Genesis 3: The Conception and Birth of the First Sin
From the beginning of creation, God made everything good. There is peace and harmony in the garden between God and man. However, things would eventually take a shift when the craftiest animal, the snake, enters the picture of this peaceful scene as the Beacon Bible Commentary would put it as (Livingston 42). James 1:15 says, “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” To further expound on the idea that James communicates in this verse, Genesis 3:1-13 will provide a framework in allowing believers to see first hand, the process of sin when it is conceived through desire, to when it is fully grown that leads to death. The fall will be examined verse by verse and analyzed into three phases as mentioned in the following: the deception, the action and the response to the sin committed. This event will help demonstrate a continuous pattern throughout the Bible and history of corruption and the need for hope and redemption after the fall of humanity.
The Deception (3:1-5)
The first phase of the fall in Genesis 3 can be termed as the deception. For many reasons, it is to be categorized as the deception because it involves a liar, his target and his deception.
(3:1) Genesis 3:1 calls the serpent “more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made”. According to Susan Brayford in her Septuagint Commentary on Genesis, she quotes that the serpent was the wisest of all wild animals created and was extraordinary compared to all the others as it was able to talk. He even has the ability to ask Eve a question that would stump her and make it hard for her to answer (Brayford 236). One cannot deny that this serpent is indeed Satan. Eventually in the New Testament, John describes this serpent to be Satan. This is recorded in Revelation 13:9, and Paul also identifies the snake as Satan in 2 Corinthians 11:3. Since it has been established that the serpent is recognized as Satan in Genesis 3, it can be concluded that the serpent is a liar for Satan is a liar. In John 8:44, Jesus calls Satan to be the father of lies and murder. There is also an acknowledgment of Satan’s craftiness in the beginning of Genesis 3 and is shown to be true. Immediately after he enters the picture at the Garden of Eden with the Man and the Woman, he is ready to prey on his target. His target is the woman in the garden, and it is Eve.
The serpent has no intentions on communicating with Adam and immediately begins speaking to Eve in the garden. John MacArthur explains how though the two were sinless before the fall, this does not mean that they were unable to be tempted and seduced. It can be highly suggested that the serpent knows Eve is the weaker of the two who would need Adam’s protection (MacArthur 16). Targeting and singling Eve out instead of Adam, who receives God’s direct instructions and command against eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, would be the most effective way of attempting to make her fall (Hensley 41). For she would be by herself, isolated and far from Adam and his counsel (MacArthur 16).
(3:2-3) Eve does not know that the Serpent is setting her up. He mentions and asks a question about God’s command of eating from any of the trees in the garden. She follows it up by sharing how they can eat from any tree. Eve is praising and acknowledging the liberty God gives them from eating any tree in her statement in Genesis 3:2 (MacArthur 17). But as Eve retells the instructions given by God to her and Adam, she also adds an exception of one tree they cannot eat from (Brayford 237). In Genesis 3:3 she says, “but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” This addition of not being able to touch the fruit seems to be added by Eve, for God did not specifically say those words to Adam in Genesis 2:17 (MacArthur 16). It's important to note that this may be a misquote of the command making it seem much stronger and harsher than how it is originally intended by God (Livingston 43). She probably feels that the command is harsh and over exaggerates the harshness of it when she speaks with the serpent (MacArthur 16).
(3:4) The plan to deceive Eve continues to unfold slowly. The serpent is unfortunately right in that Eve would be less competent and easier to waver compared to her husband who receives the command directly from the Lord. He uses this to the best of his advantage by twisting God’s word and lying about the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 3:4 says, “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So in his encounter with Eve, the enemy tries to act as a light to her that would give her the right interpretation of God’s command. His intentions are not for her own good but to harm her and Adam. From the beginning, his goal is to instill doubt in Eve about God’s will and character in the lies he tells her (MacArthur 16). So the first lie Satan tells Eve is that they will not die if they eat the fruit (Cook). As mentioned before, Satan is a liar who has no truth in him (Wiersbe 30). He distorts God’s word and divine command since the beginning in Genesis 3 until present day today (Hensley 44). In contrast to Satan, God is a God of truth as seen in Deuteronomy 32:4 (Wiersbe 31). Therefore, the serpent’s statement that Adam and Eve will not die from eating the fruit is a contradiction of God’s word because God specifically tells Adam in Genesis 2:17 that he would surely die. Anything that contradicts God’s word is contrary to the truth, for it is not truth.
(3:5) His second lie is that God is using death to prevent them from possessing good which is knowledge of good and evil. By doing this, it targets the character of God that He is selfish by withholding something good from them (Livingston 31). Its purpose is to make Eve falter by raising questions of God’s goodness and truthfulness in Him and His word (Wiersbe 30). He deceives Eve into believing that there is a different motive behind God prohibiting them from eating the fruit, and that is that it will make them like gods who can inquire divine knowledge of good and evil (Cook). The enemy plans to bring her down with him by tempting her to desire being like God in verse five. This is an appeal for human glory instead of the glory of God. It is a trap and a seduction for them to be their own gods who don’t live for the creator but for themselves without suffering consequences (Wiersbe 31). The sin in this is acting upon the desire of being self sufficient like God through eating the fruit of knowledge of good and truth, and this is exactly what Eve does in the next verse.
The Act (3:6)
The second phase is labeled as the act. It focuses on Genesis 3:6-7 and highlights the act of sin being committed between Adam and Eve. It starts in the heart and takes root there that eventually leads to acting upon that desire.
(3:6) It all begins with a desire. Eve’s desire is something good, but how can that good desire be turned into sin or disobedience (Hensley 41)? After the serpent deceives Eve in the earlier verses, she begins to see the tree of knowledge of good and evil as something desirable (Brayford 238). First, she begins to see the fruit as something good. It appeals to her physical appetite. This is the beginning of Eve having distrust in the Lord and His word. She is beginning to be selfish in seeing that this fruit is good (MacArthur 16). Next, Eve sees that the fruit is delightful. It pleases her eyes and her aesthetic appetite (Livingston 44). Covetousness begins to take root in Eve’s heart as the fruit begins to look more pleasant and better. Thirdly, the fruit starts to look desirable as it appeals to her intellectual appetite (MacArthur 16). After Satan lies to her saying that eating this fruit would make her like God, Eve selfishly desires that wisdom and knowledge (Livingston 44). Her judgement begins to shift as it is only according to her eyes of what she thinks the right thing to do is rather than fearing the Lord and His wisdom for her just like what Proverbs 1:7 says (41). What starts as a desire eventually leaves Eve to act upon this desire to give into her passions, lusts and the desires of her eyes. It is more than a contemplation now. It has become an act (Livingston 44). She makes up her mind and falls into Satan’s schemes even though she doesn’t think about the consequence or knows what she is actually doing (MacArthur 16). She eats the fruit then gives it to her husband for him to join her too.
Eve sins through deception, but Adam willfully sins against the Lord because he knows what he is doing by eating the fruit (Wiersbe 31). There are two opportunities Adam could’ve done to prevent any of this happening and sinning against the Lord. The first opportunity happens when his wife is speaking with the serpent. He has the ability to say something to stop her from eating and disobeying God’s command. In the second part of verse six, it says that Adam is with her when she gives the fruit to him. This shows the passivity in Adam as he remains by her side being silent and not speaking a word when Eve is being deceived by the serpent. His responsibility is to protect Eve, but Adam fails to do so when he does not intervene (Hensley 42). The second time he has the opportunity to stand firm in his responsibility of protecting his wife and obeying the Lord is the moment when Eve gives him the fruit. He has the right to refuse to eat it, but he doesn’t. She has no desire to keep this fruit for herself, so instead she gives some to Adam to eat. Adam partakes in the act of eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There is nothing that Eve does that tempts or lures her husband into joining in the act of eating this fruit with her. He knows that they are prohibited from eating it however he does not stop in joining her (Brayford 238).
Eventually as the story progresses, Adam will be held accountable for his lack of responsibility of protecting Eve and disobeying God. Genesis 3:11 records God saying to Adam, “have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” In this sentence, the hebrew word used for the pronoun you is parsed to be masculine singular. This indicates that there is an emphasis on just one person instead of multiple people that God is referring to. For if He is referring to both Adam and Eve, the Bible would’ve recorded the word you as a masculine plural noun. So as God is speaking to Adam in verse 11, He is specifically addressing Adam to be responsible and held more accountable whereas Eve is not (Hensley 42).
The Response (3:7-13)
The third phase in the story of the fall can be analyzed as the response. There is a wave of feelings and realizations Adam and Eve experience after they commit the first sin. From verses seven till thirteen, there will be an examination of the process and various responses that occur between the ones who commit the offense to the one who has been sinned against. This is the interaction and response between God and man after the first sin being committed.
(3:7) The lie that the serpent tells Adam and Eve would be the lie that would cause them spiritual death. The very lie that he tells to Eve seems very promising as it seems like it would give great benefits, but instead it will cause them separation from God (Livingston 44). Genesis 3:7 says, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” Their eyes open as they are able to experience knowledge of good and evil that the serpent promises, but it’s not in a way they think they would experience it by attaining equality in essence with God. Instead they experience it in a way that moves them to a lower level causing them to be estranged to one another and to God (Livingston 44). For God, His knowledge of good and evil comes from His divine sovereign goodness. But now for man, their knowledge of good and evil comes through obedience through knowing it from obedience to God’s will or disobedience of God’s will. They know through actually experiencing themselves (Livingston 45).
Their relationship with God is dramatically altered as they are now estranged to Him causing alienation in this relationship that had once been peace and harmony. They once could be freely naked in front of each other and God without feeling any shame like in Genesis 2:25. Now their minds have been polluted to think impure and wicked thoughts unlike before (MacArthur 16). An immediate result of their disobedience against God is shame and guilt, and it doesn’t take them long to realize that they must hide themselves. Adam and Eve make themselves loin cloths made from fig leaves to cover their shame and guilt (Livingston 45).
(3:8) The Lord God makes His way into the garden. According to the Beacon Bible Commentary, it notes that “the sound of the Lord” is referring to Adam and Eve being familiar with the sound of the Lord from their previous fellowship with Him (Livingston 45). It’s important to note the descriptions used in Genesis 3:8 to describe the Lord’s presence. It is not in a grand powerful approach like a fire or an earthquake that He enters the garden (MacArthur 16). Instead, He walks in the garden in the cool of day. In the Ancient Near East, “the cool of day” means evening (Livingston 45). The setting, in which God enters in, is to make it more approachable for Adam and Eve to go to Him. God is sovereign and knows all things, therefore He is not oblivious to what has happened. This scene of God entering is not to depict Him as naive, but it actually shows the goodness and kindness of God (MacArthur 16). Even though the Lord God doesn’t enter in an intimidating way, Adam and Eve still go to hide themselves from Him. The two are not ready to meet God especially after sinning and disobeying Him (Livingston 45).
(3:9) After God enters the garden, He asks where the man and woman are. This is not out of ignorance that an all knowing and sovereign God would ask this question (Livingston 45). Instead, God is asking them this rhetorical question for the good of Adam and Eve. This is to help bring them to explain what happened and why they are hiding (MacArthur 17). He wants to help the two of them come out into the open and confess what they have done so that they may receive His forgiveness (Livingston 45). Even though Adam and Eve have caused an offense to God by disobeying Him and His word, God still chooses to graciously offer an opportunity for them to receive His forgiveness. This really shows the heart of God. When there is repentance, forgiveness for an offense can happen. However, when there isn’t repentance, it will result in judgement. At the end of the day, sinners are given the opportunity to repent, confess their sins and to turn away from. God is willing to forgive those who repent (MacArthur 17).
(3:10-13) Adam’s response to God’s question is out of fear and sorrow. His reply only clarifies the reason why they hid (Livingston 45). However, this is not a confession from Adam about what they did when they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The essence of who Adam and Eve are as man and woman are compromised before God because of their sin now. In verse 11, God asks Adam another rhetorical question, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” God doesn’t ask this because He doesn’t know the answer. God knows the answer and is creating another opportunity for Adam and Eve to confess what they have done, but Adam still doesn’t confess. Adam knows what he has done against God, so he is without any excuse (Livingston 45). His sin was not under deception for 1 Timothy 2:14 says, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressors.”. Instead of confessing and owning up to his sin, Adam blames Eve and makes her responsible for what happened (MacArthur 17). Then God asks the woman what she has done to see if she would confess her sins. Eve recognizes that she has been deceived by the serpent and played her like a fool (Livingston 45). She puts the blame on the serpent but does not own up to her responsibility and confess her disobedience against God (MacArthur 17).
Implication
So how does Genesis 3 illustrate the process of sin when it’s conceived until it is fully grown as stated in James 1:15? The fall begins with the temptation. The serpent tempts and lies to Eve. He instills seeds of doubt in her, and it’s up to Eve to discern whom to believe. She’s given the option of trusting and believing that God’s word is truth or to believe that the serpents' words are truth. God has given both Adam and Eve the freedom to eat from any tree with specific instructions on the way He has instituted how life shall be in the garden. God gives the man and the woman rules of how things work so that it can be experienced to the greatest fulfillment that it is intended to. Even God’s limitations, such as the prohibiting of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, is for the good and enjoyment of man. So when the serpent tempts Eve to doubt God and His will, she faces the question of whom will she trust? Will she trust God who loves and looks to the best interest of His children? Or will she choose to listen to the words of the enemy who is only concerned about contradicting God and bringing man to fall (Brayford 237)? She chooses the latter one of these and begins to desire the thing that is outside of God’s will for her. This is what James speaks about when he mentions desire being conceived that gives birth to sin. Temptation is a good desire sought out in the wrong way (Wiersbe 30). Satan distorts God’s word and divine command just like how he lies to Eve to distort God’s divine command for her in the garden (Hensley 44). Even today, the enemy is at work trying to distort God’s will. Take for example, the desire for sexual intimacy. This is a desire God has given to humanity to best experience joy and is used as an act of worship to God. However, sin now taints and corrupts this good gift from God. It manifests itself in sexual abuse, fornification, adultery, pornography and more. This is not how God intended the desire for sexual intimacy to express itself in. It is only meant between a husband and wife under covenant that would allow people to experience best sexual intimacy because this is how God has designed it to be.
Eve’s guards are let down as she allows her desires for the fruit to overtake her actions. She takes the fruit and eats it. Afterwards, she gives some for Adam to partake in eating with her. This is the second step of the sin process. First, desire is conceived. Second, it gives birth to sin. After both Adam and Eve eat the fruit, they have committed the first sin. Once believers have the desire, they have the ability to give in to those desires and sin or they have the victory to say no in the strength and power of Jesus Christ. If believers choose to give in to their lust and flesh, they have also committed a sin against the Lord. It’s important to note that sin is not just a physical disobedience and offense against God. Jesus says in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” This shows that sin also affects the human heart and mind. Someone can still be sinning even though outwardly their life may look righteous just like the Pharisees.
Thirdly, sin when it is fully grown brings death. The moment Adam and Eve disobey God by eating the fruit, their sin now results in death for them. Not only is it a physical death for they are guilty of sin, but this moment would also be a spiritual death for the both of them too. It is a separation between them and God (MacArthur 16). When people sin, there is a separation between God whether they acknowledge it or not. There is an offense that has been done against The Lord. God has every right to judge those who have sinned against Him for He is perfect and holy. Sinners deserve the wrath and punishment, however God chooses to approach sinners in grace and mercy. This is first seen in His approach to the Man and Woman in the garden after they hide from Him. Through God’s mercy, He chooses to offer opportunities of confession and repentance so that there may be reconciliation in this broken relationship between Him and those who have sinned against Him. In order for reconciliation to happen, the offender must confess what they have done and ask for forgiveness from the one that they have offended. God gives people the ability to repent of their sins because He will forgive them. He wants to forgive so that His people may continue to walk and have a relationship with Him.
Conclusion: What does this mean for us?
Adam and Eve’s choice of disobedience and sin in the garden affects the many generations after them. Sin has corrupted every human being. Everyone is guilty of sin as James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” No one is absent from the corruption of sin and has a sinful nature. Believers and non believers are both guilty and will be held to judgement. Not only does the fall in Genesis affect everyone, but it has made everyone hostile and enemies of God. Colossians 1:21 says, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds…” Naturally everyone is children of wrath as stated in Ephesians 2:3.Therefore, no man can save themselves because all are guilty of sin. Acts 4:12 reads, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Genesis 3 records the unfortunate event of humanity’s fall and sin distorting creation of whom God has deemed as good. However, none of this thwarts God’s plan for humanity. He does not leave Adam and Eve to live in His judgement and condemnation of their sin. In the Lord’s sovereignty, the story of redemption begins immediately from the moment they fall in the garden of Eden. As hopeless as it sounds for humanity to be immune from sin and it’s deadly consequence, God provides a way for there to be reconciliation between Him and people again. The story that turned out to be tragic and helpless has now become a story of redemption and hope for all of humanity. This would be for the glory of God, and this hope is found in the birth of the Messiah. It is found in the death of the resurrection of Jesus Christ who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. He will stand as a mediator between God and man just as 1 Timothy 2:5 says. For it is Him who will restore the broken relationship between sinners and God again. There is forgiveness and life for those who believe in Jesus.
Works Cited
Brayford, Susan Ann. Genesis. Brill, 2007. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=252685&site=eds-live, pp. 236-238.
Cook, Joan E. Genesis : Volume 2. Liturgical Press, 2011. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1444624.
Hensley, Adam D. “Redressing the Serpent’s Cunning: A Closer Look at Genesis 3:1.” Logia, vol. 27, no. 3, Holy Trinity 2018, pp. 41–44. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLAn4340931&site=ehost-live&scope=site, pp. 41-42.
Livingston, George Herbert, et al. Beacon Bible Commentary. Beacon Hill Press, 1969, pp. 42-46.
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Commentary: Unleashing Gods Truth, One Verse at a Time. Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005, pp. 15-17.
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Cook Communications Ministries, 2001, pp.30-32.
