Who was Adam?
Adam was the first man, created by God from the dust and given life by God’s breath. He and Eve were placed in Eden, fell into sin by disobeying God, and became the head of the human race — the man "in whom all die."
Adam was made in God’s image, given work and a wife, and entrusted with one prohibition. His disobedience (Genesis 3) brought sin and death into the world.
Paul calls Adam a "type" of Christ (Romans 5): as in Adam all die, so in Christ all who believe are made alive. Adam is the first head; Christ is the second.
Whatever debates surround the early chapters of Genesis, Scripture treats Adam as a real historical man whose fall has real consequences — and whose ruin is answered by the last Adam.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.