The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
The first man is Adam, made from the earth and earthy by nature, and the second man is Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. The saying belongs to the promise of the resurrection, when mortal and corruptible bodies are changed to immortal life, a bodily change that is distinct from the moral fitness formed in this life. Both were free moral agents held responsible for conduct, yet the first Adam, though placed in perfect strength amid Eden's purity and abundance, abused freedom and by choice became a sinner separated from God, while Christ, meeting temptation in humanity weakened by centuries of sin, resisted every enticement and remained ever sinless. Taking the likeness of sinful flesh and bearing the race's infirmities, sorrow, weariness, hunger and thirst, He stood where Adam fell, overcame appetite and every trial without sin, and by His obedient victory and death reconciled fallen people to God and opened the way back to the life forfeited by disobedience. By paying the penalty of sin He redeems humanity and recovers the dominion Adam forfeited to Satan, and as the loving Life-giver He will call the dead from their graves to come forth clothed with immortal splendor, every deformity removed, for endless happiness on the earth made new.
The Two Adams Contrasted
The verse belongs to the teaching on the resurrection and the change from mortal, corruptible life to immortal life. The resurrection preserves personal identity without requiring the same particles of matter that formed the mortal body, for identity lies in organization, as shown by the illustration of the grain. This bodily change is distinct from the moral fitness that is formed in this life. The first man is Adam, formed from the earth and earthy, and the second man is Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven.
Both Adams were free moral agents held responsible for their conduct. The first Adam abused his freedom, let appetite overcome him, disobeyed, lost his innocence, and by his own free choice became a sinner separated from the favor of God. The second Adam was surrounded by intensely subtle and misleading influences and was placed in a much less favorable situation than the first Adam for leading a sinless life. Yet in the midst of sinners He resisted every temptation to sin, maintained His innocence, and was ever sinless.
The first Adam was in every way more favorably situated than Christ, in perfect strength amid the glory and abundance of Eden where everything in nature was pure and undefiled, with fruits and flowers and beautiful lofty trees and everything required. Though furnished with a holy, sinless, pure, undefiled nature, he fell under the smallest test devised to prove obedience when Satan insinuated doubts of God's wisdom and accused God of selfishness over prohibiting the fruit of the tree of knowledge to test loyalty, so that Eve fell under temptation and Adam accepted the forbidden fruit from his wife's hand because he listened to the enemy, opening the floodgates of woe upon the world, and by his disobedience many were made sinners and his posterity became depraved. Adam, though in perfect strength and surrounded by Eden's advantages, believed Satan's lie. Christ began where the first Adam began, in purity and holiness, connected with God and beloved by God, but met temptation in the weakness of humanity diminished and weakened by centuries of sin, taking upon Himself the infirmities of degenerate humanity, and though He met Satan in a weakened condition He did not yield or become Satan's bondslave but overcame where Adam failed.
Christ took human nature in the likeness of sinful flesh and entered the fallen human condition, becoming subject to sorrow, weariness, hunger, thirst, and temptation, to take up where Adam failed and face a test of the same kind but far more severe. He bore the race's infirmities and degeneracy, entering the wilderness in human nature. Though He knew no sin He became sin for humanity, humbling Himself to reach people in their degradation and raise them up, that He might redeem fallen humanity, sympathize with people, and rescue them from sin's degradation. He yielded not to sin and no taint of sin was upon Him, keeping His Father's commandments in His earthly life, and He had infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will, so that by standing the test of trial and temptation where the first Adam fell He became the Owner of all humanity.
Redemption and Resurrection Hope
Christ as the second Adam took human nature and met temptation on the very ground where Adam fell, bearing the sins of the world and enduring human temptations and trials without sin. By that victory He redeemed Adam's failure and worked out a perfect character for humanity, demonstrating that people can live sinless lives through God's power. The first Adam fell through appetite under Satan's leading, while Christ endured severe hunger yet refused to use divine power for His own relief, remaining obedient. His obedient victory and death reconcile fallen people to God and open the way back to the life forfeited by disobedience.
He yielded not to sin, no taint was upon Him, and He kept His Father's commandments in His earthly life amid sorrow, weariness, hunger, thirst, and temptation. He possessed infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will, and by standing the test of trial where the first Adam fell He became the Owner of all humanity. Though He entered the fallen condition bearing the race's infirmities and degeneracy, He endured temptation without sin in order to redeem, sympathize with, and rescue humanity from degradation. Adam believed Satan's lie though in perfect strength amid Eden's advantages, while Christ faced temptation in weakened humanity diminished by centuries of sin yet did not yield or become Satan's bondslave, overcoming where Adam failed.
Adam at creation held dominion over the earth, but by yielding to temptation he was overcome and brought into bondage, so the dominion he held passed to his conqueror and Satan usurped the rule originally given to Adam. Christ by sacrifice paying the penalty of sin redeems humanity and recovers the dominion Adam forfeited, so that all lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. Man redeemed and the earth itself renewed and freed from sin and sorrow becomes the eternal abode of the redeemed. The resurrection preserves personal identity without requiring the same particles of matter, for identity lies in organization as shown by the grain. The change from earthy to heavenly transforms saints into His glorious image without destroying likeness, so they recognize faces and know loved ones in family relationship in glorious companionship with angels.
The second man is the loving Life-giver who looks upon the bereaved faithful and will come in a better day precious to them, calling the dead from their prison houses and graves in the morning of the resurrection. Believers therefore need not sorrow as those who have no hope, for the dead will be met again not in the poor body that went into the grave but in immortal, glorious bodies clothed with immortal splendor. Every deformity will be removed by His healing touch in the great day of God, and the faithful will come forth crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, with joy beaming from every countenance to rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in endless unalloyed happiness. Adam fell but repented, and he will be resurrected from the dead to enter Eden again, where the two Adams will meet together in the beauty of heaven.
Earthly Versus Heavenly Living
To be of the earth, earthy is to have life ruled by earthly wealth and ambition rather than by living connection with Christ. Wealth and high standing cannot lift a person out of that degraded condition, for riches pass away, and when made an idol they enslave their possessor to lust and ambition. Well-gotten wealth is instead capital entrusted for the good of others, making the rich responsible to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, educate orphans, and help widows.
The same earthy quality marks conversation shaped by worldly thoughts and low standards, which is cheap, low, and profitless. Such speech does not savor or reflect truth or heaven, and it rests content with a standard that falls below even that of cultured worldlings. By contrast, when Christ and heaven occupy contemplation, conversation reflects those exalted themes. When the mind is pure and elevated by the truth of God, the words are of the same character, seasoned with grace, and giving evidence of education in the school of the divine Teacher.
Those who are earthy yet united to Christ are to live in the world and associate with it without sharing its customs or outlook. Uplifted toward heaven, they walk in heaven's light and carry Christ with them. What is of the earth, earthy also describes thoughts and teaching drawn from earthly things, which narrow and debase the mind. In contrast, pure, strengthening truth broadens and elevates it, and such debasing mental food should be kept from the young, with parents keeping it from their children.
The first man is Adam, made from the earth and earthy by nature, and the second man is Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. The saying belongs to the promise of the resurrection, when mortal and corruptible bodies are changed to immortal life, a bodily change that is distinct from the moral fitness formed in this life. Both were free moral agents held responsible for conduct, yet the first Adam, though placed in perfect strength amid Eden's purity and abundance, abused freedom and by choice became a sinner separated from God, while Christ, meeting temptation in humanity weakened by centuries of sin, resisted every enticement and remained ever sinless. Taking the likeness of sinful flesh and bearing the race's infirmities, sorrow, weariness, hunger and thirst, He stood where Adam fell, overcame appetite and every trial without sin, and by His obedient victory and death reconciled fallen people to God and opened the way back to the life forfeited by disobedience. By paying the penalty of sin He redeems humanity and recovers the dominion Adam forfeited to Satan, and as the loving Life-giver He will call the dead from their graves to come forth clothed with immortal splendor, every deformity removed, for endless happiness on the earth made new.
The Two Adams Contrasted
The verse belongs to the teaching on the resurrection and the change from mortal, corruptible life to immortal life. The resurrection preserves personal identity without requiring the same particles of matter that formed the mortal body, for identity lies in organization, as shown by the illustration of the grain. This bodily change is distinct from the moral fitness that is formed in this life. The first man is Adam, formed from the earth and earthy, and the second man is Christ, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven.
Both Adams were free moral agents held responsible for their conduct. The first Adam abused his freedom, let appetite overcome him, disobeyed, lost his innocence, and by his own free choice became a sinner separated from the favor of God. The second Adam was surrounded by intensely subtle and misleading influences and was placed in a much less favorable situation than the first Adam for leading a sinless life. Yet in the midst of sinners He resisted every temptation to sin, maintained His innocence, and was ever sinless.
The first Adam was in every way more favorably situated than Christ, in perfect strength amid the glory and abundance of Eden where everything in nature was pure and undefiled, with fruits and flowers and beautiful lofty trees and everything required. Though furnished with a holy, sinless, pure, undefiled nature, he fell under the smallest test devised to prove obedience when Satan insinuated doubts of God's wisdom and accused God of selfishness over prohibiting the fruit of the tree of knowledge to test loyalty, so that Eve fell under temptation and Adam accepted the forbidden fruit from his wife's hand because he listened to the enemy, opening the floodgates of woe upon the world, and by his disobedience many were made sinners and his posterity became depraved. Adam, though in perfect strength and surrounded by Eden's advantages, believed Satan's lie. Christ began where the first Adam began, in purity and holiness, connected with God and beloved by God, but met temptation in the weakness of humanity diminished and weakened by centuries of sin, taking upon Himself the infirmities of degenerate humanity, and though He met Satan in a weakened condition He did not yield or become Satan's bondslave but overcame where Adam failed.
Christ took human nature in the likeness of sinful flesh and entered the fallen human condition, becoming subject to sorrow, weariness, hunger, thirst, and temptation, to take up where Adam failed and face a test of the same kind but far more severe. He bore the race's infirmities and degeneracy, entering the wilderness in human nature. Though He knew no sin He became sin for humanity, humbling Himself to reach people in their degradation and raise them up, that He might redeem fallen humanity, sympathize with people, and rescue them from sin's degradation. He yielded not to sin and no taint of sin was upon Him, keeping His Father's commandments in His earthly life, and He had infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will, so that by standing the test of trial and temptation where the first Adam fell He became the Owner of all humanity.
Redemption and Resurrection Hope
Christ as the second Adam took human nature and met temptation on the very ground where Adam fell, bearing the sins of the world and enduring human temptations and trials without sin. By that victory He redeemed Adam's failure and worked out a perfect character for humanity, demonstrating that people can live sinless lives through God's power. The first Adam fell through appetite under Satan's leading, while Christ endured severe hunger yet refused to use divine power for His own relief, remaining obedient. His obedient victory and death reconcile fallen people to God and open the way back to the life forfeited by disobedience.
He yielded not to sin, no taint was upon Him, and He kept His Father's commandments in His earthly life amid sorrow, weariness, hunger, thirst, and temptation. He possessed infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father's will, and by standing the test of trial where the first Adam fell He became the Owner of all humanity. Though He entered the fallen condition bearing the race's infirmities and degeneracy, He endured temptation without sin in order to redeem, sympathize with, and rescue humanity from degradation. Adam believed Satan's lie though in perfect strength amid Eden's advantages, while Christ faced temptation in weakened humanity diminished by centuries of sin yet did not yield or become Satan's bondslave, overcoming where Adam failed.
Adam at creation held dominion over the earth, but by yielding to temptation he was overcome and brought into bondage, so the dominion he held passed to his conqueror and Satan usurped the rule originally given to Adam. Christ by sacrifice paying the penalty of sin redeems humanity and recovers the dominion Adam forfeited, so that all lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second. Man redeemed and the earth itself renewed and freed from sin and sorrow becomes the eternal abode of the redeemed. The resurrection preserves personal identity without requiring the same particles of matter, for identity lies in organization as shown by the grain. The change from earthy to heavenly transforms saints into His glorious image without destroying likeness, so they recognize faces and know loved ones in family relationship in glorious companionship with angels.
The second man is the loving Life-giver who looks upon the bereaved faithful and will come in a better day precious to them, calling the dead from their prison houses and graves in the morning of the resurrection. Believers therefore need not sorrow as those who have no hope, for the dead will be met again not in the poor body that went into the grave but in immortal, glorious bodies clothed with immortal splendor. Every deformity will be removed by His healing touch in the great day of God, and the faithful will come forth crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, with joy beaming from every countenance to rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in endless unalloyed happiness. Adam fell but repented, and he will be resurrected from the dead to enter Eden again, where the two Adams will meet together in the beauty of heaven.
Earthly Versus Heavenly Living
To be of the earth, earthy is to have life ruled by earthly wealth and ambition rather than by living connection with Christ. Wealth and high standing cannot lift a person out of that degraded condition, for riches pass away, and when made an idol they enslave their possessor to lust and ambition. Well-gotten wealth is instead capital entrusted for the good of others, making the rich responsible to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, educate orphans, and help widows.
The same earthy quality marks conversation shaped by worldly thoughts and low standards, which is cheap, low, and profitless. Such speech does not savor or reflect truth or heaven, and it rests content with a standard that falls below even that of cultured worldlings. By contrast, when Christ and heaven occupy contemplation, conversation reflects those exalted themes. When the mind is pure and elevated by the truth of God, the words are of the same character, seasoned with grace, and giving evidence of education in the school of the divine Teacher.
Those who are earthy yet united to Christ are to live in the world and associate with it without sharing its customs or outlook. Uplifted toward heaven, they walk in heaven's light and carry Christ with them. What is of the earth, earthy also describes thoughts and teaching drawn from earthly things, which narrow and debase the mind. In contrast, pure, strengthening truth broadens and elevates it, and such debasing mental food should be kept from the young, with parents keeping it from their children.