Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | SteviM95 | 73573 | ||
I have spent alot of time trying to read the posts about Cain's wife. I believe that Adam and Eve's children did commit incest. Tonight I have tried to find the exact post by markarios where he quotes Adam as saying that Eve is the mother of all living...I can't find it right now...but, that is what convicted me of this issue. I am puzzled as to how people are trying to defend this incest. I agree with the biological points brought up...the probability of genetic abberations from incest were significantly decreased back then. But I am not sure that this should be used as a defense (isn't it extra-biblical?). And the Bible begins to give us God's law(s) later. But, isn't the purpose of the law to see where we do not measure to God's standard? To see that we fall short of God's glory? And God's glory and standard is eternal..so even though the law was not written down in Genesis 1:1, isn't it presumptuous of us to say that God looked upon the incest of Adam and Eve's children differently than he would look upon any incest that would happen today? (I acknowledge that there is now guilt and conviction when it happens today...and I am not prepared to argue whether or not there was guilt and conviction for Adam and Eve's children). What I am saying is why should we not believe that the Scripture says that Adam and Eve's children committed incest...just because we know that incest is an abomination to God? Is it important for a Christian to be willing to defend the incest of Adam and Eve's children? Or, if confronted with it, can't we just shrug and acknowledge that they sinned, just like every man, beginning with Adam, has fallen short of the glory of God? And there is a thread on this page about ceremonial laws vs doctrinal laws. I've only been a Christian for three years...and although I've read the OT, I've been studying the NT. I've now decided to study to OT, and that's what led me to this forum...searching for information about Genesis. When I get to the laws (which may be years from now at the progress I am making), what should I know to be on the lookout regarding categorizing laws? I thought that they were all God's standard. Oh, and there is a thread here too about sacrificing. Is an offering the same as a sacrifice? Cause Genesis 4:3 says that Cain and Abel were bringing offerings to the Lord. Even though God does not tell us about his requirements for sacrifices and offerings later on in Genesis (or maybe not until Leviticus...I am not sure right now), Cain and Abel knew something about them. And if God prefers obedience to sacrifice, then would he ask/require offerings of Cain and Abel if they were obedient? So, why should we feel called upon to defend an act of theirs? Doesn't the bible say that no man was righteous? Thank you for your time...and I do apologize for digging up a thread that is so old. I was going to try to read everything first...but there is alot of stuff to read. Steph P.S. I am going to build a profile tonight, although I will try to read everything replied to this post, I would greatly appreciate it if people who reply to me either have a profile telling me of their knowledge of Christ, or tell me in the post. Just so that I can know where you are coming from. Thanks, Steph |
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2 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | justme | 74158 | ||
SteviM95: I think we need to remember that when God created Adam and Eve they were sinless. Something we have no clue what that would be like today. I don't think we can imagine a sinless world. After Adam and Eve were removed from the garden they were in a new surronding with no LAW yet, and many things we really do not know about Adam and Eve. They were told by God to reproduce. Because they were the only man and woman then God forknew their children would become mates. Please bare in mind God knew what His plans were long before Man ever sinned. The way in which God chose to populate the earth was GOOD by what Scripture says. Today it is hard to look back, and our reasoning, and laws tell us from everwhere that incest is a violation of everything we know. But when looking from the begining that is a totally different circumstance. Taking just simple rates of possible reproductive age and assuming the first created couple and their children were semi proflic in 25 years you could have a good number of humans. Nothing is to say multipal births did not happen either. In a relatively short time brother sister marriage would have perhaps stopped. In less than 100 years you could have many who were several times removed from adam and Eve. To us this seems abhorant, but it was the way God planned to start mankind. Nothing God has done was "bad". Adam and Eve covered themselves as soon as they sinned. Before that point they were perfect as God intended. I Can't imagine it that way, now from here. May I suggest you leave this one up to the Creator who know what's best. justme |
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3 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | SteviM95 | 74607 | ||
Justme, Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. Stephenie |
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4 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | stjones | 74612 | ||
Hi, Steph; Allow me a belated welcome to the forum. I've read your profile and your posts and I think are a valuable addition to our little "club". I know that God will honor your desire to better understand his word and I am confident that you will help us to understand as well. I also "approve" (as if you needed my approval!) of your desire to know where people on this forum are coming from. If you have the time to spend here, you will come to recognize folks whose posts reveal wisdom and discernment and who seem to approach spiritual truths with "the mind of Christ". (1 Cor 2:16) But be a Berean (Acts 17:11). Sooner or later, you will disagree with every one of them. At least I have, but I may just be a curmudgeon. I am not convinced that incest is the only possible explanation. I try to be careful about assuming naturalistic explanations for supernatural events. Did Adam and Eve's children commit incest? The Bible is silent. Did God the Provider provide partners in some other way? The Bible is silent. As a part-time dabbler in theistic evolution, I could propose a quasi-naturalistic solution. But it would be pure speculation - and probably get me flamed. ;-) No one this side of Heaven knows who they married. I have come to the point where I don't spend too much time thinking about things God has chosen not to reveal (but I do spend some). And you noted in another post that it's not possible to derive a moral principle that permits incest. You have expressed an interest in Jesus' "testing" of Phillip. Perhaps God is testing your willingness to accept with certainty that his solution was right, holy, and completely consistent with his character and his truth as revealed throughout the Bible - despite possible evidence to the contrary. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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5 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | SteviM95 | 74619 | ||
Steve, Thanks for responding to my post. I too am trying to focus on the things God has chosen to reveal. When I saw these postings about Cain's wife, I was in no way searching for an answer to this question. To be perfectly honest, I never thought to ask it myself, and still don't spend a whole lot of time on it. If I am ever asked about it, I will be sure to say that "I believe" that Cain married a descendant of Adam and Eve, and if I am asked why, I will point to verse Gen 3:20 where Adam says that Eve is the mother of all the living. I simply wanted to know if it was then my duty, as a Christian, to be willing to defend the actions of Adam and Eve's children, since I believe that they committed incest. I am unsure as to whether there is a possibility of deriving a moral principle that permits incest. If incest was God's solution, then I would know, and accept with certianty that it was the right and Holy solution, completely consistent with God's character and His truth. But I do not believe that the Bible gives us evidence that it was God's solution. So now it seems that we are heading down the path of free will, election, and pre-destination (which most of the replies I have received to this question have headed, without actually going there). If I would have seen it from the beginning, I wouldn't have asked my question. I am too uncomfortable with all the implications some people take from election and pre-destination, and I just don't have a good enough grasp on it to muddle my way through all the controversies surrounding it. I consider it spiritual food that I am just not ready to digest yet. But, just for the sake of arguement, are you asking me to believe that God would pre-destine incest, or would He simply permit it (even though He abhorres it) because He knew that His creatures would exercise their free will and commit incest, and He could have the sole glory of working His miracles to bring to righteousness, a people whose only existence is derived from an abomination? Would He pre-destine such a scenario, or would He allow His creatures to create such a scenario? Is it pre-destination, or is it foreknowledge? Does God actually plan all the sin in this world, or does He allow it, and work through it? I'm reading the book of Job right now, so many questions, but I am not sure that I am ready for the answers that haven't already been fulfilled in Christ. Thanks for your welcome. I think this forum is pretty great, and I have noticed some consistently wise answers posted by the same people...but I cannot keep up with all the questions, so if I don't get the email in my box telling me that someone has replied, I just go to where I left off. Thanks again, Steph |
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6 | Must we justify incest among Adam's kids | Gen 1:1 | stjones | 74623 | ||
Hi, Steph; As I said, I don't know that incest is necessarily the answer. So, no, I'm not asking you to believe that "God would pre-destine incest, or would He simply permit it" for the simple reason that I don't know if there was any incest for God to have either predestined or permitted. I don't see any theological conclusions that can be drawn from not knowing where Cain's wife came from. Sorry I'm not pushing one view or another. Unless my view is that there's none to be pushed. ;-) Job is one of my favorite books. You can peel it like an onion and find worthwhile answers and new questions in every layer. I believe it reveals God's love for us in ways no other book of the Bible does. Although I'm a layman, I preached on this subject a couple of months ago. And, yeah, I'd be lost without the email notification. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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