PROFILE | ADAM, FATHER OF HUMANKIND

1. Adam - Profile of Adam from the Old Testament Book of Genesis

a) Adam was the first man on earth, and for a short time he lived alone. He arrived on the planet with no childhood, no parents, no family and no friends. Perhaps Adam's loneliness moved God to quickly present him with a companion, Eve. Before God created Eve, he had given Adam the Garden of Eden. It was his to enjoy, but he also had the full responsibility of taking care of it. Adam knew that one tree was off-limits, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

b) Adam would have taught Eve the rules of the garden. Even though she knew it was forbidden to eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, when Satan tempted her, Eve was deceived. When she offered the fruit to Adam, the fate of the world was on his shoulders. As they ate the fruit in that one act of rebellion, man's independence and disobedience separated him from God.

c) But God already had a plan in place to deal with man's sin. The Bible is the story of God's plan for man. Adam is "our" beginning, and we are all his descendants.

2. Adam's Accomplishments

a) God chose Adam to name the animals, making him the first zoologist. He was also the first landscaper and horticulturist, responsible to work the garden and care for the plants. He was the first man, the father of humankind. He was the only man without a mother and a father.

3. Adam's Strengths

a) Adam was made in the image of God and shared a close relationship with his Creator.

4. Adam's Weaknesses

a) We see that Adam avoided his God-given responsibility. He blamed Eve and made excuses for himself when he committed a sin. He hid from God in shame, rather than facing his error and admitting the truth.

5. Life Lessons

a) We see from Adam's life that God wants us to freely choose to follow and obey him out of love. We also learn that nothing we do is hidden from God. Likewise, it does not benefit us to blame others for our own failings. We must accept personal responsibility.

6. Hometown

a) Adam began his life in the Garden of Eden but was later expelled by God.

7. Referenced in the Bible

a) Genesis 1:26-5:5; 1 Chronicles 1:1; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13-14.

8. Occupation

a) Gardener, farmer, grounds keeper.

9. Family Tree

a) Wife - Eve

b) Sons - Cain, Abel, Seth and many more children.

10. Key Verse

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (NIV)