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Dear Gramps,

In 1 Timothy 1:13-14 it reads, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Why does Paul bring up that Adam was formed before Eve? Is he simply illustrating Adam’s priesthood authority, or is there more to it than that?

Furthermore, what does he mean by verse 14? It seems to imply that Adam was not responsible for the fall, but tries to blame Eve. I know that this is not the case, but why does Paul state it in such a way? What is the point of singling out Eve since both she and Adam were involved in the transgression? It seems unnecessary, but I know that the only uninspired scripture is The Song Of Solomon, so how am I to take this?

Andrew, from California

Dear Andrew,

Why is it so unusual to believe that Adam was formed before Eve? The only other alternates are that Adam is younger (and if that were stated in the scriptures, you would ask the same question) or that they were twins. If you believe that the only uninspired scripture is the Song of Solomon, then it shouldn’t be difficult to accept Paul’s statement as inspired, and accept it as such.

When Paul says that Adam was not deceived, it would have been necessary for him to have been tempted by the devil and have resisted the temptation. This temptation undoubtedly occured and Adam was not deceived. However, Eve WAS deceived. She succumbed to the temptations of the Adversary and partook of the forbidden fruit, and by so doing was condemned to be cast out of the Garden of Eden.

This left Adam with an enigma. He had been given two commandments– to multiply and replenish the earth, and to abstain from eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Eve, succumbing to temptation, had partaken of the fruit and would be cast out. Adam could now refuse to partake of the fruit and remain a lone man in the Garden of Eden, which would make it impossible for him to obey the first commandment; or he could partake of the fruit and leave the Garden with Eve, making it possible for them to procreate and begin the population of the earth. Adam was not deceived; he weighed the two alternatives and chose, if you will, the lessor of two evils. That is the basis for Paul’s inspired remarks about Eve and not Adam being in transgression. You will find a rather full account of these proceedings in Moses, Chapter 4.

-Gramps

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