Genesis Notes: Adam's Resume

Adam, figure from the Brautpforte (Rathaus Hamburg), Jacob Ungerer

The Life Application Study Bible has a great feature for major Biblical characters. They do a profile on each one including a summary of their lives, a resume style listing of information, and key verses. It really helps bring the lessons learned from each into focus. I won't reproduce the entire thing here but liked this summary for Adam.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• The first zoologist -- namer of animals
• The first landscape architect, placed in the garden to care for it
• Father of the human race
• The first person made in the image of God, and the first human to share an intimate personal relationship with God

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Avoided responsibility and blamed others; chose to hide rather than to confront; made excuses rather than admitting the truth
• Greatest mistake: teamed up with Eve to bring sin into the world

Lessons from his life:

• As Adam's descendants, we all reflect to some degree the image of God.
• God wants people who, though free to do wrong, choose instead to love him
• We should not blame others for our faults
• We cannot hide from God

Vital statistics:

• Where: Garden of Eden
• Occupation: Caretaker, gardener, farmer
• Relatives: Wife - Eve, Sons - Cain, Abel, Seth, numerous other children. The only man who never had an earthly mother or father

Key verses:
The man said, "The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. (Genesis 3:12)

Adam's story is told in Genesis 1:26-5:5. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:1; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:14; Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13, 14.

This series first ran in 2004 and 2005. I'm refreshing it as I go. For links to the whole study, go to the Genesis Index. For more about the resources used, go here.