How come we have come to know the events of Genesis 3 (the chapter with the talking serpent, Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, you know, all that) as "The fall of man" or "The temptation in the garden"?
Why isn't it more referred to "The Forgiveness of Man"?
At the end of the chapter Adam graciously calls the woman "Eve" since she will be "the mother of all the living." Where did Adam get that idea from? Didn't Eve just give him the fruit that would cause all to die, not live? And yet Adam must have seen love in God's judgments upon them. Psalm 145:17 proclaims "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all that He has made." This includes Adam and Eve, and includes the more harsh things said from God in that chapter... it's all still righteous and loving. I believe Adam saw this and couldn't help but respond in a similar way towards Eve, naming her Eve as a result. Think about it! Adam could have easily named her "Big Eternal Screw Up" or "Fall" or... you get the idea. And there would have been no righteousness or love in that at all.
Nor any forgiveness.
Forgiveness isn't just about our past mistakes, but it is also an action bent on the potential of one's future. The original meaning to forgive was to "completely give" or "give completely." When we think of forgiveness as just grace towards our past mistakes, it leaves us with no direction. Adam forgave the woman, and gave her direction in the area of her truest identity: to give birth to all of the living.
One of the truest acts of forgiveness and restoring one's identity is wrapped up in Adam's naming of Eve, which stems from Adam's perception of who God really is and was in that moment. This is a true fulfillment of "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:14
If i ever write a translation of the Bible, the subheading for chapter 3 will be "The Forgiveness of Man."
