Diving In Covenant 1 The Edenic Covenant

Covenant Features

The Biblical Covenants form the unifying thread of God’s saving action through Scripture, from their conceptual introduction in Genesis to their eschatological fulfilment in Revelation. Although theologians differ over the precise number and nature of such divine covenants, few question their theological significance in relation to redemptive history.

The first Biblical mention of Covenant is in Gen. 6:18 when God promises to preserve Noah and his family through the Flood. But many see the provisions and conditions of life in Eden (so called Edenic Covt. referred to in Hos. 6:7 & Jer. 33:25 as a covenant) and after the Fall (Adamic Covt.) as having the same features as covenants and they are foundational to all the subsequent Covenants in Scripture.

We’ve looked at the context, scope and duration of each covenant. So now we can explore the features in more detail. They all have a number of features:

• God states what He has done prior to the establishment of the Covenant
• God makes a promise about what He will do
• There is a people group to whom it applies
• An expression of faith in response from that people group
• An expression of God’s grace towards that people group
• An aspect of righteousness expressed, or conferred
• Usually a Blood sacrifice seals the Covenant
• It points to Jesus

I. THE EDENIC COVENANT

Reminder from our chart of Crises and Covenants

Today we are focussing on the Edenic Covenant Found in Gen. 1 – 3 when God creates Adam and Eve and places them in the Garden of Eden with the promise of abundant life and access to the Tree of Life (to live forever), but with one restriction – not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were to rule over the earth and be fruitful and multiply.

Taking our key features:

• What God has done         Creation!
• Promise                     Life and abundance
• Applies to                  Adam and Eve
• Faith                            Adam’s response
• Grace                         God’s provision
• Righteousness         Not eating from the forbidden tree
  (Sanction They would die – conditional)
• Blood sacrifice         None as sin wasn’t present until they disobeyed
• Jesus                          The Second Man and Last Adam

A. Scripture:

• found in Gen. 1:28-30; 2:15-24; mentioned in Psa. 8; Jer. 33:20,25

Biblical testimony points to the fact that God covenanted when he created. Hosea 6:7 refers to Adam breaking the covenant. Jeremiah spoke of the covenant of the day and the night that no one can alter (Jer. 33:19-20 ); this covenant is understood to have been initiated in creation when God separated light from darkness and gave the sun and moon their appointed place and role (Gen. 1:3-5, 14). When Yahweh God first spoke to Noah, he said he was going to wipe humankind from the face of the earth (Gen. 6:7 ). But he assured Noah he would uphold and cause his covenant to continue. Hence Noah did not have to fear that God’s plan for and method of administering his cosmic kingdom would be different after the flood.

Baker’s Dictionary

• broken by Adam & Eve Gen. 3:1-8; breaking mentioned in Hos. 6:7

The record of the Edenic Covenant’s being broken is found in Genesis 3:1-8. Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden as a fallen creature. This shows that man was not created in a perfect universe, for sin was already in existence. Although it was not yet existent in man, it was already present in Satan. The devil did his work of tempting man in the same three areas as set forth in I John 2:16.

The first phrase of Genesis 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, corresponds to the first phrase of I John 2:16: the lust of the flesh. The second phrase of Genesis 3:6: and that it was a delight to the eyes, corresponds to the second phrase of I John 2:16: the lust of the eyes. And the third phrase of Genesis 3:6: and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, corresponds to the second phrase of I John 2:16: and the vainglory [pride] of life.

Eve gave in to the temptation and disobeyed the one negative commandment. Adam recognized what had happened, but he still chose to join his wife in disobedience. Their first reaction was an attempt to hide from the presence of God, which only illustrated the truth of Genesis 2:17. Man at that very moment died spiritually and could no longer share the same communion with God he had experienced before his disobedience.

Arnold Fruchtenbaum

• results of breaking Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:22

Death came in, and has passed on to all people for all have sinned – proved by the fact that all people from Adam to Moses died (then the law reigned which proved man was a sinner). But if the one representative man can bring condemnation on all, so One Representative Man can bring righteousness on all who believe.

As in Adam all die, so all in Christ will be made alive. Are we ‘in Adam’ or ‘in Christ’?

Summary of group discussion of these Scriptures

David discussed the Edenic Covenant, which was the covenant between God and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They were promised abundant life and provision, but were forbidden from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The group discussed the creation of man and woman as described in the Bible. We explored the significance of God creating man in His own image and the importance of leaving one’s parents to be united with a spouse.

We went on to discuss various aspects of the creation story, including the communication between Adam, Eve, and God, the timing of events, the concept of marriage, and the significance of leaving parental authority. We also highlighted the importance of family as part of God’s plan.

In the discussion, we debated the concept of authority and dominion given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as well as the role of Satan in tempting them. We also explored the idea of conscience and how it may have come into existence after the fall.

In the discussion, we mentioned various aspects of the story of Adam and Eve, including their innocence, free will, and the creation of Eve. We also questioned whether Eve was present when God warned Adam about the forbidden tree and pondered the significance of the tree of life.

The group discussed various interpretations of the creation of Adam and Eve, including the idea that Eve was originally part of Adam and was separated from him, as well as the concept of the church being the bride of Christ. We also touched on the elimination of gender distinctions in society and the Greek ideal of hermaphroditism.

In the discussion, we debated various interpretations of biblical passages regarding the creation of Adam and Eve. We also touched on topics such as Cain’s wife, the authority of Jesus’ teachings, and the significance of the male and female relationship in marriage and family.

The group discussed various topics including the change in dietary habits after the flood, the concept of nakedness in Jewish culture, and the breaking of the covenant in Genesis chapter 3. We explored different interpretations and theories surrounding these subjects.

We discussed various aspects of the story of Adam and Eve, including the tactics of the devil, the nature of the serpent, and Adam’s role in the disobedience. We also touched on the gradual progression of sin and the possibility of Adam choosing to join Eve in disobedience.

In the discussion, we debated whether Adam deliberately took on Eve’s sin to identify with her, similar to how Jesus took on the sins of humanity. We also discussed the contrast between the first Adam and the last Adam, emphasizing that Jesus bore our sins and brought righteousness to all who believe.

We discussed the enduring nature of God’s covenant with humanity, highlighting its provision for sustenance, the importance of family, and the faithfulness of God. We also mentioned the transition from the conditional Edenic covenant to the reaffirmation of God’s provision in the covenants with Adam and Noah.

We discussed the provisions of the covenant made between God and Adam, including the mandates to cultivate the garden, multiply and fill the earth, and obey the one restriction imposed. We also highlighted the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin and the hope of restoration through Jesus, who is the last Adam and the One who will bring everything right.

Finally, we discussed the fulfillment of the promise made in Eden and how Jesus, as the last Adam, marked the end of the physical lineage but the beginning of a spiritual lineage, and also reflected on the concept of being born again and the importance of knowing God more deeply.

Summary

The Participants in the Covenant

The Edenic Covenant was made between God and Adam in which Adam stood as the representative head of the human race. Thus the actions of Adam are attributed to the whole of humanity.

The Provisions of the Covenant

• The basic elements of a covenant are imbedded in the Genesis account. God, in his revelation of creation, presented himself as the Creator. The historical record of what he has done was outlined and His provision for them stated
• He created his image-bearers by means of which he placed and kept man and woman in a close relationship with himself and had them mirror (reflect) and represent him within the created cosmos. Humanity was given stipulations or mandates to cultivate and subdue. As image-bearers they were to maintain an intimate and obedient fellowship with their Creator
• When God saw all that he had done, he confirmed, not by expressing an oath or performing a ratifying ceremony, but by declaring all to be very good ( Gen 1:31 ). This he confirmed by ceasing from creating activity and establishing the seventh day as a day of rest, sanctity, and blessing ( Gen 2:1-3 ).
• Humanity was to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth; this was to be done by establishing families; a man was to leave his parents and cleave to his wife (Gen. 2:24). Becoming one flesh, they would have children. As families increased, community would be formed. This social mandate thus was an integral aspect of covenant. So was the cultural mandate; man and woman were to cultivate (subdue NIV) and rule over the creation.
• But they also had responsibility – to obey the one restriction imposed for their own good. But they thought they knew better and took the whole human race down with them!

(Partly taken from Bakers Dictionary)

The Status of the Covenant

Baker’s dictionary: Yahweh’s covenant agents were tempted by Satan. They doubted Yahweh’s words; they accepted the lie. They fell. They broke the covenantal relationship between Yahweh and themselves. Creation was affected, for it too suffered the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin. It too began to groan (Rom. 8:22). But Yahweh did not break his covenant with creation and his vicegerents. He came to the fallen, shamed, and humiliated image-bearers and set about restoring humanity to fellowship with and service for him.

It points to Jesus

We’ve thought of the consequences of Adam’s sin and Pauls’ comparison with Jesus’ obedience in Rom. 5:12-19. But Paul goes further in 1 Cor. 15:45-49 stating that Jesus is the Last Adam and the Second Man.

As Adam was the ‘first man’ (of the earth) and head of the human race, so Christ is the Second Man, the Lord from heaven. The ‘living soul’ of Adam that he passed on to all his progeny, is now replaced by the ‘life giving spirit’ of Christ in those who bear His image. In this role, He is head of the twice-born human race.

But He is also the Last Adam. Jesus’ genealogy in Luke records the succession of ‘firstborns’ from Adam (although they weren’t all necessarily born first – but they did carry the anointing of firstborn – an inherited right rather than just being born first in time). As a succession of ‘Adams’, they represent the human race – seen clearly up to Noah, but is less clear as time goes on, but finally focussed in Jesus!

It runs from the First Adam to the Last Adam – there will be no more representative men as Jesus is supreme. I think it would be right to say that the succession of firstborns ceased with Christ. (He, of course, had no physical progeny to inherit that right, but is the Firstborn of All Creation and the Firstborn from the Dead, and the Firstborn amongst many siblings, hallelujah!) For He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet – there will be no one after Him! (1 Cor. 15:25)

Ultimately, the promise that was inherent in Creation and manifested in Eden will be restored through Jesus and His death on the Cross– we’ve read the end of the Book! (Rev. 21:1-8) But that is a discussion for another day!