¶ … Adam and Eve differs from Genesis in two works; the Greek text of the Life of Adam and Eve in the "Apocalypse" and Augustine's City of God, Book 14, chapters 10-14. The bibliography cites 3 sources The First Story

The telling of a story will always have some form of bias. This is only natural; in telling a story, however accurate, will be able to reflect all the facts or all the feelings.

The story of Adam and Eve is one of these stories. Genesis is limited in its content, it is only part of a much larger story, as it is not the only focus there needs to be room for the rest of the events to be recorded. As such we may argue that detail has been lost.

From the choices that were made regarding what was and was not included in Genesis, we can also argue that this revealed the bias of the compliers of the time, and the way in which they sought to simply the old testament in general, especially this, one of the first, and most basic of stories.

Other documents exist, with varying degree of proximity, and these may be seen as expanding on this well-known story, trying to fill in the gaps. Ironically, just as the inclusions and omission in Genesis give us indications of the compliers thoughts and goals, the inclusions and style of these additional works give us additional insights, not only into the gaps, but also the authors impressions and opinions of the Genesis story.

When we look at the Genesis retelling of the Adam and Eve story there are only two small chapters, 2 and 3, the emphasis on the story is the way in which god created and then controls the life of Adam and Eve, and the manner of their disobedience in eating of the apple, which they are told would kill; them (Genisis, 2;17). If we compare this to the work of The Life Of Adam And Eve in the Greek "Apolcalypse" and Augustine's City Of God, Book 14, chapters 10-14 there is a greater enrichment and perspective pout on the story.

If we look at The Life of Adam, and Eve first we will see that there are some similarities. The relationship of Eve with Adam is one that is subservient to the male role, just as man was meant to be subservient to God. However, in this Greek text we also have a picture of Adam and Even that is more self sufficient. In Genesis they are reacting to what has occurred, the action is taken by God when the apple has been eaten.

They also appear to want to avoid responsibly and blame others. This attitude either changes or is different in the Greek text. Once thrown out of the garden of Eden we see they are hungry, and it is at this stage greater depth is given to their characters and also the relationship the have with each other and God.

The need for food makes Adam search without success for seven days, and Eve takes the blame for what she has done, wanting Adam to be saved by God is possible. However, they need to survive, and when Adam says "But rather, let us rise and search for ourselves, how we might live, and not weaken" (3;2).

This indicates the loss, they have not only lost the trust of God and have been punished in the ways outlined in Genesis, there appears to be a making good on the threats to make them eat Dust (Genesis 3;14). This appears to be as more vengeful god that appears in Genesis, that would make his children go hungry, but it also shows a deeper relationship between Adam and Eve.

The following actions also show a great deal of repentant, the fasting for forty days by Adam and the standing in the Tigris holding a stone by Eve were great hardships endured, with the language also indicating that the couple were greatly repentant and felt themselves to be lower than beasts, as they did not eat the food that was apportioned for the beasts.

However the repentant was not carried through, as Eve was deceived again by Satan, who fooled her into believing that they were forgiven. This may be read as giving another message and showing us a different perception. The idea here is that twice Eve has been deceived by Satan, a double blame lying at the feet of women, whilst the male stands steadfast. The...

In the Greek text Eve is a victim, but one that is a victim because she is weak and easily fooled.
This is emphasise by the conversation that Satan goes on to have with Adam, where he blames others for his fall from grace. However, this then is a backdrop for a greater level of forgiveness and aid from God., In Genesis 4 we see the birth of Cain and Able, but there is little detail, apart from a reference that states "with the help of God I have brought forth a man" (Genesis 4;1).

In the Greek text there is more detail, telling us of the pain of childbirth, and how she cried to God to ease the pain but was not heard. However, when she sees Adam there is some relief, but also when Adam prays to God for aid to ease the pain that Eve is feeling he is heard, and the text tells us that the angle Michael appears and touches her telling her "Blessed are you Eve, because of Adam" (21;2).

The intervention was because of the intervention and numerous prayers of Adam, and the level of forgiveness appears to be related to gender. Women are far more isolated and seen as to blame than in the original text. There is greater bias, and possibly even a resentfulness or hatred on the part of the author.

The deaths are also discussed in the Greek text. Adam died before Eve, and both texts tell us he lived for 930 years. However, the way in which Eve is treated is different, no mention is made of her demise in Genesis, yet we have a full account of her preparations for death in the Greek text. Maybe this is to show us that she is clever, or that she wishes to make sure her children learn from their mistakes. However, we may also argue that this shows a type of cunning in the way she orders the tablets to be made so that they will keep.

Overall, the message in Genesis is that they were thrown out from the Garden of Eden fro being disobedient, but that they are both forgiven, in the Greek text man and woman are put on separate levels with Even only to gain sympathy or aid from God when Adam intercedes on her behalf.

The City of God by St. Augustine discusses the life of the first mated pair, Adam and Eve, St. Augustine in Chapter ten begins to look at the way that sin, sorrow and unhappiness could be seen to exist within Paradise.

For is these existed then the mother and father of us all could not truly have been in Paradise. St. Augustine also asks the question that if the first two suffered from these problems why did they and how could they if they were indeed surrounded by an abundance of beauty.

St. Augustine states that God love the first parents with supreme serenity, moreover there was a mutual affection for each other that was in many ways similar to that affection and love that a true married couple may have.

The love Adam and Eve had for each other would have brought them great joy then could the first pair no worry sorry and unhappiness in that paradise.

St. Augustine states emphatically no, for as he points out within the garden no sin had yet been committed, yet it is a sin to desire the things God denies by his law and more than ever to abstain from these desires through fear and not through love.

God warns against the sin of women "Anyone who even looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart" in this St. Augustine used the analogy of the tree and its fruit, by looking at the forbidden fruit then Adam and Eve had committed their first sin against the law of God.

God knows everything and knew that Adam and Eve and their children would Sin, in such a way God saw two futures, how the good man had turned bad and how the bad man was to become good. In this way we can see that St. Augustine is stating that God in his infinite wisdom had the foresight to guide the bad man away from the path evil into the path of righteousness.

In looking at the texts…