The Fall of Man

The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field. He approached Eve with a question designed to plant doubt: 'Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'

Eve corrected him: 'We may eat fruit from the trees, but God said we must not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden or even touch it, or we will die.'

'You will not surely die,' the serpent hissed. 'God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'

Eve looked at the fruit. It was beautiful. It looked delicious. And the serpent said it would make her wise. She took some and ate it. She gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.

Immediately their eyes were opened—but not as they expected. They realized they were naked and felt shame for the first time. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

When they heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid. 'Where are you?' God called.

Adam answered, 'I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.'

'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?'

Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. God pronounced judgment on all three—the serpent would crawl on its belly, the woman would have pain in childbirth, and the man would toil against thorns and thistles until he returned to dust.

But in the midst of judgment came hope. God told the serpent that the woman's offspring would crush his head. God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins—the first death, foreshadowing the sacrifice that would one day fully cover sin.

Then God sent them out of Eden, placing cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life. Paradise was lost, but a promise was given.