Why did Adam blame Eve?
Adam and Eve Refuse to Accept Responsibility

Labor PowerPoint Immediately after Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Bible says their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked. Something catastrophic had happened. They were awkwardly aware of themselves and uncomfortable. More than just feeling self-conscious, they knew they had done something terribly wrong and violated a sacred trust.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?' So he said, 'I heard Your voice in the

garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.' And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?'” (Genesis 3:8-11)

God spoke to Adam. Adam was in charge. Adam was God's right-hand man, the one to whom He had given dominion, power and authority. Adam was responsible. Adam could have confessed his sin right then and there. The outcome may have likely been the same, but it would have been the mature thing to do. But notice how fear and self-condemnation so quickly twists one's way of thinking.

“Then the man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.'” (3:12) Adam blamed the woman and blamed God for giving him the woman. “It wasn't me! She made me do it!” Sounds like present-day children blaming a sibling after being caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Similarly, in 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel had given God's specific instructions to King Saul. Saul failed and did things according to his own agenda.

When Samuel confronted King Saul, he first blamed the people, insisting that it was for a good reason, then, instead of simply being honest, he rationalized even more. He eventually confessed his sin, but again put the blame for his actions on the people, confessing that, indeed, he had disobeyed, but it was because he was afraid of them. This rebellion and stubbornness cost Saul the kingdom.

After Adam blamed his wife, God turned His attention to her. “What is this you have done? The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (3:13) In other words, “The devil made me do it!” Eve was correct. She had been deceived, but didn't want to take full responsibility for her actions.

Pointing fingers at others may delay consequences for a time, but there are still consequences. God still had to dispense appropriate punishments to all of the offenders. Shifting the blame never works.

Who Gets the Blame for Original Sin—Adam or Eve?

Genesis 3 states that Eve ate the fruit first, but Romans 5 states that Adam caused sin to enter the world.

The “Problem”

The Genesis account of the Fall indicates that Eve ate the fruit first. This has led many people throughout history and even in our modern times to believe that she was the person responsible for original sin. You have likely heard the old canard, “We wouldn’t be in this mess [meaning the general sinfulness of our fallen world] if it weren’t for a woman.” But is that an accurate statement? Is Eve to blame for original sin?

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6).

This verse makes it clear that Eve was the first to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God had told Adam not to eat from the tree, but Eve also had knowledge of this (Genesis 3:2–3).

Adam ate but only after Eve. From this verse alone it might be easy to think that Eve is indeed to blame for original sin since she sinned first. Some have said that verses in the New Testament also support the idea that Eve is to blame because Eve was deceived and Adam was not.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:13–14).

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3).

The Solution.

However, Eve being deceived does not necessarily imply that she is to blame for original sin. If anything it might be tempting to think the opposite—that because Eve was deceived while Adam knew full well what he was doing that his sin is worse, and he should be blamed. However, the Bible never states that Adam’s sin was worse than Eve’s. Both were punished for their sin (Genesis 3:16–19).

It is necessary to look at other passages in both the Old and New Testaments to understand why Adam is to blame for original sin rather than Eve.

Adam was created first from the dust of the ground, and Eve was created from a rib taken from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:7, 21–22).

From these verses and others in Genesis 1–3 it is clear that the husband was created to be the leader in the marital relationship and that the wife was created to be the helper (Genesis 2:18).

As the leader it was Adam’s responsibility to protect and provide for his family. This leadership role was clearly demonstrated when God talked with Adam and Eve following their sin. Even though Eve sinned before Adam, God questioned Adam first (Genesis 3:9).

This was because of the leadership role God ordained for husbands in marriage. Adam, as the leader of the family, was held responsible, not only for his own sin of eating from the tree, but also because he did not provide adequate protection for his wife, allowing her to sin.

In the New Testament, Adam is clearly presented as both progenitor and representative of all mankind. The following passages state that Adam is the person through whom sin and resulting death entered the world:

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 45).

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

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. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:12, 15, 17–19).

Just as sin and death came through one man, Adam, it is also through one man, Jesus Christ, that grace and righteousness are given as free gifts to sinners. The naming of Christ as the Last Adam and the multiple comparisons of Adam to Christ would be invalid and nonsensical if original sin came through Eve.

Interestingly, although Eve was the first to sin, the solution to sin came through “her Seed” (Genesis 3:15). The Seed, Jesus Christ, was born of a virgin named Mary. He paid the price for sin and will redeem those who receive the salvation He offers.

Scripture makes it clear that that sin and death entered this world through Adam, and thus he is to blame for original sin.