Tim Keller: Sinned in a Literal Adam, Raised in a Literal Christ

Question: If biological evolution is true and there was no historical Adam and Eve, how can we know where sin and suffering came from?

Answer: Belief in evolution can be compatible with a belief in a historical fall and a literal Adam and Eve. There are many unanswered questions around this issue.

 

"Compared to other questions laypeople ask pastors about creation and evolution, I find the concerns of this question much more well-grounded. Indeed, I must disclose, I share them. Many orthodox Christians who believe God used evolutionary biological processes to bring about human life not only do not take Genesis 1 as history, but also deny that Genesis 2 is an account of real events. Adam and Eve, in their view, were not historical figures but an allegory or symbol of the human race. Genesis 2, then, is a symbolic story or myth that conveys the truth that human beings all have and do turn away from God and are sinners.
Before I share my concerns with this view, let me make a clarification. One of my favorite Christian writers (that’s putting it mildly), C. S.Lewis, did not believe in a literal Adam and Eve, and I do not think the lack of such belief means he cannot be saved. But my concern is for the church corporately and for its growth and vitality over time. Will the loss of a belief in the historical fall weaken some of our historical, doctrinal commitments at certain crucial points? Here are two points where that could happen."

Exegetical Parody"

A funny parody written by Bible scholar Moisés Silva...

"It is approximately the year 2790. The most powerful nation on earth occupies a large territory in Central Africa, and its citizens speak Swahili. The United States and other English-speaking countries have long ceased to exist, and much of the literature prior to 2012 (the year of the Great Conflagration) is not extant. Some archaeologists digging in the western regions of North America discover a short but well-preserved text that can confidently be dated to the last quarter of the twentieth century. It reads thus"

Read the rest here...
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/

A Hermeneutic of Practical Obedience

One can use many interpretive practices and strategies when approaching the texts of Sacred Scripture. There are literally dozens of commentaries readily available on the internet and hundreds more in print and in bible software programs. Each of these commentaries is informed by its own distinct worldview and theological commitments. Some of these are even written by the founders of broader Christian movements (e.g., Luther, Calvin, Wesley).

The image we have of studying the bible may be of a great stack of books close by. Frequently books are consulted, frequently notes are taken on a pad of paper or written in the margins of the bible. This is an in-depth process leading to the acquisition of much knowledge.

This was my model for understanding scriptural study until recently when I picked up a copy of Todd Hunter’s Giving Church Another Chance and began reading. Throughout his book, time and again, Todd returns to the idea of practical obedience to Jesus as a pattern for life. For Todd, if knowing the teachings of Jesus is important, then living them out is even more so. At one point he challenges the reader to consider spending as much time planning how to live out a scriptural passage after reading it as consulting resources to understand it.

I like Todd’s challenge because I see the truth in it. As the common saying goes: “the Christian life is not just about information, but also transformation.” Belief and action are required for a holistic practice of the faith. How can this insight renew out personal bible study? Can a hermeneutic of practical obedience (i.e., reading the bible with attention to acting on its truths in daily life), lead to greater discovery of the abundant life that God has for us? I think that it can. Perhaps this is a new way to invite God into our lives and to offer up our time and energy as worship to Him.

Posted by Jacob, who regularly blogs at Inter Christianos.