Biblical Backgrounds

 Adam's Failure and Eve's Part (Part 1)

The role of women in the so-called Western Christian world is essentially shaped by the interpretations of the Bible's story of paradise.

Even in the early beginnings of Christianity, the role of women in relation to men took on completely new, theologically influenced features that could not only be described as misogynistic, but primarily as misanthropic.

Worst gaffes like that of Augustine, who described women as Satan's helpers, or even statements like those of Thomas Aquinas, who described women as just “man full of defects” and declassed women as “second in creation and first in sin “, are just a few small examples of the misogynistic madness of male Christian theology.

Judaism has always assessed the role of women in the story of paradise differently and drawn completely different theological conclusions.

The story of paradise is an example of our all-too-human desire to shift our own guilt and project it onto others.

If we look at the story of paradise, the events surrounding the serpent and the tree of knowledge with its fruit of knowledge form an essential focus.

It should be noted here that in the Hebrew Bible the serpent is expressly spoken of as a male, “human” appearing person and not as an animal that is smarter than all the animals that God has ever created. A truly tragic translation error that has cost millions of snakes their lives over the centuries.

But what is this story actually about?

What do the narrators of the story want to convey to us?

They are certainly trying to explain to us future generations the reason for the loss of paradise, which is caused by the violation of the divine commandment and the incorrect use of the freedom given by God.

But to speak with P. Lapide (Jewish theologian): “The worst thing in the business, however, is the role of Adam, where, as a man and the son of Adam, one can only blush with shame.”

All misfortune begins in Adam's inaction. His apathy and his turning a blind eye or doing nothing will become a snare for all of humanity.

The beginning of this tragic story begins with God's instructions regarding the use of paradise and the express command (not forbidden!): You may eat of all the trees of the garden, but of the tree of knowledge, of the tree of good and evil, you should not eat of it, for in the day that you eat of it you must die, die!

Even before Eve was created, Adam received this commandment of freedom. Adam is therefore the bearer of this divine command and at the same time the keeper of this instruction. For the word of the Lord went to him and not to Eve, who did not yet exist at that time.

Adam's Failure and Eve's Part (Part 2)

Now let's turn to the main part of this story.

Eve, now created, is at this tree of knowledge with Adam and has a theological debate with the serpent about the tree of knowledge. The serpent tries to explain to Eve the meaning of this tree, and Eve is careful in her assessment because she knows about this commandment from Adam, but human curiosity wins out in this case - unfortunately once again.

But the key sentence to this story about the tree is apparently quite laconic and yet essential: “She also gave Adam this fruit, which was with her and he ate it.” This is where the real tragedy of the plot can be found. Eve talks to the serpent and Adam is with her, but he - Adam - does not speak, he does not contradict. He who received the commandment from God most personally: He is silent. But worse still, without contradiction, without objection, without thought of God's commandment, he partakes of this fruit and takes a bite of it as well - yes, the Hebrew text says he eats it - that he eats it entirely.

Here Adam not only appears as a passive, unresisting follower, but he is actively involved through his inactivity. He who first received the commandment, he who became the guardian of paradise and at the same time the namesake, becomes a silent accomplice and active eater.

But this fact alone doesn't make this whole situation bad enough, because Adam also becomes God's first accuser and denier and blame-shifter.

In the following scene of this terrible drama, Adam completely loses his decency. God asks, "Have you eaten of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?" Then Adam said, "The woman that you gave me, the opposite of me, gave me of this fruit, and I ate these. Then God said, Adam, what have you done? 

Here the true greatness of the man Adam is shown, who not only blames Eve, but also God. It means nothing less than if she weren't there, this situation wouldn't have happened. But God does not speak to Eve, but rather he speaks to Adam: “Adam, what have you done?” God rejects all accusations, excuses and shifting of blame and assigns responsibility to Adam as the bearer of this commandment.

Only Eve has the courage to confess clearly to God: “Then Eve said, The serpent tempted me and I ate.” Eve confesses her guilt clearly and names the cause of her guilt. She listened to the temptations.

Adam's Failure and Eve's Part (Part 3)

The first sin confession of the Bible appears in connection with Eve. The first confession of denial in the Bible appears with Adam. He creates two scapegoats, Eve and God, to portray himself as a victim.

Here we come to the actual Jewish view of things.

Not only does Adam let his counterpart bite into their destruction without any sense or understanding: he doubles his share by eating with her, and he triples his guilt by denying his share and his counterpart.

Throughout history we also encounter the human characteristics among all characteristics. Not wanting to take responsibility.

This happens on many levels. There is the lack of responsibility for one's counterpart, for whom one neither shows charity nor takes responsibility. So the thoughtless “indifferent attitude” that Adam also showed at the tree of knowledge.

The thoughtless participation in the goings-on in this world instead of taking a clear position on God's commandments. Here is the reminder of God's commandment and Adam's sharing of the fruit.

And the shifting of blame and scapegoating and the abdication of personal responsibility for his actions. Probably the worst of all evils!

Through Adam, God teaches us: Human, what have you done, human, what are you doing!

Through Adam, God shows us that we are human beings, Adam, and he also shows us how deeply we are entangled in this Adam.

In this sense, Eve is no longer made the debtor of sin, but Adam is called upon to ameliorate his debts by giving Eve the place she deserves - worthy and as an equal next to one another and with one another in human existence! Both are human beings and are completely equal in their human existence.