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How long did it last?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by humblethinker, Aug 23, 2011.

  1. humblethinker

    humblethinker Active Member

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    I'm interested in ideas as to how long Adam and Eve got to enjoy life before partaking of the forbidden fruit. It seems that it would not have been longer than it took for human gestation in that day. I think there are reasons to believe that the duration of their sinless state was much shorter than that though.
     
  2. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    Well, I don't think the bible explicitly states how long, and any ideas would be nothing more than pure conjecture, if you ask me. Who knows, it may have been 100 years, or 100 days. Either way, they fell into sin, and placed us all in "death penalty" mode....meaning, we will die, regardless we be saint or sinner.
     
  3. David Lamb

    David Lamb Active Member

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    As far as I know, we are not told in God's Word how long the time was between the 6th day of Creation and the partaking of the forbidden fruit.

    I wondered at first what your basis was for saying, "It seems that it would not have been longer than it took for human gestation in that day." I suppose you are thinking that God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful, and before the Fall, they would have obeyed all His commands, yet their first children were born after the Fall.

    How do you think it would help you to know how long it was, I wonder?
     
  4. humblethinker

    humblethinker Active Member

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    Correct. I was pondering on how the sin nature is passed on, whether genetically, by nurture or by some spiritual means. If it was exclusively a genetic transfer from Adam then it seems it would require the fall to take place before Adam and Eve conceived which, IMO, would only be a few days at most. If it was only passed through genetics then Eve would not have had Adam's sin sature but a sin nature of her own, but still the same sin nature.

    Thinking of this I also considered Jesus, not having a sin nature, since he did not come from an earthly father. This seems to further support the idea that the transfer of the sin nature is at least genetic and currently only via the spermatozoa that fertilizes the egg. Since Jesus was not affected by the genetic transferrance of the sin nature and since He could not commit sin, he could not obtain a sin nature through personal transgression and therefore he was able to be without a sin nature throughout his life.

    The transferrance of the sin nature also brings to mind some interesting (at least to me) ideas about cloning. Being that we have cloned other mammals I have the feeling that there are "mad"? scientists attempting to clone humans. If man was successful in such an endeavor would it be the case at any time that the cloned female not have a sin nature? Do we consider cloning of humans impossible? If so, why worry at all about science's attempts at doing so? Is it immoral? Is it at least unwise to advance scientifically beyond what society is ready to grapple with?
     
  5. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    From my exhaustive study of the book of Hezekiah, it was precisely 3 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes and 17 seconds... anything more or less is heresy. :tongue3:


    More seriously...
    I agree with you about how the sin nature is passed on.

    As far as the issue of cloning, the question would be if a cloned person (if that ever happens) would have the part of a person who can respond to God (a spirit or soul, whatever you choose to call it) or would simply be a functioning body. I am inclined to think they would be a functioning body.
     
  6. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    I disagree. Only God can give life to a body. It cannot function apart from the breath of life from God. Even animals have a soul. Adam was a lifeless body until God breathed into his nostrils. Not sure about the spiritual part though.
     
  7. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    We know that our bodies today start declining around 30 give or take a few years depending on genetics.

    This might have been the age both Adam and Eve sinned against God. Since we know that God created A & E not as children, but as adults, I'm thinking there could have been a window from mere hours / days to 10 years or so. We are physically developed fully late teens to early 20's.

    One of those things I look forward to finding out in eternity :)
     
  8. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Agreed. There is still a human life being produced, and they would still be under the curse. If they had no spirit they would be unable to sin. Identical twins are essentially natural clones.
     
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