[Thankful Jane]

Dear Roger,

I agree that the Bible shows that there was only one person created, Adam, who was both male and female (Gen. 1:27) and that the female part was taken out of Adam later (Gen. 2:21-22). Prior to the separation, the Bible uses the name “Adam” to refer to the original one person that was created. After the separation, however, the Bible repeatedly speaks of two. Adam and his wife or the man and the woman. After Adam named the woman, she is also referred to as Eve.

After they sinned the Bible says Adam and his wife hid themselves. It does not refer to the new twosome as only “Adam” here. Also after they had become two separate persons, God addressed each of them separately and He handled each of them differently based on their responses to Him concerning what they had done.

Gen. 3:16-17 says “to the woman He said...” and then it says “to Adam He said....,” referring to the male part only by the name “Adam.” When he drove Adam out of the garden it was with the words, “to till the ground from whence he was taken.” This phrase indicates that the name “Adam” here referred to the male because “tilling the ground” was the sentence God pronounced upon Adam, not the woman. It doesn’t fit that she would have been driven out to “till the ground.”

As for how the multiplying could take place without Eve being driven out, I think I stated my answer to that in my previous post. In brief, Gen. 3:16 shows that she turned away to Adam (Gk. Septuagint) and this indicates that she chose to follow him out, so there's no problem about reproduction taking place. God had created her as Adam’s helper, and she also heard God pronounce that they were one flesh. It is not hard to see that she would follow him.

But, having said all that, it is not important really to prove that Adam was driven out without her. I wrote my previous post in response to the statement made earlier that Eve was responsible for the whole mess and for portraying Adam as the noble savior who condescended to her fallen level.

Actually, it is fine with me to say that God sent them both out, because we all know that they both ended up outside the garden.

I hope no one thinks that I am trying to build a case that Adam was responsible for the whole mess. I most definitely am not. I know only too well the ramifications of being left holding that bag. I wouldn’t wish that on Adam or anyone for that matter .

Thankful Jane