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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The Apostle Paul tells us in his first letter to the church in Corinth, "The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the nat...
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mark wilkinson
Supporter
The phrase 'second Adam' comes from the pen of the Roman Catholic cleric Cardinal Newman in his hymn 'Praise to the Holiest in the Height' - "...a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came." The Bible refers to Jesus as 'the last Adam' (1 Cor 15:45). He put right all that the first man, the first Adam, had undone when he sinned against the Lord in the Garden of Eden. The Apostle Paul states that 'as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive' (v22). 'As we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the heavenly Man' (v49).
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
John 12:25 "...except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Christ is the firstborn of many brethren (Rom.8:29). He is also the bridegroom in the marriage supper of the lamb (Rev 19:9). Adam was the father of the physical body and the soul of every human being. Both body and soul became subject to death due to original sin. Christ is the father of all whose souls have been saved through his life-giving spirit. All living in heaven and earth will have his spirit in the Kingdom of God. Christ has proliferated himself in multitudes of saved people, and so is like a spiritual Adam.
Andrew Osakue
Supporter
The first Adam handed over the authority God gave him over the earth to Satan in disobedience to God, Gen. 1:28. Because of God's justice, another man (Jesus) fully man and fully God had to come from heaven in obedience to collect back the authority Adam lost. The first Adam brought death into the world while the last Adam brought back life. The first Adam was sin tainted while the second Adam was sinless. Hebrew 4:15. The first Adam was beaten by the serpent (Devil) While the second Adam (Jesus); seed of a woman bruised the head of the serpent (Devil) Gen. 3:15 The first Adam died and was held by the grave but the second Adam through death destroyed the one who had power over death (Devil) Hebrew 2:14
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam?
Jesus as the "second Adam" (or "last Adam") means He acts as a new representative head of humanity, reversing the sin and death introduced by the first Adam through his obedience. Where Adam brought condemnation, Jesus brings righteousness and life, serving as the beginning of a new, glorified humanity rather than just the first man of earthly origin.
Some Aspects of Jesus as the Second Adam:
The Representative Contrast: According to 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Adam was a living being from the dust, while Jesus is a life-giving spirit from heaven.
Obedience vs Disobedience: Adam failed to obey God in a perfect environment, bringing death, whereas Jesus remained perfectly obedient to God, even in a fallen world.
A New Beginning: Jesus acts as the head of a "new creation." Just as all humanity inherited sin from Adam, those in Christ receive righteousness and eternal life.
Overcoming Temptation: Where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus overcame temptation, most notably in the wilderness, reversing the curse of the fall.
This thought, often highlighted by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15, teaches that Jesus did not just undo Adam's mistakes but offered a superior, spiritual humanity that triumphs over death.
1 Cor 15:45:
The first man Adam... The last Adam: In the first part of the verse, Paul quotes from Ge 2:7 ("the man became a living person"), but he adds the words "first" and "Adam." In the second part of the verse, he calls Jesus "the last Adam." Then at 1Co 15:47, Paul calls Adam "the first man [or, "human"]" and Jesus "the second man [or, "human"]." The first Adam disobeyed his Father and Life-Giver; the last Adam showed complete obedience to Him. The first Adam spread sin to his offspring; the last Adam gave his human life as a sin-atoning sacrifice. (Ro 5:12, 18, 19) Jehovah then restored Jesus to life as a spirit. (1Pe 3:18) Like Adam, Jesus was a perfect man, so in harmony with His own justice, God could accept Jesus' sacrifice as "a corresponding ransom" to buy back Adam's descendants. This ransom sacrifice would restore to humans the life prospects that the first Adam had forfeited. (1Ti 2:5, 6) Thus, Jesus could rightfully be called "the last Adam," a term that indicates that there will be no need for another Adam after him.
Daniel Lea
Supporter
When reading, “What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam?”, it appears that the author is negating the fact that since the beginning, in Genesis, Jesus was the Word, then that would mean that Jesus was, in fact, before Adam and can, therefore, NOT be second to anyone!
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