Evolution of Adam

What the Bible Does and Doesn't Say About Human Origins

By: Peter Enns

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Can Christianity and evolution coexist? Traditional Christian teaching presents Jesus as reversing the effects of the Fall of Adam. However, an evolutionary view of beginnings doesn't allow for a historical Adam, making evolution seemingly incompatible with what Genesis and the apostle Paul say about him. For Christians who accept evolution and want to take the Bible seriously, this presents a faith-shaking tension.

Peter Enns, an expert in biblical interpretation, offers a way forward by explaining how this tension is caused not by the discoveries of science, but by false expectations about the biblical texts. Focusing on key biblical passages in the discussion, Enns demonstrates that the author of Genesis and the apostle Paul wrote to ask and answer ancient questions for ancient people; the fact that they both speak of Adam does not determine whether Christians can accept evolution. This thought-provoking audiobook helps listeners reconcile the teachings of the Bible with the widely held evolutionary view of beginnings and will appeal to anyone interested in the Christianity-evolution debate.

©2012 Peter Enns (P)2020 Tantor

Perspective on Biblical Inerrancy and Creation

Drawing on extensive new evidence from Ancient Near Eastern creation narratives as well as intrabiblical sources, Enns argues that a mythical reading of Adam in Genesis and a mistaken historical view of Adam in Paul's letters is compatible with scriptural inerrancy. While I don't find Enns's argument totally satisfying it is certainly an interesting and worthy contribution to debates about how to interpret Genesis and Paul's letters in light of scientific knowledge about human origins. John Walton and N. T. Wright's book (also on Audible) is a good counter-perspective to this one. Both books are worth reading back-to-back. Walton and Wright argue for a historical Adam, but also argue that that historical Adam was not the first human. They, like Enns, are committed to scriptural inerrancy, but also accept that biblical authors may have implied scientific errors that are beside the theological point they intend to communicate.

Insightful and new perspective

This helps me continue to understand how important context is when reading the stories in the Bible. It’s definitely a thorough investigation of the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah and what they may mean versus the common literal reading.

The only negative is the reader sounds a bit too robotic.

I wish the author would have read this

This is an excellent book for tackling the issue of evolution and Christianity head on in plain language. Although the performer is obviously a professional, he sounds like a robot. The author has a much more conversational tone in his podcast and would have added so much to the experience.

very helpful as an ex young-earther

this is a book that Christians who are considering rejecting their faith due to their understanding of science should read! very good introduction and overview of the issues and a thesis about how Christians who believe evolution should treat the two anymore coherent way,

just as poor thought through as I recall.

squishy Christians -theyoozeoppositeofwherever the pressure comes from. in this case orthodoxy and basic hermeneutics. prof? wow. not at my seminary thankfully.

I'd pass

Not that good. Nothing new to add to the conversation. Liberal perspective on Genesis and the bible in general.