The Bible provides an account of the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3. This event is of central importance to the biblical narrative, as it explains how sin and death entered the world. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about what happened at the fall:
Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden
God created the first man Adam and the first woman Eve and placed them in a beautiful garden called Eden (Genesis 2:8, 15). This garden contained many trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food, including the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). Adam was given the responsibility to work and take care of the garden (Genesis 2:15).
God gave a command not to eat from one tree
God gave Adam a direct command that he could eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that if Adam ate from this tree, he would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). So although Adam and Eve were free to enjoy the abundance of the garden, they were given one prohibition by God for their protection.
The serpent deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit
The serpent, described as the craftiest creature God had made, approached Eve and asked if God had really withheld any tree from them. Eve replied that they could eat any tree except the one in the middle, or else they would die. The serpent directly contradicted God and told Eve that if she ate the fruit her eyes would be opened and she would be like God. Eve looked at the tree, saw it was good for food and pleasing, and ate the fruit. She then gave some to Adam who was with her, and he also ate (Genesis 3:1-6).
Eve and Adam’s eyes were opened to good and evil
After eating the forbidden fruit, the man and woman’s eyes were opened to the knowledge of good and evil, just as the serpent had promised. They realized they were naked and felt ashamed, so they covered themselves with fig leaves sewn together (Genesis 3:7). The immediate consequence was a loss of innocence and a sense of shame.
Adam and Eve tried to hide from God
When Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden, they were afraid because of their nakedness and tried to hide among the trees (Genesis 3:8). This represented a break in their previous relationship with God, where before they walked openly with him.
God pronounced curses because of their disobedience
When God confronted Adam and Eve about eating the forbidden fruit, he pronounced curses on each of them as consequences for their disobedience (Genesis 3:14-19). The serpent was cursed to crawl on his belly. The woman was cursed with pain in childbirth and marital strife. Adam was cursed with toil and hardship in working the ground. God also cursed the ground itself to produce thorns and thistles.
Adam and Eve were banished from Eden
After placing curses, God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, stationing cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life so that they could no longer eat from it (Genesis 3:22-24). This represented a complete separation between man and the idyllic paradise God had created for humanity.
Sin and death entered the world
As God had warned, Adam and Eve experienced immediate spiritual death the moment they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. Later they would also experience physical death (Genesis 5:5). Every human being since has likewise inherited a sinful nature from their first parents, so that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). The curses on creation likewise led to pain, hardship, and physical death.
God promised a Savior
Even in the midst of judgment, God provided a ray of hope by promising that the woman’s offspring would one day crush the head of the serpent, though the serpent would bruise his heel (Genesis 3:15). This pointed forward to Jesus Christ defeating Satan on the cross but suffering in the process. Jesus is the only hope for humankind to be saved from the consequences of the fall (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Key Theological Implications
The fall of humanity into sin had enormous effects that have rippled through history. Here are some key theological implications:
- Human nature became corrupted – Humans are now born with a sinful nature inclined toward evil.
- The world is corrupted – Creation is under curse and bondage to decay and destruction.
- People need salvation – Sin separates humankind from God and makes us deserving of judgment.
- Christ provides salvation – Jesus came to undo the effects of the fall and save fallen humanity from sin.
- God’s original intent was thwarted – God’s good purposes were resisted and human potential was restricted.
- God’s plan of redemption was set in motion – The fall set in motion God’s long-term plan of redemption through Christ.
- A battle between Satan and God’s kingdom began – There is now conflict between Satan’s kingdom of darkness and God’s kingdom of light.
- The need for humility – Human pride and arrogance caused the fall; humility is needed to receive grace.
- Appreciation of salvation increases – Understanding the effects of the fall makes salvation more amazing.
- Growth in holiness is gradual – Believers are being progressively delivered from the effects of the fall.
The fall in the bigger storyline of the Bible
The account of the fall is central to the overarching storyline of the Bible. God created the world to be a place of perfection, harmony and intimacy between God and humans. The fall represents the tragic introduction of sin, evil and brokenness into God’s good world. The effects were catastrophic and far-reaching. However, God promised to undo the damage and restore things to his original intent through sending his Son Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. The biblical storyline anticipates the day when Christ will return to renew all of creation and eliminate the curse of sin forever.
The fall vividly demonstrates the absolutely disastrous effects of disobeying God’s commands. It sets the stage for the human dilemma which requires God’s gracious intervention. The fall makes it clear that sinful humanity cannot save themselves but require a Savior. This Savior is Jesus Christ, the offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent. The fall necessitates the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of God to put God’s creation back into order. All of biblical history flows from this pivotal event.
In summary, the fall of humanity was a historical event with enormous spiritual and physical consequences for all people since. But in God’s wise providence, even this dark event set the stage for the fulfillment of God’s glorious plan of redemption through Christ. The fall shows the absolute disaster of separating from God through disobedience to his Word. Yet against this backdrop, God’s grace shines all the brighter.
