Adam and Eve as Christ and the Church

Paul wrote these words to Timothy about Adam and Eve: “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:13-15).  A podcast I listened to quoted one scholar, Alonzo Gaskill, on how he understood this difficult passage: “Paul brings up the well-known story of Adam and Eve, and then says, ‘Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.’ Statements like this have been used for millennia to oppress women. However, such a reading misinterprets what is traditionally understood to be the intent of the passage. The ancients typically saw Adam as a symbol for Christ, whereas Eve was traditionally seen as a symbol for the Church—the ‘bride of Christ.’ Thus, Origen of Alexandria (AD 185-254) wrote: ‘You should not be surprised that she [the Church] who is…the bride of Christ[,] has sometimes been guilty of these faults’ or transgressions. ‘What is written about Adam and Eve’ is about ‘Christ and…the Church.’ In the story of the fall of Adam and Eve, we are symbolically told the story of our own falls. Eve represents the ‘bride of Christ’—male and female. Adam represents Christ. Paul’s comment that ‘Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived’ simply highlights the truth that Jesus was not deceived, but you and I constantly get tricked by the adversary. Thus, just as Adam willingly partook to be with Eve, Jesus willingly left the Father’s presence to redeem you and me—His bride. The story of the fall is not about a woman who messed up and got deceived by the devil. It is a story about how the ‘bride of Christ’—male and female—introduce chaos into their lives by listening to Satan. It is a story about how our ‘Groom’ or Savior so loves us that He sacrifices to be with us throughout our mortal probation; and about how He willingly gives up what is rightfully His (namely, paradise) in order to redeem us from our bad choices and our fallen state.” 

I don’t know that I have every considered the story of the Fall in that manner—to think of Adam’s actions as representing Christ and Eve’s as representing all men and women who transgress and fall short.  Adam was first just as Christ was the Firstborn, and he partook of the fruit and fell for the benefit of mankind just as the Savior condescended to come to earth in order to save all of us.  Adam did not succumb to the temptation of the devil just as Christ never would, but he partook of the fruit just as Christ “partook” of the bitter cup.  I think the subtle change in the JST for verse 15 does somewhat support this interpretation.  It changes the phrase “she shall be saved in childbearing” to “they shall be saved in childbearing,” suggesting that it is both men and women who need saving and we all must endure the challenges of this life with “faith and charity and holiness” in order to be saved.  With this understanding, we can rid ourselves of the view that women are somehow in any way inferior because of Eve’s choice to partake of the fruit; rather, all have fallen and we need Christ to redeem us through our own trials and suffering on this earth.

That said, this and other passages about Paul concerning women may simply be cultural and not be out of context for us to really understand today.  This was the interpretation of Thomas Wayment: “These teachings are tied to a historical situation that is no longer known or understood…. From the tone of the verses, it appears that Paul was attempting to settle a dispute in the community, although these verses may represent common cultural attitudes. The fact that Paul uses the sequence of Eve’s creation as an argument that she is inferior to Adam does not represent the Genesis account or other scriptural teachings” (The New Testament A Translation for Latter-day Saints”, pg. 381).  We may simply not have the full context or content of Paul’s teachings here, but we have living prophets today and their message on the powerful spiritual capacities and essential roles of women are clear.  As President Nelson said to the women of the Church: “You have received and made sacred covenants with God in His temple. From those covenants flows an endowment of His priesthood power upon you. And remember, if your husband should die, you would preside in your home. As a righteous, endowed Latter-day Saint woman, you speak and teach with power and authority from God. Whether by exhortation or conversation, we need your voice teaching the doctrine of Christ. We need your input in family, ward, and stake councils. Your participation is essential and never ornamental!”