibility. It’s not necessarily a play-by-play of population genetics.

I was in agreement until this part. I think the story of Eden and the fall has to be literal history. If it is symbolic then what in the world is it symbolic of? 

Not necessarily a play by play of population genetics, agreed because we don't know if there was wives waiting in the wings for Cain & Able. 

[BibleStudent100]

On 4/12/2025 at 11:31 AM, Marston said:

Were they supposed to be his "special" people?  

The answer is very simple:  Adam and Eve had MANY children, so the children married/procreated with their siblings and from that point the human population began to spread to many parts of the earth.  Being so close to perfection, the genetic problems we now see with close relatives producing children would not have been a problem.  

As indicated in earlier posts, a completely new generation could result every 15 years or so, so doing the math, one can see a parabolic rise in the population rates, as giving birth (again, so close to perfection) would not have been as dangerous and painful to women as it is now.  

Thank goodness most women in the western world now decline to have more than 1-2 children, which helps to reduce the strain that humans are putting on planet earth.  

[TheBlade]

I love this song "Hes all you need by Steve Camp"

Its amazing what people will believe that is not written yet will doubt what is written. 

There are a few verses that do make one wonder exactly what He was talking about. I'm sure since He has always been were gonna be in shock just at what animals, fruit that are in heaven. Seem He can do what ever He wants and His word is just enough for what we need here not out side of this earth. 

[WilliamL]

On 4/12/2025 at 8:00 PM, Vine Abider said:

What is the basis of this idea?  Genesis 4:1-4 looks like Cain and Able were the first two to be born - is there some specific place that says otherwise?

Book of Jasher 1:11 And Adam and his wife transgressed the command of God which he commanded them, and God knew it, and his anger was kindled against them and he cursed them.

12 And the Lord God drove them that day from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which they were taken, and they went and dwelt at the east of the garden of Eden; and Adam knew his wife Eve and she bore two sons and three daughters.

The Book of Jasher is an ancient Hebrew historical record that contains many more details than the Torah about the world's early secular history. Such was common in those days: one account of a nation's history focused upon religious events, and a parallel history focused upon its secular events.

[farouk]

On 4/13/2025 at 3:48 PM, angels4u said:

We're all still learning,God is not done with you yet and He's not done with me yet,pray about it?

For me the Bible is 100 % true.. :)

Hi @angels4u Reminds me of: "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ".