Thanks Jerry for answering my question. Something came to mind as I was reading your answer. Are you saying that Adam was the first Jew according to the flesh. The father of the Old covenant people of promise? Which would have made the rest of the people that existed prior to and at the time of Adam the Gentiles according to the flesh, who were strangers from the promises of God? That really makes sense to me. Or do you think that may be off base?

The word, "Jew" was a nickname for a descendants of Judah. Jews were in contrast to the other ten tribes of Israel. The nickname for the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin (and Levi) was Jew. It came on the scene in Ezekiel's day. This would be around the time the first Israelite Temple was destroyed. Adam was not a descendant of Judah. Therefore, he could not be "the first Jew according to the flesh."

Jerry, interesting comments on Adam and Eve. If Adam was not literally the first man on earth and Eve was not literally the first woman on earth, how would you explain the allegory or symbolism? Specifically: 1. What would you say God is telling us about Adam's "creation" and Eve being taken from his side?

Adam was the first man of redemption's story. He was not the first man of creation. Adam was created only 6,000 years ago. Civilizations have been discovered as far back as 10,000 years.

What would it mean that Eve is "the mother of all living?"

We must first ask what "all living" includes. We know that Eve was not the mother of Adam. "All living" would not include her husband (one particular man). "All living" animals and other living things were logically not mothered by Eve. Therefore, so many living things not included in the phrase "all living" would give a window for other races of people to not be included.

How would Eve correspond with the symbolism that Hagar symbolized the "natural" (biological) descendents of Abraham and Sarah symbolized the spiritual or believing descendants of Abraham? (I'm thinking of 1 Cor. 15 which tells us that Adam was "natural" and those from Adam would be "natural." This would tell us that Eve also would be the mother of "natural" descendents. Jude describes "natural" as those "devoid of the spirit," v.19. See NASB. Margin: "merely natural, not having the spirit.") Thanks, Marie

Marie, you are on target with your conclusion. That which is first is physical. That which is second is spiritual. "Marvel not..." Jesus said. When "natural" is contrasted with "spirit," the "birth" or resurrection comes into view. "Natural" and "flesh" are many times interchanged with each other. The "natural" and "flesh" have to do with the "old nature." "Spirit" has to do with the "new nature." Natural is connected with spiritual death. Whereas spirit is connected with spiritual life.