The Genesis of Good and Evil: The Fall(out) and Original Sin in the Bible
Overview
For centuries, the Garden of Eden story has been a cornerstone for the Christian doctrine of “the Fall” and “original sin.” In recent years, many scholars have disputed this understanding of Genesis 3 because it has no words for sin, transgression, disobedience, or punishment. Instead, it is about how the human condition came about. Yet the picture is not so simple. The Genesis of Good and Evil examines how the idea of “the Fall” developed in Jewish tradition on the eve of Christianity. In the end, the Garden of Eden is a rich study of humans in relation to God that leaves open many questions. One such question is, Does Genesis 3, 4, and 6, taken together, support the Christian doctrine of original sin? Smith’s well-informed, close reading of these chapters concludes that it does. In this book, he addresses the many mysterious matters of the Garden story and invites readers to explore questions of their own.
Key Features
- Analyzes the Fall and original sin throughout Scripture
- Provides background information about traditional Christian readings and modern interpretations
- Explores the connection between the Fall and the human condition
Contents
- Introduction: What Are “Original Sin” and “the Fall”? Why Study Them Today?
- How Common in the Scriptures Is the Fall?
- What Was the Original Sin in Genesis 3 according to the Scripture and Christian Theologians?
- How Do Scripture Scholars Interpret Genesis 3 Today?
- Is Genesis 3 about Human Sin?
- Where Does the Story of Human Sin Begin in Genesis?
- Where Does Human Evil Begin in Genesis?
- Are Human Beings Basically Evil according to Genesis?
- Epilogue: My Questions about Genesis
Top Highlights
“In the end, we see no language of sin, disobedience, punishment, test, or transgression in this chapter. This chapter also lacks vocabulary for divine offense taken or divine anger expressed.29 Interpreters have imposed on Genesis 3 ideas about sin and disobedience, divine anger, or divine punishment found elsewhere in the Bible. As the case of Gary Anderson illustrates, these commentators are retrospective readers influenced by other passages.” (Pages 37–38)
“The Fall is actually quite rare in Scripture, a fact that I find very intriguing given its immense importance to Christians. The twentieth-century giant of biblical theology, Gerhard von Rad, observed this omission in the Old Testament: ‘The contents of Gen. ch. 2, and especially ch. 3 are conspicuously isolated in the Old Testament. No prophet, psalm, or narrator makes any recognizable reference to the story of the Fall.’” (Page 15)
“Implicitly, the deity makes things that constitutionally have desirability for humans. In other words, humans are made with a capacity for desire. Desire is presupposed, not spelled out or explained. It is in the account, but it is not accounted for.” (Page 56)
“Augustine reasons: ‘Thus the evil act, the transgression of eating the forbidden fruit, was committed only when those who did it were already evil.’9 The notion that Adam and Eve were already evil when they ate the fruit is not biblical.” (Page 31)
“Scripture provides what is needed for salvation, but it does not provide rational explanations for many facts of reality, such as science or suffering. We stand before God without knowing all. That job is already taken—it’s God’s.” (Page 89)
Praise for the Print Edition
Was there a “Fall”? Was there an “original sin”? The prolific author Mark S. Smith offers insight and writes with clarity, insight, and profundity on these pivotal topics that are so vital to biblical theology. While not all will agree with every element of his analysis of the relevant texts, his reflections will provoke better understanding and further discussion. All those who are interested in these important questions will have to reckon with Smith’s perspective.
—Tremper Longman III, Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
With a welcoming voice and his characteristic erudition, Mark Smith takes on some of the most profound questions in Western religions. As he readily acknowledges, this book raises more questions than it answers; it could not be otherwise. But for those interested in further explorations, it also offers a wealth of resources.
—Christopher B. Hays, Ph.D., D. Wilson Moore Associate Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies Chair, Old Testament Department, Fuller Theological Seminary
Mark Smith’s latest book is an effort ‘to come to grips with Christian claims about the Fall and original sin in Genesis 3.’ He then sets off, in his inimitable way, to explore seven questions that lead him not only back to Genesis 2, and then forward to Genesis 4 and 6, but also beyond: to Augustine, Calvin, the Catholic Catechism, and seemingly every pertinent nook and cranny in the ancient Near East. Spoiler alert: Smith disagrees with a large swath of Christian tradition, finding not a fall in Genesis 3 but a fallout that comes about thereafter, though also remarkable possibilities for human goodness despite our ‘Adam-ness’ and ‘Eve-ness.’ Smith’s goal is to find out what Genesis 3 ‘really says’—which is a hackneyed and usually dubious claim, but not in the case of Smith, whose erudition will educate even the most serious scholar while his fluid prose remains intended for ‘anyone intrigued by what happened in the Garden of Eden.’ Smith ends his study in praise of theological mystery and human curiosity; there is equally also a great deal to praise in this book and in Smith’s work among us.
—Brent A. Strawn, Professor of Old Testament, Emory University
Product Details
- Title: The Genesis of Good and Evil: The Fall(out) and Original Sin in the Bible
- Author: Mark S. Smith
- Publisher: Westminster John Knox
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 200
- Resource Type: Monographs
- Topic: Sin
