Q. On p. 77 you say that Genesis 2-3 is describing historical events in figurative language. I agree. I presume that you would also say that Genesis 2-3 is describing historical persons using figurative language. I do not find the argument very persuasive that Paul or Jesus would think they were drawing what is obviously an historical comparison between the historical Jesus and Adam but need not have thought Adam was anything other than a literary figure in a story. To say that the story of Adam is a story does not answer one way or another whether Adam was a real historical person, but if one is making an historical comparison— surely 2 historical persons are needed. What do you say to this view?
A. Thanks for this question. I do think the characters of Genesis 2-3 are figurative representatives of real people. Perhaps Adam and Eve are real individuals who are royal or priestly figures in the broader population or perhaps the real people behind Adam and Eve are rather the whole population whom God has created in his image.
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