PRS 발표

There has been a debate among Christians about evolutionism and creationism. However, when we choose to believe evolutionism, we also need to think about whether humans evolved or was created.

When we choose to believe humans evolved from animal, we need to change some part of the Bible. Or, at least our interpretation.

To state my theological statement, evolution of Adam changes biblical interpretation of Adam story and original sin.

I will give you three reasons.

First, if we assume that humans evolved from animal, then we need to reconsider the story of Adam and Eve.

In an attempt to harmonize evolution with Christianity, some propose the idea that at a certain stage in the evolutionary process, God raised two hominids (or a group of hominids) to the position of being bearers of the image of God.

However, in a gradual evolution from animal to human, there are stages of Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, Homo sapiens neanderthelensis, Homo sapiens sapiens, and there are tremendous small stages between these stages.

Then, it is impossible to say that, this one is Homo sapiens neanderthelensis, and his son is Homo sapiens sapiens.

So, according to evolutionism, we cannot say that “Adam is human and his father and mother are not human.” Furthermore, not Adam alone, but a group of humans evolved together. Thus, we need to read Genesis figuratively. There was no historical Adam.

Second, if we believe the first four chapters of Genesis are not historically true, then there was no Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and there was no original sin.

Adam was the first man and this is the reason we are all born with original sin. But, if historical Adam was not true, then it is difficult to say about original sin.

Third, if the first four chapters of Genesis are fake, then we also need to reconsider the New Testament, especially Pauline letters. Paul mentions Adam in Romans and First Corinthians.

In these passages, Paul establishes a crucial analogy between Adam and Jesus. In the analogy, the initial Adam brings sin and death to all humanity by disobeying in the Garden of Eden eating the forbidden fruit.

Conversely, Jesus, referred to as the second Adam, brings life through his obedience, signified by his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection.

Paul suggests that the first Adam serves as a "pattern" for the second (Romans 5:14), implying that for Paul's analogy to be impactful, both Adam and Jesus must be genuine historical figures.

Thus, if we seriously take evolution of Adam, we need to reconsider the story of Adam and its theological meaning.