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People throughout history have somewhat blamed Eve for being the mother of death.
Yet, after the fall, Adam called her by the name Eve, because she would become, “the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20).
We should all have the redemptive and eschatological hope of Adam.
Yet, after the fall, Adam called her by the name Eve, because she would become, “the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20).
We should all have the redemptive and eschatological hope of Adam.
More on this.
Eve plays a pivotal role in the fall account. If one ignores chapter markers, the naming of “the Woman” and the naming of “Eve” demarcate the story of the fall with the naming and inclusio.
Eve plays a pivotal role in the fall account. If one ignores chapter markers, the naming of “the Woman” and the naming of “Eve” demarcate the story of the fall with the naming and inclusio.
When God seeks man in the garden after the fall, Adam responds by blaming Eve. Eve then blames the serpent. God gives consequences to the serpent, then Eve, and then Adam. This is a chiasm, at the heart of which is the serpent and his plot against God and humanity.
Ultimately, responsibility fell on Adam and the mission of redemption fell on his Son, Jesus Christ. Yet, Eve plays a critical role in redemption as the “mother of life.” In a beautiful way, she foreshadows the second Eve, Mary, who would give birth to the second Adam, Jesus.
Sadly Eve is often a sidelined character that is blamed in the story of the fall, rather than seen as a central character and vital component instrumental in the work of redemption.
Many years ago I wrote this article for @CBMWorg about this very topic. I still agree with much of the biblical work I did in this article. However, I came to the wrong conclusions because of the patriarchal assumptions I brought to the text. https://cbmw.org/2013/11/13/when-adam-named-eve/
I now realize why Adam categorically called her woman before the fall and then named her Eve after the fall. Though a redemptive and eschatological name, it was the first patriarchal act after the fall.
Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve functioned as co-regents in the cosmological subduing of creation and creature.
However a piece of creation (fruit) and a creature (serpent) thwarted their co-regency and prevented God’s earthly tabernacle from including these co-regents.
They were then cast from the garden and mountain of God out into the field where Satan had deceived them.
Hence forward, not as a product of the created order but as a consequence of the fall (Gen. 3:16), man would have patriarchal inclinations to rule over woman.
Embedded within the naming of Eve is the eschatological hope that the consequences of death and patriarchy would be over-ruled by the life-giving restoration of the co-regency of man and woman.
I’m grateful that we’re all given a chance to revise our work and position on critical issues that have eternal consequence.
