Mark Driscoll: Were Adam and Eve real?

Adam and Eve are two of the most mystifying biblical figures, and their existence as actual historical figures has been a point of contention in many discussions. Known American Christian pastor, Mark Driscoll, however, cautions that to deny Adam and Eve as real people who lived undermines the entire biblical storyline, the very basis of Christianity.

In a blog post, Driscoll enumerates five scriptural accounts — the Genesis account, Luke's genealogy, Paul's theology, and Christ's statements on Adam in Matthew and Mark — that validate the belief that Adam and Eve were indeed the very first human beings.

According to the pastor, the Genesis account provides the number of years that Adam physically lived — 930 years — and that he eventually died, but not before fathering other Biblical figures who are regarded as real people.

In Luke's genealogy, Driscoll writes, Jesus is related to historical figures including Joseph, David, and Abraham, who, in turn, are linked back to Adam. According to the pastor, this suggests that Adam, like the other names mentioned in Luke's genealogy, was an actual person who had physically lived.

Driscoll also notes that in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul referred to Adam as "the one person who brought sin into the world," and that Jesus is "the one person who brings life where death previously reigned." He argues that this likewise implies that Adam, like Jesus, was a historical figure and not just a literary one.

Driscoll also explains that Jesus himself mentioned Adam in his teachings. He writes, "In Mark 10:6 and Matthew 19:4, Jesus refers to Genesis, speaking of God's order in creating Adam and Eve and relating that literal act to the institution of marriage."

The pastor cautions that denying the existence Adam and Eve undermines the foundation of Christianity. "Without a historical Adam and Eve, there is no fall and no need for redemption and no need for Jesus," he penned in conclusion.

Driscoll is a senior pastor at Arizona-based Trinity Church, which he founded in 2014. Prior to that, he served as lead pastor and co-founder at Mars Hill Church, a now defunct megachurch in Washington. He has also authored many Christian books.