Is Genesis 2: 15-17 an explanation of Original Sin?

[grannymh]

One of the many things modern Catholics do not completely comprehend is this line from chapter 14, Gospel of John.
26
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in My name—He will teach you everything and remind you of all that * told you.r

Very few modern Catholics know the protocol for a properly defined Catholic doctrine duly declared. For some reason, modern Catholics think that every word of great saints automatically becomes a doctrine. This eliminates the work of the promised advocate, the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Therefore, verse 26, chapter 14, Gospel of John is denied.*

 

[grannymh]

Genesis, chapter 2. usccb.org/bible/genesis/2

15
The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.h
16
The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden*(“http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2#01002016-i”)
17
except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.* j

Question and Answer from paragraph 404, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
Question
How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants?

Answer
The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man.” By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice.

When we read about God taking Adam and placing him in a garden, (Genesis 2: 15)we can imagine ourselves as part of that “one body” lovingly known as humankind. Because we have the capability of choosing sin (CCC 1730-1732) we can understand that the first human Adam had the capability to disobey God which would be the first sin of the first human recorded in Genesis, chapter 3. Small reminder. Eve is the second person on planet earth. (Genesis 2: 23) Eve can sin six ways to Sunday; but, that does not make her the first person living on planet earth.

Therefore; Genesis 2:15 serves as the beginning explanation of Original Sin as taught by the major ecumenical Catholic Church councils. The decisions of the participants at these councils are guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. (chapter 14, Gospel of John)

 

[Vico]

Genesis, chapter 2. usccb.org/bible/genesis/2

15
The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.h
16
The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden*(“http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2#01002016-i”)
17
except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.* j

Question and Answer from paragraph 404, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
Question
How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants?

Answer
The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man.” By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice.

When we read about God taking Adam and placing him in a garden, (Genesis 2: 15)we can imagine ourselves as part of that “one body” lovingly known as humankind. Because we have the capability of choosing sin (CCC 1730-1732) we can understand that the first human Adam had the capability to disobey God which would be the first sin of the first human.

Therefore; Genesis 2:15 serves as the beginning explanation of Original Sin as taught by the major ecumenical Catholic Church councils. The decisions of the participants at these councils are guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. (chapter 14, Gospel of John)

Our course the full quote describes more, see below.

Catechism of the Catholic Church shows that Adam and Eve committed a personal sin. Two kinds of sin are described however: 1) personal sin (committed), and 2) analogical sin (contracted).

404 How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.293 By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand. But we do know by Revelation that Adam had received original holiness and justice not for himself alone, but for all human nature. By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state.294 It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called “sin” only in an analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not “committed” - a state and not an act.

We also know from the teachings in the Catechism and from Pope Benedict XIII, Errors of the Armenians, From the book “lam dudum” sent to the Armenians in the year 1341

Denzinger 532 (4) Also that the Armenians say and hold that the personal sin of our first parents themselves was so serious that all of their children propagated from their seed up to the passion of Christ have been deservedly condemned for the aforesaid personal sin, and they have been thrust into hell after death, not because they themselves have contracted some original sin from Adam, since they say that children have no original sin at all, neither before the passion of Christ nor after, but that the aforementioned condemnation before the passion of Christ followed them by reason of the gravity of the personal sin which Adam and Eve committed by transgressing the divine precept which had been given to them; but after the passion of our Lord, by which the sin of our first parents was erased, the children who are born from the sons of Adam are not subject to this condemnation, nor are they to be thrust into hell by reason of the aforesaid sin, because Christ erased entirely the sin of our first parents in His passion.

and

Denzinger 536 (18) Also that the Armenians believe and hold that Christ descended from heaven and became incarnate for the salvation of men, not on account of the fact that the sons propagated from Adam and Eve after their sin contracted from them original sin, from which through the incarnation and death of Christ they will be saved, since they say that no such sin exists in the sons of Adam; but they say that Christ for the salvation of man became incarnate and suffered, because through His passion the sons of Adam who preceded the aforesaid passion have been freed from hell in which they were, not because of original sin which was in them, but because of the gravity of the personal sin of our first parents. They also believe that Christ for the salvation of children who were born after His passion became incarnate and suffered, because by His passion He entirely destroyed hell. . . .

 

[grannymh]

When we approach Genesis 2: 15-17, we find ourselves in the modern world of the denial of the blood and guts true human Adam. Unfortunately, there are some Catholics, like wolves in sheep’s clothing, who claim that Adam is a figurative symbol used in a mythical garden. ( A revised CCC 390)

For general information.

The first literal truth is that God exists. Genesis 2: 15.
Since God exists, should we presume that God is talking to a figurative symbol in a mythical garden? Genesis 2: 16-17

 

[PJM]

Originally Posted by grannymh View Post
The words “original relationship with Adam and God” is not limited to only one way they can be used. Sorry about that; but, there is nothing I can do to get rid of the different ways.

For example: Eve is the second individual on planet earth. Because she is a true human person, her relationship with God is basically fundamentally equal to the first human’s relationship with God. Both females and males are in the image of God.
Genesis, chapter 1. usccb.org/bible/genesis/1

27
God created mankind in His image;
in the image of God He created them;
male and female* He created them.

Because Eve is a human individual, we can say that her own relationship with with God is original with her. Because Adam is a human individual, he, too, has an relationship which is original to him. We need to apply CCC 396 and CCC 1730 to both Eve and Adam.
CCC 396
God created man in his image and established him in his friendship. A spiritual creature, man can live this friendship only in free submission to God. The prohibition against eating “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” spells this out: “for in the day that you eat of it, you shall die.” The “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” symbolically evokes the insurmountable limits that man, being a creature, must freely recognize and respect with trust. Man is dependent on his Creator, and subject to the laws of creation and to the moral norms that govern the use of freedom.

CCC 1730
God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. “God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his own counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.”
Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will and is master over his acts.

The importance of Adam’s individual original relationship with God is seen in God’s timing for bringing Adam into the Garden. Eve is not present. She comes after Genesis 2: 15-17.
Genesis, chapter 2

18
The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.* k

The good thing about Eve not being present is that she is not responsible for the Original Sin.

CCC #404 How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand. But we do know by Revelation that Adam had received original holiness and justice not for himself alone, but for all human nature. By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called “sin” only in an analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not “committed” - a state and not an act."

I confess to NOT fully understanding how this sin is attributed to Adam ALONE?

HOW is Eve’s sin less Grave than that of Adam’s?

CCC #417 Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called “original sin”.
Blessings,

PJM

 

[grannymh]

CCC #404 How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand. But we do know by Revelation that Adam had received original holiness and justice not for himself alone, but for all human nature. By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called “sin” only in an analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not “committed” - a state and not an act."

I confess to NOT fully understanding how this sin is attributed to Adam ALONE?

HOW is Eve’s sin less Grave than that of Adam’s?

CCC #417 Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called “original sin”.
Blessings,

PJM

One uses the both–and approach. The sin of Eve was a grave personal sin. The sin of Adam was both a grave personal sin and the Original Sin.

Eve could sin six ways to Sunday and she will still be the second person on earth. Humankind was entrusted to the first person on earth.
From CCC 404 above.

The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand.

The really interesting question is why did Jesus Christ have to be fully Divine? There are people who consider Jesus a prophet or messenger in a long line of humans. My first adult biography of Jesus said that Jesus talked the crowd into sharing their food. Like there was no need for a miracle. The answer is in plain sight in Genesis 2: 15-17

 

[Vico]

CCC #404 How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand. But we do know by Revelation that Adam had received original holiness and justice not for himself alone, but for all human nature. By yielding to the tempter, Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called “sin” only in an analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not “committed” - a state and not an act."

I confess to NOT fully understanding how this sin is attributed to Adam ALONE?

HOW is Eve’s sin less Grave than that of Adam’s?

CCC #417 Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called “original sin”.
Blessings,

PJM

We have some scripture on Eve:

Sirach 25:24
With a woman sin had a beginning,
and because of her we all die.

1 TIm 2: 13-14
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.

 

[grannymh]

Has anyone bothered to check St. Paul’s comparison of Jesus with Eve?

Romans 5: 12-21
1 Corinthians 15: 21-22

Could it be that Jesus knew what was necessary for a human to live in the state of Sanctifying Grace aka Adam’s State of Original Holiness? The example of basic obedience is right there in Genesis 2: 15-17
and in Philippians, chapter 2. usccb.org/bible/philippians/2

8
He humbled Himself,f
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*

1 Corinthians 15: 54-55 usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/15

54* And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:c
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”d

Connecting the necessary Divinity to Genesis 2: 15-17 is far more important than throwing dirt at Eve. At some point, we need to wake up to modern Arianism.

 

[Vico]

Has anyone bothered to check St. Paul’s comparison of Jesus with Eve?

Romans 5: 12-21
1 Corinthians 15: 21-22

Could it be that Jesus knew what was necessary for a human to live in the state of Sanctifying Grace aka Adam’s State of Original Holiness? The example of basic obedience is right there in Genesis 2: 15-17
and in Philippians, chapter 2. usccb.org/bible/philippians/2

8
He humbled Himself,f
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*

1 Corinthians 15: 54-55 usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/15

54* And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about:c
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”d

Connecting the necessary Divinity to Genesis 2: 15-17 is far more important than throwing dirt at Eve. At some point, we need to wake up to modern Arianism.

Galatians 3
26 For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you be Christ’s, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.

Catechism
375 The Church, interpreting the symbolism of biblical language in an authentic way, in the light of the New Testament and Tradition, teaches that our first parents, Adam and Eve, were constituted in an original “state of holiness and justice”.250 This grace of original holiness was “to share in. . .divine life”.251

 

[grannymh]

From Post 1.

I wonder if all the misunderstandings of Original Sin occur because some people no longer consider the first three chapters of Genesis as being important in modern life.

In my humble observation, with all this talk and great references about Eve being this and that – it is obvious that post 1 is true because the first three chapters of Genesis have apparently lost their importance regarding God’s this and that.

 

[Vico]

From Post 1.

In my humble observation, with all this talk and great references about Eve being this and that – it is obvious that post 1 is true because the first three chapters of Genesis have apparently lost their importance regarding God’s this and that.

Including Genesis 3 in the references is the:

Catechism of the Catholic Church

489 Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy women prepared for that of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. 128 By virtue of this promise, Sarah conceives a son in spite of her old age. 129 Against all human expectation God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth his faithfulness to his promises: Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Deborah; Ruth; Judith and Esther; and many other women. 130 Mary “stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established.” 131

128 Cf. Gen 3:15, 20.
129 Cf. Gen 18:10-14; 21:1-2.
130 Cf. 1 Cor 1:17; 1 Sam 1.
131 LG 55.

 

[grannymh]

Genesis 3: 15 depends on the Catholic understanding of Adam and his role as the first living, fully-complete, genuine human person loved by God (John 3: 16-17). That is the reason CCC 411 refers to the “announcement” of the “New Adam.”

From Post 1.

Originally Posted by grannymh http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
I wonder if all the misunderstandings of Original Sin occur because some people no longer consider the first three chapters of Genesis as being important in modern life.

In my humble observation, with all this talk and great references about Eve being this and that – it is obvious that post 1 is true because the first three chapters of Genesis have apparently lost their importance regarding God’s this and that.

In addition,
I am embarrassed to add that it is necessary to see the progression of truth beginning with Genesis 1: 1 and emphasizing Genesis 1: 26-27. Without an overall understanding of all three chapters of Genesis, it is difficult to actually understand the real Original Sin connected with the real first human.

I consider Genesis 2: 15-17 an explanation of Original Sin because it references chapters 1 and 2. Apparently, in modern life, it is difficult to observe those beginning three chapters without prejudice.

 

[joseie]

From Post 1.

In my humble observation, with all this talk and great references about Eve being this and that – it is obvious that post 1 is true because the first three chapters of Genesis have apparently lost their importance regarding God’s this and that.

Sad and suicidal conclusion.The very reason of arrival of Jesus on earth was only on account of the original sin committed by Adam and or eve the details of which are in these chapters only.If what is stated there is not important how more importance can be given to the coming of Jesus and his saving us from the consequences arising out of that sin ? The value of a person’s sacrifice to save others can be known only if
the details of the situation from which they are saved are known.

 

[grannymh]

Sad and suicidal conclusion.The very reason of arrival of Jesus on earth was only on account of the original sin committed by Adam and or eve the details of which are in these chapters only.If what is stated there is not important how more importance can be given to the coming of Jesus and his saving us from the consequences arising out of that sin ? The value of a person’s sacrifice to save others can be known only if
the details of the situation from which they are saved are known.

It is correct that it is important to understand the details of Original Sin.

This thread specifically examines Genesis 2: 15-17; therefore, I am interested in its details regarding “The value of a person’s sacrifice to save others can be known only if the details of the situation from which they are saved are known.” (from post 92)

Please, what details did you find?

 

[cargau]

I wonder, who wrote the accounts of the first three chapters of Genesis. Who witnessed the 7 day creation story? Who saw God remove the rib from Adam? And, finally, who watched the serpent entice our first parents?

If no one was there to provide an eyewitness account of what actually went down, how did these stories come into being? One could speculate on three possible answers. The first is that the Holy Spirit revealed this to the author much as the Angel Gabriel dictated the Koran to Mohammed. The second is that the story was handed down from generation to generation (oral tradition). This is plausible unless it deals with events before man was even created. The third is that these stories were written for theological clarification to and for a people who may have been exposed to outside theological constructs that were at odds with the revealed truth as it was understood by the authors.

I have no doubt that Holy Scripture is inspired. and, that the Bible reveals and describes the truth about God. It is not necessarily an historical description of events. Much of the known world in the ancient near east explained religious doctrines using literary styles that are not related to actual events. Could the Bible do the same?

As for original sin…We have sin in the world today. It is reasonable that somewhere between now and the creation of our first parents, sin entered the world. What I find fascinating is the details of the sin, itself. It was the sin of pride. A total rejection of the goodness of God in the hope of becoming like God. Doesn’t that say a lot about God? About us?

Finally, one more thought on inspiration. Inspiration is not limited to Scripture. We simply have a great deal of consensus that Scripture is inspired. God is truth, beauty and goodness and we can be inspired by God in all that is true, beautiful and good. Of course, this inspiration must be gauged using a filter, that being what is already defined as revealed truth.

 

[PJM]

One uses the both–and approach. The sin of Eve was a grave personal sin. The sin of Adam was both a grave personal sin and the Original Sin.

Eve could sin six ways to Sunday and she will still be the second person on earth. Humankind was entrusted to the first person on earth.
From CCC 404 above.

The whole human race is in Adam “as one body of one man”.By this “unity of the human race” all men are implicated in Adam’s sin, as all are implicated in Christ’s justice. Still, the transmission of original sin is a mystery that we cannot fully understand.

The really interesting question is why did Jesus Christ have to be fully Divine? There are people who consider Jesus a prophet or messenger in a long line of humans. My first adult biography of Jesus said that Jesus talked the crowd into sharing their food. Like there was no need for a miracle. The answer is in plain sight in Genesis 2: 15-17

Thank you!

Easter Blessings,

PJM

 

[joseie]

It is correct that it is important to understand the details of Original Sin.

This thread specifically examines Genesis 2: 15-17; therefore, I am interested in its details regarding “The value of a person’s sacrifice to save others can be known only if the details of the situation from which they are saved are known.” (from post 92)

Please, what details did you find?

My post (92) was in response to your conclusion that ch1 to 3 are not important. Iam glad that you now admit that it is not so.
As regards the details and seriousness of the sin, it has to be the most serious and heinous sin since it is transmitted even to all generations yet to to be born and it required none other than God himself to come down to earth,suffer and die.But unfortunately it is not apparent from the verses that the sin was of this much grave.From the very name of the tree(tree of knowledge of good and evil )it is quite clear that tree and its fruit are only symbolic. (It is a mystery as to why Adam was denied the knowledge of good and evil if its fruit indeed gives such knowledge and whether after eating they got the knowledge) . Since the consequence of eating the fruit was also informed to them should the sin of disobedience be given this much importance ? For ex. you leave your child alone at home and tell him that he should not eat the ice cream kept in the fridge and that if you eat you will get nothing for supper.Well,when you come back you find that he ate the ice cream.Now will you be that much angry and offended by his disobedience ? (if at all you consider it as a disobedience !)

I leave it to the experts in the matter to examine and inform as to how the original sin was indeed so grave and serious as to result in so much consequences ,suffering ,and sacrifices not only for mankind but also for God.

 

[grannymh]

My post (92) was in response to your conclusion that ch1 to 3 are not important. Iam glad that you now admit that it is not so.
As regards the details and seriousness of the sin, it has to be the most serious and heinous sin since it is transmitted even to all generations yet to to be born and it required none other than God himself to come down to earth,suffer and die.But unfortunately it is not apparent from the verses that the sin was of this much grave.From the very name of the tree(tree of knowledge of good and evil )it is quite clear that tree and its fruit are only symbolic. (It is a mystery as to why Adam was denied the knowledge of good and evil if its fruit indeed gives such knowledge and whether after eating they got the knowledge) . Since the consequence of eating the fruit was also informed to them should the sin of disobedience be given this much importance ? For ex. you leave your child alone at home and tell him that he should not eat the ice cream kept in the fridge and that if you eat you will get nothing for supper.Well,when you come back you find that he ate the ice cream.Now will you be that much angry and offended by his disobedience ? (if at all you consider it as a disobedience !)

I leave it to the experts in the matter to examine and inform as to how the original sin was indeed so grave and serious as to result in so much consequences ,suffering ,and sacrifices not only for mankind but also for God.

My guess is that approximately 87% of Catholics who post on public message boards have no clue what the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil really is. Considering that only a few people have read my posts on that forbidden tree, that approximate percentage is probably down to approximately 73%.

No big deal. I will be off CAF for a bit.

 

[grannymh]

Two questions on Original Sin (not doubts):

The first question on Augustine’s doctrine of Original Sin is one of coherence. There are three moments that Augustine must explain: What is human nature before the Fall, during the Fall, and subsequent to the Fall? He explains only two. Augustine tells us that human nature changed as a result of the Fall, was corrupted by it, and is now inclined to sin. But what was the nature during the Fall? It seems to me that human nature must have been already inclined to sin during the Fall. If corruption is the effect of the Fall, the Original Sin, then Augustine’s doctrine must hold that sin is both the cause and the effect of our fallen nature; but an effect cannot be its own cause. Therefore, the corruption preceded the sin. If the corrupted nature was antecedent, incident and subsequent to the Fall, then human nature did not change.

The second question involves the transmission of the Original Sin. "It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice (CCC 404). Does God, therefore, infuse wounded souls as our nature is in our being and our being is animated by our souls. The mystery remains.

Human nature itself remains an unique unification of the spiritual and the material. Human nature can be wounded in the natural powers proper to it, but it cannot be totally corrupted because it is immortal. (CCC 405; CCC 365))

It seems to me that the problem has more to do with Adam’s State of Sanctifying Grace (State of Original Holiness). At the beginning, Adam is in the State of Sanctifying Grace. This State is a friendship relationship with God. We see God’s loving friendship in the amazing Garden given to Adam. (Genesis 2:15) Basically, there are two States, the first is the State of Sanctifying Grace. It remains until the actual moment a Mortal Sin is freely and knowingly committed. Immediately, (CCC 399) this Mortal Sin destroys the divine life (Sanctifying Grace) in the soul of the sinner. The person is now is the State of Mortal Sin. At this point, one needs to actively seek God’s forgiveness and mercy. The Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation restores the State of Sanctifying Grace.

Because of the Fall, there is a third State. It is the State of Original Sin which is not an action. It is the deprivation of Adam’s Original Holiness (State of Sanctifying Grace) which would have been ours at conception if Adam had chosen to obey his Creator. (Genesis 2: 15-17; CCC 404-405) Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ’s grace erases Original Sin. (CCC 405) The Sacrament of Baptism brings life to the soul, the State of Sanctifying Grace.

CCC 404 says upfront that the transmission of the State of Original Sin is a mystery. Footnote 294 refers to the Council of Trent.

Souls are always spiritual. Therefore, only God can give a soul at conception. It is because of its spiritual soul that the body made of matter becomes a living human body.(CCC 364-366) Here the soul is new; it is not wounded. Maybe people use the word wounded to indicate that the received soul is in the State of Original Sin – I do not know about that.

Regarding the idea that Adam could have been inclined to sin before he actually committed the Original Sin. There are many things to consider. For example. God created human nature (Genesis 1: 27) so that each person could, because of their intellective free will, seek their Creator and freely attain joy eternal in the presence of the Beatific Vision. (CCC 1730-1732). Or we could consider Adam’s intellectual curiosity about the “insurmountable limits” (CCC 396) that had to be freely respected. (Genesis 2: 16-17) It seems to me that 335 reasons for Adam sinning have been posted on CAF.

if I have missed something, please let me know. Otherwise, I will be off CAF for a bit.

 

[Vico]

Genesis 3: 15 depends on the Catholic understanding of Adam and his role as the first living, fully-complete, genuine human person loved by God (John 3: 16-17). That is the reason CCC 411 refers to the “announcement” of the “New Adam.”

In my humble observation, with all this talk and great references about Eve being this and that – it is obvious that post 1 is true because the first three chapters of Genesis have apparently lost their importance regarding God’s this and that.

In addition,
I am embarrassed to add that it is necessary to see the progression of truth beginning with Genesis 1: 1 and emphasizing Genesis 1: 26-27. Without an overall understanding of all three chapters of Genesis, it is difficult to actually understand the real Original Sin connected with the real first human.

I consider Genesis 2: 15-17 an explanation of Original Sin because it references chapters 1 and 2. Apparently, in modern life, it is difficult to observe those beginning three chapters without prejudice.

There is a double lesson in the scriptures and tradition of the Church regarding Adam, Eve, Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ. Adam and New Adam (Jesus Christ), and Death through Eve, life through Mary.

Catechism **494 **At the announcement that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing will be impossible”: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."139 Thus, giving her consent to God’s word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God’s grace:140

As St. Irenaeus says, "Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race."141 Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert. . .: "The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith."142 Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary “the Mother of the living” and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."143

139 Lk 1:28-38; cf. Rom 1:5.
140 Cf. LG 56.
141 St. Irenaeus, Adv. haeres. 3, 22, 4: PG 7/1, 959A.
142 St. Irenaeus, Adv. haeres. 3, 22, 4: PG 7/1, 959A.
143 LG 56; Epiphanius, Haer. 78, 18: PG 42, 728CD-729AB; St. Jerome, Ep. 22, 21: PL 22, 408.
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