The Fall

Lesson on 07/10/25

How close was God’s relationship with humans before the Fall?

In the pre-lapsarian (before the Fall) world, God’s relationship with humans was direct and personal.

How do we know God’s relationship with humans was so close?

In the Bible it says:

• ‘Be stewards of the Earth’

• ‘name all the animals’

• ‘you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil’

These all show God directly communicating with humans.

What is sin

‘Not doing what you know is right’. ←also a quote from the Bible.

Doing morally wrong actions that go against what is said in the Bible.

Why do humans have the tendency to do what is wrong (to sin)?

Because of Adam and Eve, the relationship between humans and God is broken. Humans have been punished with original sin - the tendency to do what is wrong.

What are literal interpretations of the Fall

It was a physical event where Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

What are liberal interpretations of the Fall?

It is symbolic of the human condition - we have free will but tend to misuse it. Sin is not hereditary (based on inheritance).