Adam in the New Testament

Mere Teaching Model or First Historical Man?

by J. P. Versteeg 
(translated by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.)
P&R Publishing, 2012

This short book shows that those who question the historical reality of Adam have a lot more than the first few chapters of Genesis to contend with. J.P. Versteeg goes through New Testament passages that refer to Adam, including Roman 5:12-21, Luke 3:38, 1 Cor. 15:22, 1 Cor. 15:45, 1 Timothy 2:13-14 and Jude 14, and shows that the Adam mentioned in these passages is understood as a real actual person.

Versteeg also outlines the consequences of denying the historical reality of the first Adam – if we want to treat him as something else, then we undercut the meaning of these texts. In the Creation/Evolution debate Christians in the Evolution camp will make the plea that we should agree to disagree because it isn't a foundational doctrine. But Versteeg makes the case that the very Gospel is at stake!

This is a translated work, first appearing as a chapter in a larger Dutch volume some 40 years ago. But in 21012 a wonderfully translated version (by Richard Gaffin Jr.) was published on its own. This is a scholarly work, but also only 100 pages, so anyone interested in the topic matter will find this easy enough to work through, and will be well-rewarded for their efforts. Adam in the New Testament: Mere Teaching Model or First Historical Man? is a very timely work for our churches at this time, and a volume that every minister and elder must read.