Adam: The First Man
BIBLE CHARACTERS
Created from clay, Adam was the first man in the world, having lived for some time in the world in its full perfection when it was created.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
Adam is considered, according to the Bible, the first man created by God. His story is primarily narrated in the book of Genesis, chapters 1 to 5. He plays a central role in creation, the fall of humanity, and the first steps in the history of salvation. Created by God on the sixth day of creation, he was formed "from the dust of the ground" and given the "breath of life" (Genesis 2:7). He was placed in the Garden of Eden, a perfect paradise, with the mission to tend it and name the animals. His creation represents the culmination of God's work, as he is described as being made "in the image and likeness of God" (Genesis 1:26-27).
Although Adam was surrounded by animals, God recognized that "it is not good for man to be alone." Thus, He created Eve from Adam’s rib to be his companion (Genesis 2:18-23). Together, Adam and Eve became the first human couple. In Eden, God gave them the freedom to eat from any tree except the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." However, they both succumbed to the serpent’s temptation, ate the forbidden fruit, and disobeyed God (Genesis 3:1-6). This act brought drastic consequences: their expulsion from Eden, the beginning of human suffering, and the introduction of mortality.
Outside Eden, Adam and Eve had children, starting with Cain, Abel, and Seth, along with other descendants. They lived a life marked by hard labor and difficulties, as God had foretold after the fall (Genesis 3:17-19). Sin entered the world through human disobedience, but God had a plan from the very beginning to rescue humanity from sin and put an end to suffering.
Adam is seen as the ancestor of all humankind. His story serves as the backdrop for the entire redemptive history led by Jesus Christ, who is called "the second Adam" by Paul, as He brings salvation in contrast to the sin introduced by the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).
The Bible does not provide many details about Adam’s death but states that he lived for 930 years (Genesis 5:5). His long life reflects the pre-flood longevity standards and serves as a foundational marker in the biblical history of humanity.