Fall of man
Christian doctrine of humanity's transition from innocence to disobedience.
The fall of man, also called the Fall, is a Christian term describing the transition of the first man and woman from innocent obedience to God to guilty disobedience. The doctrine is derived from the biblical interpretation of Genesis chapters 1–3, where Adam and Eve lived with God in the Garden of Eden until the serpent tempted them to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After eating, they became ashamed of their nakedness and were expelled from the Garden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and becoming immortal.
- field
- Christian theology
- known_for
- Doctrine of original sin and the transition from innocence to disobedience
- related_traditions
- Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam)
Lore & Background
The narrative of the Garden of Eden and the fall of humanity is a mythological tradition shared by all Abrahamic religions, with a presentation more or less symbolic of Judeo-Christian morals and religious beliefs. In Nicene Christianity, the Fall is closely related to original sin, which brought sin into the world, corrupting the entire natural world and human nature, causing all humans to be born into original sin. The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts the Fall but rejects inherited guilt of original sin, citing Ezekiel 18:20. Reformed Protestants believe Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for the elect to redeem them from sin. Lapsarianism divides into supralapsarian (before the Fall) and infralapsarian (after the Fall).
Reader's Guide
The fall of man is a foundational doctrine in Christianity, shaping views on human nature, sin, and redemption. In Nicene Christianity, the Fall introduced original sin, a state from which humans cannot attain eternal life without God's grace. This doctrine has had an overwhelming impact on human sexuality, gender roles, and sex differences in Western and Islamic civilizations. Unlike Christianity, Judaism and Islam do not have a concept of original sin, developing other interpretations of the Eden narrative. The phrase 'fall of man' does not appear in Jewish scripture; it likely originates from the Book of Wisdom, a Greek work dated to the mid-first century BC or the reign of Caligula (AD 37–41). Christian exegetes have debated whether the death threatened in Genesis 2:17 refers to physical death, spiritual death, or mortality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the account uses figurative language but affirms that human history is marked by the original fault of our first parents. Protestant Covenant theology holds that Adam failed to fulfill the Covenant of Works, leading to corruption of his whole nature, which extended to his progeny.
Did You Know?
- The phrase 'fall of man' does not appear in Jewish scripture and likely originates from the Book of Wisdom, dated to the mid-first century BC or the reign of Caligula (AD 37–41).
- The Book of Jubilees states the serpent convinced Eve to eat the fruit on the 17th day of the 2nd month in the 8th year after Adam's creation.
- The Eastern Orthodox Church rejects the idea that the guilt of original sin is passed down through generations, based in part on Ezekiel 18:20.
- In Nicene Christianity, the Fall brought sin into the world, corrupting the entire natural world and human nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fall of man in Christian theology?
It refers to the moment when Adam and Eve shifted from a state of innocent obedience to one of guilty disobedience toward God. The doctrine is rooted in the Genesis 1–3 narrative and underpins the broader concept of original sin in Christian thought.
What exactly happened in the Garden of Eden according to the Fall story?
The serpent lured Adam and Eve into eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God had explicitly forbidden. Afterward, they felt shame over their nakedness and were cast out of the Garden.
Why were Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden?
God removed them to prevent them from also eating from the tree of life, which would have locked them into immortality in their fallen, sinful condition. Their expulsion marked a permanent separation between humanity and the direct divine presence in the Garden.
How does the Fall of man connect to the doctrine of original sin?
Christian theology holds that the first couple's disobedience introduced sin and mortality into the human condition, a brokenness inherited by all subsequent generations. This passed-down fallen state is precisely what the doctrine of original sin describes.
Is the Fall of man concept found only in Christianity?
While the specific doctrinal framing belongs to Christian theology, the underlying Genesis narrative is shared across Abrahamic faiths including Judaism and Islam. Each tradition interprets the Adam-and-Eve account through its own theological lens.
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