Is the Adam and Eve story true? Is it literal?

TL;DR:

Yes, the Adam and Eve story is true and literal; even Jesus treated it as such. Recognizing Adam and Eve as literally true confirms the truth of Scripture and serves as the basis for God’s redemptive plan.

what does the bible say?

The Bible presents the account of Adam and Eve as historical fact. The account includes their creation and fall, the promise of a Savior, and a description of their early descendants. The literal account of Adam and Eve sets the basis for understanding humanity; in particular, it helps us understand why we need a savior and demonstrates that God would bring about rescue. Jesus affirmed the historical reality of Adam and Eve, in part by referencing historical events like Abel's murder and quoting from Genesis in relation to marriage. The New Testament epistles refer to Adam and Eve as literal humans. Romans 5:12 links Adam's sin to the introduction of sin and death into the world, reinforcing the historical basis of Adam's role in Christian theology and God’s plan of redemption. Eliminating parts of the Bible, such as the story of Adam and Eve, undermines the coherence of the entire biblical narrative, including Jesus' genealogy traced back to Adam in Luke 3:23–38. Such a selective belief system risks turning the Bible from divine truth into a subjective text, eroding its authority and disrupting core Christian doctrines.

from the old testament

The Bible gives the account of Adam and Eve as historical fact. They were created by God, lived in the garden of Eden, fell for Satan's deception, were cast out of paradise, and had children who sinned (Genesis 1—4). Even as God pronounced the consequences of their sin and cast them from Eden, He promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15). It is because a literal Adam and Eve literally disobeyed God that literal death entered into the world. It is because of God’s holiness and love that He chose to provide salvation, and it is because of this that Jesus came to earth.

from the new testament

Jesus talked about the creation of men and women (Mark 10:6) and of Abel's blood (Luke 11:51; ref Genesis 4:8–10). Jesus spoke of real people and real history.
Romans 5:12 tells us, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." If Adam wasn't created and did not sin, how did sin enter the world?
God's Word is true, from beginning to the end (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16–17), including the literal and historical story of Adam and Eve.

implications for today

When a person decides to begin eliminating some of the truth of the Bible, it calls into question the entire truth of the Bible. Take Luke 3:23–38, for example. There, Luke traces Jesus' genealogy from Joseph all the way back to Adam, establishing a historical and theological link between Jesus and the entirety of the biblical story from creation onward. Which of those people should be eliminated as unreal? By questioning the reality of Adam and Eve or any other historical figure in this lineage, we undermine the biblical narrative's coherence and the foundational truths it supports. The genealogy is more than a list; it connects Jesus to a lineage that validates the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. To eliminate any part of this genealogy is to challenge the authenticity of the entire biblical account.

Furthermore, rejecting parts of the Bible transforms it from God’s inspired revelation into a subjective text open to personal interpretation. The Adam and Eve account, for instance, is central to understanding original sin and the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice. By picking and choosing what to believe, we risk creating a personalized religion that prioritizes human preference over divine truth. This selective belief erodes the Bible's authority and disrupts the theological foundations of Christianity. It shifts the role of faith from a humble submission to God’s complete revelation to a process of aligning Scripture with personal beliefs, thereby compromising the transformative power and consistency of the Christian faith.

understand

Genesis presents Adam and Eve as literal, historical figures.
Jesus affirmed Adam and Eve’s literal existence and historical events involving them.
Adam and Eve’s literal reality is crucial for understanding sin and God’s plan of redemption.

reflect

How does affirming Adam and Eve as literal historical figures influence your understanding of original sin and its impact on human nature?
How does recognizing the historical reality of Adam and Eve affect your view of Jesus and God’s plan of redemption?
How does accepting the literal truth of the Adam and Eve account shape your approach to interpreting other biblical narratives and their significance?

engage

How does the historical reality of Adam and Eve connect with the broader theological themes presented in the Bible, such as sin, redemption, and salvation?
What are the implications of rejecting the literal truth of Adam and Eve for the coherence and integrity of the biblical narrative?
How does the literal interpretation of Adam and Eve compare to other scriptural accounts in terms of their historical and theological significance? What does this reveal about the authority of Scripture?