What about death before Adam?
I've never thought about that question before you brought it up. But I have long thought that Genesis 1 man was different than our Adam of Genesis 2, not in any qualitative sense, but in his relationship to God. Along with that is the thought that Genesis 1 man happened earlier in time than Adam who we meet in Genesis 2. But, of course, I understand that is not a particularly popular notion so I don't bring it up much.
Psalm 8:4
4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? What is
man, that thou art mindful of him?
H582
אנושׁ
'ĕnôshen-oshe'
From H605;
properly a mortal (and thus differeing from the more dignified H120); hence a man in general (singly or collectively). It is often unexpressed in the English Version, especially when used in apposition with another word: - another, X [blood-] thirsty, certain, chap [-man], divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some (X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often unexpressed in the Engl. version, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare H376.
H605
אנשׁ
'ânash
aw-nash'
A primitive root; to be frail, feeble, or (figuratively) melancholy: -
desperate (-ly wicked), incurable, sick, woeful.and the son of man, that thou visitest him?son of man=bên 'âdâm
I can't say why the psalmist uses two different words for man there, but he says God is mindful of one and visiting with the other [which denotes a closer relationship]. And, of course, we see God visiting with the sons of Adam all through the Old Testament.
To make a long story short and open the discussion, what if a catastrophe has happened between Gen 1.1 and Gen 1.2 [gap] and God now begins putting things back together in Gen 1 of our book. He does all his handiwork in Gen 1, but never once is death mentioned. The Gen 1 man is a vegetarian, so he doesn't kill to eat. Why would that be unless there is no death? Neither are the animals killing to eat. They are all vegetarians. There also doesn't seem to be any law given, unless you consider 'have babies, be happy' a law.
There are other ways to look at this, of course, but this is one. There could also be a gap between Gen 1 and Gen 2 because of the strange transition that occurs there.
Let me say that it is my opinion that God unopposed would not create anything imperfect unless that was part of the plan. This is my way of avoiding the free will discussion, for one. And, also, acknowledging that I consider death, on the face of it, an imperfection.
But, what if we are not being shown everything, but just the aions that begin with modern man? What if Adam had stayed in the garden and done what he was told? This is just a thought exercise. If there are already men outside the garden, they might live forever in sin that was not imputed because there was no law--that is, in anarchy. Likewise, if Adam really is the first man, it starts and ends with him. There are no babies until they leave the garden. I think God's plan and Satan's plan were different in this regard--but Satan wanted Adam dead, among other things, of that I have no doubt. God, on the other hand, is creating immortal beings that are like him--his righteous family.
There are some who are not going to like any of this--that's ok, I'm just asking the questions. You can show me the inconsistencies. But, our Adam of Gen 2 did hold the power of life and death for all men, however briefly. And, the fact that he chose death kicks the whole thing up to the next level culminating in the Lord Jesus. God is showing us our inherent and potential power as man, which needs to be respected, even in this current feeble body.
1 Corinthians 15:21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
