Adam in the New Testament
September 15, 2012
Mere Teaching Model, or First Historical Man?
Rev. Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., has translated a book written in 1977 by former New Testament professor at the Theological University of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (in Apeldoorn), J. P. Versteeg.
Publisher's Description: Denying the historicity of Adam has become increasingly presentwithin evangelical circles. Was Adam the first historical man? Does the answer really matter? And does it affect any important doctrines in the Bible?
Carefully examining key passages of Scripture, Versteeg proves that all human beings descended from Adam, the first man. He argues that if this is not true, the entire history of redemption documented in Scripture unravels and we have no gospel in any meaningful sense.
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Endorsements:
"This is the basic thread of [Versteeg's] argumentation: if it is not true that all human beings descend from Adam as the first human being, then the entire history of redemption documented in Scripture unravels. The result is no redemptive history in any credible or coherent sense and so the loss of redemptive history in any meaningful sense. Versteeg’s work is as timely today as when it was first writ- ten. The publisher is to be commended for making its translation available again."
- Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Emeritus Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology
“This book is the best that I know of in demonstrating exegetically that the parallels drawn by Paul between Adam and Christ (as the Last Adam) necessitate viewing not only Christ as a historical figure but also the first Adam as an actual historical figure. The argument is made persuasively and convincingly that, if one concludes that the first Adam was not historical, then one should be driven to the conclusion that Jesus as the Last Adam was not historical—the latter conclusion even very few unbelieving scholars would be willing to hold. Other references to Adam outside of Paul in the New Testament are also discussed, and the same conclusion is convincingly reached about the historicity of the first Adam. One might not agree with everything said about other issues outside of the Adam-Christ topic, but the conclusions reached about Adam and Christ are sane, sober, and reliable.”
- Gregory K. Beale, Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology
“Given the recent debates about the existence of Adam, this vigor- ous defense of historical Adam is as relevant now as it was when first published in Dutch. The exegetical and theological issues remain the same today. Versteeg shows with vigor and cogency that the New Testament’s teaching requires a historical Adam, and his defense deserves the attention of all who are interested in the question.”
- Vern S. Poythress, Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Editor of the Westminster Theological Journal
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