Early Christian Beliefs About the Fall of Man and Human Nature

Justin Martyr, Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin Direct teaching

When God created man at the beginning, He attached the elements of nature to His will and tested them with a single commandment. He decreed that if man obeyed this commandment, he would enjoy eternal life; but if he disobeyed, the opposite would be his fate. Man, having been created in this way, and immediately leaning towards disobedience, naturally became subject to corruption. With corruption becoming inherent in nature, it was necessary for Him who wanted to save to be one who would destroy the root cause of corruption. This could only be achieved by uniting the life according to nature with that which had received corruption, thereby destroying the corruption while preserving as immortal for the future that which had received it. Therefore, it was necessary that the Word should inhabit a body to free us from the death that comes with natural corruption. For if, as you say, He had simply warded off death from us by His will, death indeed would not have come to us because of His will; but nevertheless, we would have become corruptible again, since we carried within ourselves that natural corruption.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching

...as disobedient; for she did not obey even when she was a virgin. And just as she, having a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless still a virgin (for in Paradise "they were both naked, and were not ashamed," since they, having been created a short time before, had no understanding of having children: for it was necessary that they should first reach adulthood, and then multiply from that time onward), became disobedient, she was the cause of death for both herself and the entire human race. Likewise did Mary, having a man engaged to her, and being nevertheless a virgin, by being obedient, become the cause of salvation for both herself and the whole human race. Because of this, the law calls a woman engaged to a man, the wife of him who had engaged her, even though she was still a virgin; this reveals the connection back from Mary to Eve because what is joined together could not be separated other than by reversing the process by which these bonds were formed, so that the former ties be undone by the latter, allowing the latter to set the former free again. And it has actually happened that the first agreement is undone by the second tie, but the second tie takes the place of the

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead Supporting witness

...kind, because they all begin from the same point. Their starting point is the creation of the first human beings. Some of these arguments get their force from that starting point itself. Others, which follow from human nature and human life, get their credibility from God's care over us. For the reason according to which, and for which, human beings came into existence is closely connected with human nature, and so it gets its force from creation. But the argument from justice, which shows God judging people according to whether they have lived well or badly, gets its force from the end of human existence. People come into being on the former ground, but their condition depends more on God's care. Now that I have shown the earlier points as well as I could, it is right to prove our position by the points that come after. I mean the reward or punishment due to each person according to righteous judgment, and the final purpose of human existence. Of these, I put first the one that naturally comes first, and so I will examine the argument about judgment first. I will state only one thing beforehand, for the sake of the principle that belongs to the matters before us, and for the sa

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

...es very wickedly presents God as weak from the very beginning, and as unable to win even one single man to obedience, though He Himself had formed him, we answer that this objection is much like someone finding fault with the existence of evil, which God has not been able to prevent even in the case of a single person, so that one man might be found from the very beginning of things who was born into the world untouched by sin. For just as those whose task it is to defend the doctrine of providence do so with arguments that should not be despised, so also the matters concerning Adam and his son will be dealt with philosophically by those who know that in the Hebrew language Adam means man, and that in those parts of the story which seem to refer to Adam as an individual, Moses is speaking about human nature in general. For in Adam, as Scripture says, all die, and were condemned in the likeness of Adam's transgression. The word of God says this not so much about one particular individual as about the whole human race. For in the connected series of statements that seems to apply to one particular individual, the curse pronounced on Adam is understood as belonging to all the membe

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

...ld, you die like men, and fall like one of the princes,’ to show the disobedience of people—meaning Adam and Eve—and the fall of one of the princes, i.e., the one called the serpent, who fell greatly because he deceived Eve. However, my point here is not to focus on this aspect, but to prove to you that the Holy Spirit reproaches people because they were made like God, free from suffering and death, as long as they followed His commandments, and were considered worthy of being called His sons, but they, like Adam and Eve, bring death upon themselves; you may interpret the Psalm as you prefer, yet it demonstrates that all people are considered worthy of becoming “gods,” and having the power to become sons of the Highest; and will each be judged and condemned like Adam and Eve. Now I have shown extensively that Christ is called God.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness

...s of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. And God caused an ecstasy to fall upon Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, He made into a woman, and brought her to Adam. And Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

let the judgment of God be pondered, which even in the beginning of the world and of the human race, Adam, forgetful of the commandment, and a transgressor of the given law, received.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

The situation of Adam, however, was entirely different and had no comparison to this. Having been deceived by another under the guise of immortality, he is immediately filled with fear and hides himself; not as though he could escape from God, but because in his confusion over having broken God's command, he feels unworthy to appear before and speak with God. The "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" the awareness of sin leads to repentance, and God grants His compassion on those who repent. Adam demonstrated his repentance by his actions, using a girdle to cover himself with fig leaves, even though there were many other leaves that would have irritated his body less. He chose clothing in line with his disobedience, being awed by the fear of God, and resisting the erring, lustful urges of his flesh (since he had lost his natural disposition and child-like mind, and had come to know evil things), he fastened a restraint of self-control on himself and his wife, fearing God and waiting for His coming, and suggesting, as it were, the following: By disobedience, he says, I have lost that robe of sanctity which I received from the Spirit, and I now acknowledge that I deserve a c

Romans 5:12 Direct teaching

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Genesis 3:17 Supporting witness

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

For in Adam (as the Scripture says) all die, and were condemned in the likeness of Adam's transgression, the word of God asserting this not so much of one particular individual as of the whole human race.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

It is manifest that sins, and lusts of the flesh, and unbelief, and anger, are ascribed to the common nature of all mankind, the devil however leading that nature astray, which he has already infected with the implanted germ of sin.

Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul) Direct teaching

For, as we have said before, the corruption of our nature is another nature having a god and father of its own, namely the author of (that) corruption.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

because the nature of men is inclined to faults, and wishes to sin not only with indulgence, but also with a reasonable plea.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...aw of sin that is in my members. "Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?" And again, for he never grows tired of helping in any way, he does not hesitate, as if drawing a conclusion, to say: "For the law of the Spirit liberated me from the law of sin and death. For through the Son God condemned sin in the flesh, so that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Besides this, still making clear what was said before, he cries out, "The body indeed is dead because of sin," meaning that it is not a temple but a tomb of the soul. For when it has been sanctified to God, he adds, "He who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, and He will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you," Romans 8:10-11. So then, rebuking lovers of pleasure again, he adds these words: "For the mind of the flesh is death; because those who live according to the flesh think the things of the flesh; and the mind of the flesh is hostility against God, for it is not subject to the law of God." "Those who are in the flesh," not as some understand it, "cannot please Go

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Supporting witness

...inst the law of the mind, Romans 7:23. The third is in agreement with sin, established in the flesh through lust, and he calls it the law of sin that dwells in our members, Romans 7:23. The Evil One drives it on and often stirs it up against us, pushing us toward unrighteousness and evil deeds. For there seems to be in us one thing that is better and another that is worse. When what is naturally better is about to become stronger than what is worse, the whole mind is carried toward what is good. But when what is worse grows and outweighs the better, a man is instead pushed toward evil thoughts. Because of this, the apostle prays to be delivered from it, seeing it as death and destruction. The prophet does the same when he says, "Cleanse me from my secret faults." The same meaning appears in these words: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Romans 7:22-24. By this he does not mean that the body is death, but the law of sin in his members, hidd

Methodius, From the Discourse on the Resurrection Supporting witness

...came, sin revived, and I died. "And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death," Romans 7:9-10. For after God gave the law, and commanded me what I ought to do and what I ought not to do, the devil worked lust in me. For the promise God gave me was for life and incorruption, so that by obeying it I might have ever-flourishing life and joy leading to incorruption. But for the one who disobeyed it, it would end in death. But the devil, whom he calls sin because he is the author of sin, took an opportunity through the commandment to deceive me into disobedience. He deceived me and killed me, thus making me subject to the sentence, "In the day that you eat of it you shall surely die," Genesis 2:17. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good, Romans 7:12, because it was given not for harm but for safety. For let us not suppose that God makes anything useless or harmful. "What then? Was that which is good made death to me?" Romans 7:13. That is, was what was given as law, so that it might be the cause of the greatest good, made the cause of death? God forbid. For it was not the law of God that became the cause of my being brought u

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

He, then, who struggles to amend the inborn depravity of his inclinations, shows most clearly that he is imperfect, blameable, although he may strive with all zeal and steadfastness.

Ephesians 2:3 Direct teaching

among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Romans 6:19 Supporting witness

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Colossians 3:5 Supporting witness

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

2 Peter 2:19 Supporting witness

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

Then the serpent, who was one of the servants of God, envying man because he was made immortal, enticed him by stratagem to transgress the command and law of God.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

For the serpent — from whom the Ophioneus spoken of by Pherecydes is derived — having become the cause of man's expulsion from the divine Paradise, obscurely shadows forth something similar, having deceived the woman by a promise of divinity and of greater blessings;

Genesis 3:6 Direct teaching

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:1 Direct teaching

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:13 Supporting witness

And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:4 Supporting witness

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

... formed to choose either to sin or not to sin. And you surely understand this well enough yourself, Manes. For you know that even if you brought together all your disciples and warned them not to commit any transgression or do any unrighteousness, every one of them might still pass by the law of judgment. And certainly, whoever wills may keep the commandments. And whoever despises them, and turns aside to what is contrary to them, will still, without doubt, have to face this law of judgment. For this reason also, certain of the angels refused to submit themselves to God's commandment, and resisted His will. One of them indeed fell like a flash of lightning upon the earth, while others, harassed by the dragon, sought their felicity in intercourse with the daughters of men, and so brought on themselves the deserved sentence of the punishment of eternal fire. And that angel who was cast down to earth, finding no further entrance into any of the regions of heaven, now flaunts about among men, deceiving them and luring them to become transgressors like himself. Even to this day he is an adversary to the commandments of God. However, the example of his fall and ruin will not be follow

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

...ken away this excuse from men, so that no one may say that he sins because of necessity rather than through his own fault. Therefore, for a teacher to be perfect, no objection should be able to be raised by the one being taught. So if he should happen to say, You command impossible things, the teacher may answer, Look, I myself do them. But I am clothed with flesh, and it is the nature of flesh to sin. I too bear the same flesh, and yet sin does not rule in me. It is hard for me to despise riches, because otherwise I cannot live in this body. Look, I too have a body, and yet I fight against every desire. I am not able to endure pain or death for righteousness, because I am frail. Look, pain and death have power over me also, and I overcome those very things that you fear, so that I may make you victorious over pain and death. I go before you through those things that you claim are impossible to endure. If you cannot follow me while I give directions, follow me as I go before you. In this way every excuse is taken away, and you must confess that man is unjust through his own fault, since he does not follow a teacher of virtue who is at the same time a guide. You see, therefore, h

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

You say, indeed, that this doubt you have fallen into ought to be removed from your mind. You have fallen into it, but it was because of your irreligious credulity. You have fallen into it, but it was because of your own sacrilegious attitude and will, in so easily listening to unchaste, impious, and unspeakable things against your brother, against a priest, and in willingly believing them while defending other men's falsehoods as if they were your own private property. You did not remember that it is written, "Hedge your ears with thorns, and do not listen to a wicked tongue," and again, "A wicked doer gives heed to the tongue of the unjust; but a righteous man does not regard lying lips." Why, then, have the martyrs not fallen into this doubt? They were full of the Holy Ghost and, by their suffering, already near the presence of God and of His Christ. From their prison, these martyrs sent letters to Cyprian the bishop, acknowledging the priest of God and bearing witness to him. Why have not so many bishops, my colleagues, fallen into this doubt? Some, when they departed from among us, were proscribed. Others, when they were seized, were cast into prison and put in chains. Others,

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But because it is provided by nature that hatred, desire, and anger drive men blindly to that object to which they have applied themselves, to be free from fault appears to be beyond the power of man.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

For when it is certain that the first and perfect nature has not been able to restrain its passion within right limits, why should not man give himself up to his desires without distinction, being both borne on headlong by his innate frailty, and aided by the teaching of the holy deities?

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

For on this account he was not at once thrust down by God to punishment at the original transgression, that by his malice he may exercise man to virtue: for unless this is in constant agitation, unless it is strengthened by continual harassing, it cannot be perfect, inasmuch as virtue is dauntless and unconquered patience in enduring evils.

Romans 6:12 Supporting witness

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:16 Supporting witness

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Proverbs 5:22 Supporting witness

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

Wisdom of Sirach 19:28 Supporting witness

And if for want of power he be hindered from sinning, Yet when he findeth opportunity he will do evil.

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

... is spiritual." 1 Corinthians 15:46. Just before this, he had said about Christ Himself, "The first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a life-giving spirit." 1 Corinthians 15:45. Our heretic, however, in the fullness of his folly, would not let the statement remain in this form. He changed "last Adam" into "last Lord," because he feared that if he allowed the Lord to be the last, or second, Adam, we would argue that Christ, being the second Adam, must belong to that God to whom the first Adam also belonged. But this falsification is obvious. For why is there a first Adam unless there is also a second Adam? Things are not grouped together unless they are alike in some way, and share either the same name, the same substance, or the same origin. Now, even among things that are each different, one may be first and another last. Yet they must still have one author. But if the author is different, then that author himself may indeed be called the last. However, the thing he introduces is the first, and only that can be called last which is like this first in nature. It is not like the first in nature if it is not the work of the same author. In the same way, the h

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Direct teaching

How could it be said that Christ the Lord took on a complete man the way one of the prophets did, when He, being the Lord Himself, became man through the incarnation brought about by the Virgin? Therefore it is written that the first man was from the earth, earthy, in 1 Corinthians 15:47. But the one who was formed from the earth returned to the earth, while He who became the second man returned to heaven. So we read of the first Adam and the last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. And since it is acknowledged that the second came by the first according to the flesh, for this reason Christ is also called man and the Son of man. In the same way, the testimony is given that the second is the Savior of the first, for whose sake He came down from heaven. And since the Word came down from heaven, was made man, and ascended again to heaven, He is for that reason called the second Adam from heaven.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

When we think about the death that Adam's transgression brought on us, it is a time to mourn. But it is a time to celebrate when we remember the resurrection from the dead that we expect through the new Adam.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...hrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was it that Christ was not only from the seed of David, but was also the Word made flesh and dwelt among us? For although the first-formed man was not born from seed, yet the first-formed man was not made by the joining together of the Word and flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to be created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is only man, how is He present

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...hrinks from insisting that Christ is God, even though he sees that Christ is proved to be God by so many words and facts. If Christ is only man, then when He came into this world, how did He come to His own, since a man could not have made the world? If Christ was only man, how is the world said to have been made by Him, when the world was not made by man, but man was appointed after the world? If Christ was only man, how was Christ not only from the seed of David, but also the Word made flesh who dwelt among us? For although the first man was not born from seed, neither was the first man formed from the union of the Word and the flesh. For he is not the Word made flesh, nor did he dwell among us. If Christ was only man, how does He who comes from heaven testify to what He has seen and heard, John 3:31, when it is clear that man cannot come from heaven, because he cannot be born there? If Christ is only man, how are visible and invisible things, thrones, powers, and dominions, said to have been created by Him and in Him, when the heavenly powers could not have been made by man, since they had to exist before man? If Christ is only man, how is He present wherever He is called upo

1 Corinthians 15:21 Supporting witness

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

Romans 5:19 Supporting witness

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 5:18 Supporting witness

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Romans 5:17 Supporting witness

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15 Supporting witness

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Romans 5:14 Supporting witness

Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Romans 8:21 Supporting witness

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.