The Edenic Covenant - What is it?

TL;DR:

The Edenic Covenant was a conditional agreement between God and Adam in Genesis, where Adam’s obedience would result in life, and his disobedience would bring death and other consequences. Adam and Eve sinned and received the punishment for their sin; however, in this punishment, God also provided hope, promising redemption through the future Savior, foreshadowing Christ’s victory over sin and death.

what does the bible say?

The Edenic Covenant is one of many covenants between God and man in the Bible. The Edenic Covenant specifically refers to the covenant made between God and Adam in Genesis and was a bilateral, or conditional, covenant, where there was responsibility on both sides. Adam was responsible to obey, and God would bless him with life. If Adam disobeyed and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, death would be the result (Genesis 2:16–17). Adam's life was conditional on his obedience. Adam and Eve disobeyed, which brought death and other negative consequences, just as God promised. God justly punished Adam and Eve while also providing hope for redemption in Genesis 3:15, where He foretold the ultimate victory over sin through the promise of a Savior. Despite their failure, God’s grace and redemptive plan were already in motion, offering redemption and empowering us to find life in Him today, even when we fall short.

from the old testament

The Edenic Covenant was a conditional covenant between God and Adam in Genesis that required Adam’s obedience for blessings. It also promised death as a result of disobedience, for “the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17).
Adam disobeyed and broke the Edenic Covenant, resulting in the punishment of death, as God had promised (Genesis 2:16–17).
Death continues to be the wages of sin (Proverbs 10:16).
The Edenic Covenant had a second part, which is often called the Covenant of Redemption. As God was informing Adam and Eve about the curses their sin had brought them, He revealed an unconditional covenant in His curse upon the Serpent when He said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). Found in this curse is a covenant to men, promising a Savior from sin.

from the new testament

Although Adam did not die immediately, both Adam and Eve inherited death for their disobedience, which has been passed down to all their descendants, all of humanity (Romans 5:12).
Death continues to be the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).
The first sin of man was punished, but God already had a plan in place for redemption and salvation through Christ (Ephesians 1:7).

implications for today

Despite our imperfections and failures, God’s grace prevails. Just as Adam’s disobedience did not nullify God’s redemptive plan, our own shortcomings don’t negate God’s work in our lives. Instead, we are called to live in obedience, trusting that God’s sovereignty is at work, even when we fall short. His grace calls us to return to Him when we fail, knowing that He can use all things for good for all who believe in Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). We can find hope in the promise that God’s grace covers our sins and that He has a plan for our lives beyond our mistakes. This does not mean that we continue in sin; rather, it changes our attitude toward sin, seeing the devastation it causes but reminding us that God is still good and in control, wanting us to repent and turn to Him. The Edenic Covenant reminds us to turn to God in humility, seeking His forgiveness and guidance, knowing that through Christ, we are forgiven and empowered to live according to His will. It challenges us to rely on God’s strength and to trust that He can turn our failures into opportunities for growth and transformation.

understand

The Edenic Covenant was a conditional agreement where Adam’s obedience would bring blessings, and his disobedience would bring death.
Adam’s sin brought death and a broken relationship with God, affecting all of humanity.
Even though the covenant was broken, God promised a Savior who would defeat sin and restore humanity.

reflect

What does the Edenic Covenant reveal about God's character?
How does the promise of redemption in Genesis 3:15 give you hope today?
What is your response to both God’s justice and mercy?

engage

The Edenic Covenant is not specifically called a "covenant" in the Bible, but most scholars see it as one of the significant covenants between man and God, along with the Abrahamic Covenant (an unconditional covenant where God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants forever), the Mosaic Covenant (a conditional covenant which involved the delivery of God's Law to Moses), the Noahic Covenant, and the Davidic Covenant. How does understanding the Edenic Covenant help us better grasp the overarching redemptive plan of God throughout Scripture?
The word "offspring" can mean a single offspring or many (Galatians 3:16). Looking back, the word "offspring" in Genesis 3:15 refers to Christ, with the snake representing Satan. God foretold that Satan would inflict minor damage upon Christ, triumphing over Him in the crucifixion and therefore striking His heel. However, the triumph was temporary. In the end, Christ rose from the dead and delivered a fatal blow to Satan and his kingdom; the snake's head was crushed (Romans 16:20). How does the understanding of the word "offspring" in Genesis 3:15 as referring to Christ help us understand the ultimate victory over Satan and sin?
How can we use the promise of Genesis 3:15 to encourage others to trust in God’s redemptive plan?