Dragons of Peru

Dragons of Peru

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, July 5, 2025 (Donate) 

Peru is a fascinating country! They have mountains, rainforest, coasts, and deserts (in fact, it is one of the driest deserts in the world). But another exciting aspect of Peru is dragons. 

Like many other countries around the world, there is evidence that dragons have had something to do with their past. In some cultures, there are legends, in others there are pictographs or petroglyphs (such as cave art or wall etchings), and in Peru there is pottery (among other things). 

During my trip to Peru and viewing ancient ruins like Machu Picchu, the Nasca Lines, and Sacsayhuaman, my tour guides often stressed that these cultures only drew things they saw. Hence, we found many items with birds, monkeys, spiders, and so on, on pottery, clothing, and even the famous Nasca Lines that could only be seen from high above.

Pictures by Bodie Hodge

These pieces of pottery from the Museum of the Nation in Peru (Museo de la Nacion) comes from the Moche Culture, (as does each specific item in that same display).  The Moche Culture was estimated to be around A.D. 400-1100 (d.C. in Spanish, the primary language in Peru).[1] 

So when we come across pottery with dragons, the logical conclusion is that they saw these too. Of course, people often scoff that dragons may have been real…but considering the connection between dinosaurs and dragons it is not so hard to fathom[2]. 

Being land animals, dinosaurs, a subset of land dragons, were created on Day 6 (Genesis 1:24-31), went aboard Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:20) and then came off the Ark to a post-Flood world (Genesis 8:16-19). It makes sense that many cultures would have seen these creatures from time to time before they died out. The ancients in Peru were no different. 

When researchers began digging up these reptilian bones about 200 years ago, I’ve always wondered how the world would view dinosaurs had they simply called them dragons.[3] Instead, Sir Richard Owen coined the word “dinosaur” which means “terrible lizard” in 1841. If “dragon” was used would there even be a controversy today?

For more see:

Dinosaurs, Dragons, and the Bible by Bodie Hodge

Originally here: https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/the-dragons-of-peru/; Edited; Republished by permission.

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[1] The Moche culture would have been between the Nasca culture and the Incan culture.

[2] Keep in mind that “dragon” was the word used of large reptilian creatures before the word dinosaur was invented in 1841.

[3] The dinosaur bones being dug up were the ones that died in the Flood and were buried in Flood sediment about 2348 BC according to Archbishop Ussher.

On The Authority Of Scripture

On The Authority Of Scripture

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, July 2, 2025 (Donate)

Some, even within the church as a whole today, tend to demote the authority of God’s Word. Some do it inadvertently but others openly reduce its pages and verses to be mere guidelines or altogether as "outdated" and "unprofitable."

When God’s Word is set aside, it is man’s fallible and errant ideas that are elevated to supersede God and His infallible and inerrant Word. In essence, when one demotes God as the authority, they are elevating the religion of humanism in its broadest sense. But the issue is over authority.  

Image from Presentation Library

God’s Authority In All Matters

The authority of the 66 books of the Scripture is foundational to all matters. The authority of God’s Word is especially important for building a proper and true Christian worldview because the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and infallible Word of God. Since God is the Creator and ultimate authority, His Word carries absolute authority in all matters it addresses—spiritual, historical, scientific, logical, philosophical, moral, etc.

One might argue that the Bible wasn’t completed until the New Testament was finished so how could anyone have a truly biblical worldview prior to that? It’s true that the Bible was progressively revealed and based on revelation revealed at the time, one could still be developing a proper Christian worldview. These are not contradictory by any means, but God was building a good biblical worldview on top of good biblical worldview that He had previously established as He revealed His Word.

It’s not a problem for God to build good on top of good. Bearing in mind that our all-knowing God knows all things and knew His revealed Word prior to any word of it being revealed to man.

Scripture is not man's opinion about God (like so many false religions that are floating around), but God’s revelation to mankind. As stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed…”—meaning it originates from God Himself. God revealed that He cannot lie by His very nature of being the Truth (e.g., John 14:6; Titus 1:2), the Bible is completely trustworthy.

In fact, the God of the Bible is the basis for trustworthiness, truth, and morality in the first place. If one begins demoting God, they lose the very foundation for such things. In laymen’s terms, if someone says “God is lying in the Bible”, then that person has given up that lying is bad—because they have given up the Bible which is the basis for why lying is wrong in the first place! Thus, they would be undercutting their own argument and self-refuting.

Furthermore, compromising the authority of Scripture—especially in Genesis—leads to undermining key doctrines such as sin, salvation, and the gospel. The historical truth of Genesis (e.g., a normal/literal six-day creation, the existence of Adam and Eve, and a world-covering global Flood) is foundational to understanding why the gospel is necessary.

Jesus and the apostles and other biblical writers affirmed previous revelation (e.g., the Old Testament for instance) as authoritative, and the New Testament continues that authority. Even early church father immediately recognized that their authority was nowhere near on a level of the absolute authority of the Holy Spirit’s work of the New Testament—showing a distinct break.

When Christians elevate autonomous human reasoning (reasoning apart from God’s Word), secular humanistic understandings of science and history, or human-based traditions above Scripture, they place fallible opinions over the infallible Word of God. Instead, all beliefs and ideas must be tested against the clear teaching of Scripture.

God’s Word Is Truth

If God’s Word is neglected as the authority that it is, knowledge becomes meaningless and arbitrary. The Bible must be true to make knowledge, logic, and truth possible. The Bible consistently claims to be God’s Word.

Psalm 119:160, NKJV declares,

“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

Because God is the source of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), His Word carries His authority.

Jesus affirmed this in John 17:17, NKJV, praying to the Father,

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

He quoted Old Testament Scripture authoritatively, often saying, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10), indicating that what is written carries divine authority.

All Scripture Is God-Breathed

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, NKJV:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

“Inspiration of God” (Greek: theopneustos) means “God-breathed.” This affirms that Scripture is not of human origin, but originates from the mind and will of God, making it binding and authoritative over human belief and behavior. It is not a problem for an all-powerful God to use men and their God-given literary styles and flavors to write His inerrant and inspired text.

God’s Prophetic Word Is Final

2 Peter 1:20–21, NKJV says,

“No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible claims that its human authors were guided by the Spirit, making their writings God’s message—not their own. Therefore, Scripture doesn’t merely “contain truth” as some errantly say but instead, “it is the truth”.

Jesus Affirms Scripture's Authority

Jesus treated the Old Testament as historically accurate and authoritative. He affirmed the writings of Moses (Luke 24:27; John 5:46–47), quoted the Psalms and the Prophets (Matthew 22:43–44), and said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

He also promised the Holy Spirit would guide His apostles into all truth (John 16:13), laying the foundation for the New Testament’s authority.

Apostolic Writings Carry Equal Weight

The New Testament authors recognized the authority of each other’s writings. Peter referred to Paul’s letters as “Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15–16), placing them alongside the Old Testament. Paul quoted both the Old Testament and the Gospel of Luke as Scripture in 1 Timothy 5:18, treating the Gospels and his epistles as God’s authoritative Word.

The entire canon of Scripture is self-attesting—which is a powerful confirmation of its authority.

Scripture Judges All, Is Judged By None

Hebrews 4:12, NKJV says,

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Scripture is the final standard by which all teachings, moral claims, traditions, theologies, doctrines, science, historical claims, other alleged holy books, and other alleged prophets and experiences must be tested (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)—past, present, or future from when the Bible was written. No authority—whether personal, ecclesiastical, or cultural—stands above God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18–19 warn against adding to or subtracting from God’s Word. These bookend the Bible with a warning: God’s Word is complete, sacred, and not subject to human tampering—though some errantly try (e.g., NWT, JST, etc.). According to the Bible itself, Scripture is authoritative because it is God’s inspired, inerrant, and sufficient Word.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks with divine authority, demanding belief and obedience. As Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, NKJV

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Final Thoughts On Scriptural Authority

The 66 books of the Bible alone is the supreme authority because it is the Word of the all-knowing, sovereign God—no other books can be added to God’s Word because they are the works of man and not God. Every aspect of life, education, thought, morality, science, doctrine, logic, and all other subject matter must be brought into submission to God’s revealed Word.

For those who have gone astray and demoted God’s Word and elevated man’s autonomous reasoning above God and His Word—I kindly request that you think about this more deeply and repent. We have all fallen short but we must humble ourselves and get back to God’s authoritative Word.

The authority of Scripture refers to the Bible’s right to command belief and obedience, grounded in its divine origin. According to the Bible, Scripture holds ultimate authority because it is the very Word of God—true, trustworthy, and binding in all matters of faith, conduct, science, history, doctrine, and so on. Sometimes, we need to let go of our pride, and stand in awe of the one who has all authority.

 

Finland School Shootings: The Sad Evolution Connection

Finland School Shootings: The Sad Evolution Connection 

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, July 1, 2025 (Donate) 

“I am prepared to fight and die for my cause, . . . I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection. No, the truth is that I am just an animal, a human, an individual, a dissident . . . . It’s time to put NATURAL SELECTION & SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST back on tracks!”[1]

Sadly, these words were among the last things said before a self-proclaimed Social Darwinist took action in a shooting rampage in Jokela High School about 40 miles from Helsinki, Finland. At least eight people were reported killed by the student gunman named Pekka-Eric Auvinen, who had an online alias “Sturmgeist89,” in a tragic event that has shocked the country that sits in the far northern region of Europe.[2]

Image from Presentation Library

The Rise Of Evolution

Finland, like many other European nations, used to be very Christian in its culture. They still have a Nordic blue cross on the flag of their country. But over the years, evolutionism began to infiltrate in schools, universities and so on. Evolutionism is a religious view that denies that the Bible is God’s Word and that God is the final authority. Instead, the evolutionary religion has man as the supreme authority. Evolutionists have made clear the meaning of evolution:

“Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god. Take away the meaning of his death. If Jesus was not the redeemer that died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing.”[3] 

And: 

“Let me summarize my views on what modern evolutionary biology tells us loud and clear . . . . There are no gods, no purposes, no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death. When I die, I am absolutely certain that I am going to be dead. That’s the end for me. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning to life, and no free will for humans, either.”[4]

In such a religion, if God is left out, then the only other option for supreme authority is mankind. If that is the case, then each person can determine what is right and wrong in his or her own eyes (Judges 17:6). In this little town in Finland, this is exactly what the gunman did, with no regard for human life.

Image from Presentation Library

In today’s culture there is a war over true history. This war is significant, since it deals with how people live their lives. The way people view their history affects how they live their life, i.e., their purpose, goals, and views of morality.

Mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, for example, lived his life believing evolution was true history, and therefore, it affected his theology (believing there was no God) and how he lived his life (without regard for other human life). Dahmer said:

“If a person doesn’t think there is a God to be accountable to, then—then what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges? That’s how I thought anyway. I always believed the theory of evolution as truth, that we all just came from the slime. When we, when we died, you know, that was it, there is nothing…”[5]

Fruits Of Evolution

This student professed to be a “Social Darwinist,” which is a fancy way of saying he held to the religion of evolution. Even his revealing quote that initiated this article confirms his evolutionary beliefs. And like Darwin, he felt some people were “unfit” to survive. Charles Darwin wrote:

“At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes . . . will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilized state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as now between the negro or Australian [Aborigine] and the gorilla.”[6]

Darwin was not afraid to admit that people may one day exterminate others. Many have applied his ideas on a grand scale and others are doing it on smaller scales.

Hitler, Marx, Stalin, And Others

Darwin’s teachings have influenced many in the past, such as Hitler, who tried to get Nazi Germany to conform to evolution. Sir Arthur Keith, a prominent British anthropologist (and evolutionists himself), pointed out that Hitler, based on his writings, was an evolutionist:

“The German Führer, as I have consistently maintained, is an evolutionist; he has consciously sought to make the practice of Germany conform to the theory of evolution.”[7]

Karl Marx, Pol Pot, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin—to name a few—avidly held to Darwinian evolution to justify their actions.

Now that evolution is being taught in most parts of the world, it is logical to assume this influence will sadly continue to bear more fruit. But after the fruit that was born by the Marxist teachings of Hitler and Stalin, can mankind afford more fruit like this?

School Shootings and Mass Murders in the US

School shootings in the US often now only invoke brief headlines because so many have occurred. Amish children were killed, and in a Cleveland-area school, a shooter opened fire killing four while cursing.[8] Few forget the evolutionary kids who made news in Columbine, where one of the two gunmen was even wearing a “natural selection” T-shirt while racing through the school shooting fellow classmates on April 20, 1999.[9]

Who Has A Right To Be Upset?

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by any shooting tragedy like this, though nothing can replace those they have lost. As Christians who hold that people are made in the image of God, there is a basis for the value of human life and for absolute morality.

If evolutionists are upset about this tragedy in Finland (or any other school shooting), then on what basis could they make a case to condemn it? On the basis of their materialistic beliefs, what they just observed was a random set of chemicals reacting with another random set of chemicals. Do evolutionists get upset with baking soda reacting with vinegar?

Often, however, even evolutionists are outraged by the school shootings, but in order for them to justify being outraged, they have borrowed from the Christian worldview to acknowledge that such things are wrong.

But the fact remains that these murderers were living a life consistent with the real teachings of atheistic evolutionism. Children catch on quickly and eventually put two and two together. When they are taught that there is no God, no right and wrong, people are animals, etc., then they may reason: “Why not kill or steal?” and so on. It is a logical connection.

Creationwise by Dan Lietha; Image from Presentation Library

So long as evolutionism is forced onto children (no God, people are animals, no right and wrong, etc.) and so long as they believe it and reject accountability to their Creator, then we can expect more of these types of gross and inappropriate actions.

Did God Make The World Full Of Suffering And Death?

In today’s culture, when news like this hits, one of the most common questions people ask is this: “If there really is a loving God, then why did he make the world like this?” It disheartens me to hear the wrong answer to this question—and Christians even, more often than not, are giving the wrong answer.

The answer is to death and suffering is simple. God didn’t make the world like this. He originally made it perfect (Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:4). There was no death, pain or suffering (Genesis 1:29–30). But due to man’s sin (Adam and Eve) against God, death and suffering entered into creation (Genesis 3). Death is the punishment for sin (Genesis 2:17). We all sin and fall short of God’s holiness and glory (Romans 5:12, 3:23). Thus, according to a holy and righteous God who gave us life to begin with, we all deserve death.

Yet God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place to offer salvation and peace with God. John 3:16–17 says:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Image from Presentation Library

God truly is a loving God to have offered Himself a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sin and to offer us the free gift of salvation. One day those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will experience a world where there is no longer any death or pain and where the tears will be wiped from our eyes by God Himself (Revelation 21:1–4). When we see sad news like this, it should be a reminder that sin is serious and has consequences, but in the same respect the good news of Jesus Christ can set us free from the eternal consequence of sin. When viewing the world’s history and life either through an evolutionary or biblical perspective, only the biblical view has any real hope.

If you don’t know that your sins are forgiven and you are reconciled to God, can I encourage you read the book of John (Link) in the New Testament part of the Bible.  And then turn from your sin, tell God you are sorry and that you gratefully trust in what Jesus did on the cross to pay for your sins.  Then find a church where the Bible is taught and believed as the authoritative Word of God.  

Originally here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/stage/articles/2007/11/08/finland-fruits-of-humanism; Edited; Republished by permission.

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[1] As reported by Sami Torma, “Seven killed at Finland School after YouTube Post,” Yahoo! News; “Finland School Gunman Dies,” AOL News; Anonymous [missionary in Finland], email message to author from a missionary that listed the shooters recent post in detail, November 7, 2007.

[2] Ibid.

[3] G. Richard Bozarth, “The Meaning of Evolution,” American Atheist, 20 Sept. 1979, p. 30.

[4] William B. Provine, Origins Research 16.1 (1994), p.9.

[5] Jeffrey Dahmer, interview with Stone Phillips, Dateline NBC, Nov. 29, 1994.

[6] Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (New York: A.L. Burt, 1874, 2^nd ed.), p. 178.

[7] A. Keith, Evolution and Ethics, Putnam, NY, USA, 1947, p. 230.

[8] “Police: Suspended Boy Shoots 4 at Ohio School,” MSNBC, October 10, 2007.

[9] D. Catchpoole, How to build a bomb in the public school system, Creation 22(1) December 1999, p. 17.

School Shootings…Now Church Shootings?

School Shootings…Now Church Shootings?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, June 30, 2025 (Donate) 

There Is A Problem! 

In a society where people make their own rules based on their belief system what would you expect?  Do you think people would ignore God’s rules such as not to murder—if people set their own rules?  Well, that is just one aspect, but it certainly is true.  

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6, NKJV 

Christ is king and sits above any authority on earth (of course some reject this, but Christ still reigns, whether they want to admit it or not.) The King says not to murder. But people are taught that they are their own authority, and not Christ. And hence, the King’s rules are often neglected as people raise their own beliefs up to be greater than God’s.

Photo by Bodie Hodge

Violence Increasing 

If people set their own rules, and many in today’s humanistic culture have been taught this from an early age, then be prepared.  School shootings, church shooting and so on will increase.  It is sad to say this, but these people are being consistent in their worldview.

Some may recall Columbine or other schools in their own states or countries, but even universities have been hit such as Northern Illinois University on February 14, 2008 or Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. And now…churches are no longer safe either. In late 2007, a shooter, who had a Christian background, went into a Mission and a Church and became a murderer. Even when someone who claims to be a Christian defies God’s Word and murders, then they raise their own beliefs up above God’s Word—which shows humanistic influence. 

But shootings are not limited to the US alone—they are indeed around the world. Perhaps the most famous international school shooting was a student in Finland who due to evolutionary beliefs, decided to put “natural selection and survival of the fittest back on tracks!”[1] 

Or Sunday March 8, 2009, violence erupted in Maysville, IL. in a Baptist church. A shooter opened fire on pastor Fred Winters at the pulpit. Our hearts and prayers go out to the pastor’s family and others in the church, specifically those who were injured trying to subdue the shooter (apparently the shooter pulled a knife when the gun finally jammed.)[2]   

Why?  

When such tragedies strike, people often want to assign blame. And sometimes there are several factors involved, but the root cause is sin. We are in a sin-cursed world because our forbearer, Adam, sinned against God. And because Adam sinned, we all sinned and continue to sin. 

Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Hebrews 7:9-10, NKJV 

Listen friends, we were all in Adam when he sinned just as Levi (Abraham’s great grandson) was in Abraham when he tithed to Melchizedek. So, we can’t simply blame Adam for all the problems. And we sin too. It may seem like a difficult time with no escape, but though repentance and faith in Christ, one can be saved. Life will not become a “basket of roses” as long as well remain in a sin-cursed world, but the sting of death, which is the ultimate punishment for sin will be thwarted (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). 

But due to sin, people suppress the knowledge of God and reject Him as their authority (Romans 1:18-32). Hence, religious perspectives like humanism begin to flourish, where the belief is basically that people are the authority over God. 

What Can Be Done? 

And in today’s society, Christians are letting the philosophy of “people setting their own rules” go too far. It is time for Christians to challenge humanistic ideas in all fronts to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” Per 2 Corinthians 10:5. 

As seen, this humanistic philosophy that has taken over society in the past 50 years or better is starting to beat fruit. One of those fruits is school shootings, if it continues to pervade our society, will bring it too its knees. Sadly, these are simply consequences of a secular culture. 

The first way to counter this is to begin with ourselves, then our families, then our churches and then our culture. We need to start having answers for why the Bible is true and how why it is the authority. As always, such things should be studied to better communicate the Gospel.  

Invitation

As Fred Winters went to be with the Lord, he died a martyr’s death like most of Jesus’ disciples. And like Jesus’ disciples, Pastor Winters devoted his life to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. For those who may be reading this and are unsure of their salvation, we invite you to also consider the claims of Christ and Gospel message that only come in Christ Jesus our Lord. See: Why is there death and suffering? 

And I would encourage you to find a local church and speak to the pastor concerning salvation.  For a good biblical overview, I suggest reading Genesis 1-11, The Ten Commandments, the Gospel of John, the book of Romans, then Revelation 21-22. This will give you a good overview. 

 

Originally here: https://answersingenesis.org/sanctity-of-life/mass-shootings/church-shootings-whats-going-on/; Republished by permission.

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[1] Pekka-Eric Auvinen , Shooter at Jokela High School, Finland, November 7^th, 2007, On a YouTube Post prior to the shooting, originally at: [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071107/ts_nm/finland_shooting_dc_8;_ylt=Aq4.RMHxaUr2hsbLrzDwgBIE1vAI].

 

[2] Authorities charge man in Illinois church shooting, Jim Suhr, Marhc 9, 2009, Google News, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jOAQKzY-aOBqDspFkEAV_ZO65vZAD96QKMM80. 

Who Sinned First – Adam Or Satan?

Who Sinned First – Adam Or Satan?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, June 27, 2025 (Donate)

When Christians or others speak of Adam being the first sinner, this refers to Paul’s reflection of Genesis saying:

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12, NKJV, all passages)

It means that sin entered the world through Adam—that he is the one credited with sin’s entrance and hence the subsequent entrance of death and suffering and the need for a Savior and a last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). When we look back at Genesis 3, it is true that Satan had rebelled and also the Woman (later named Eve) sinned prior to Adam.

The Fall of Satan book has more topics like this

The Sin Of The Woman (Eve)

There were several things that Eve did wrong prior to eating the fruit. When the serpent (who was speaking the words of Satan) asked in Genesis 3:1: “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” her response was less than perfect:

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’" (Genesis 3:2–3; emphasis added)

Compare this to what God had commanded in Genesis 2:16–17:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Besides mimicking the serpent’s use of “God” instead of “Lord God”, the Woman made four mistakes in her response:

1.  She added the command not to touch the fruit “Nor shall you touch it”.  This is in direct contradiction with the command of Adam to tend the Garden (Genesis 2:15) which would constitute touching the tree and the fruit from time to time. It also makes the command from God to be exceptionally harsh.   

2.  She amended that God allowed them to freely eat from every tree. This makes God out to be less than gracious. 

3.  She amended that God allowed them to freely eat from every tree. Again, this makes God out to be less than gracious.   

4.  She amended the meaning of die. Let me explain, the Hebrew in Genesis 2:17 is “die die” (muwth – muwth), which is often translated as “surely die” or literally as “dying you shall die”, which indicates the beginning of dying, an ingressive sense.  In other words, if they would have eaten the fruit, then Adam and Eve would have began to die and would return to dust (which is what happened when they ate per Genesis 3:19).  If they were meant to die right then, Genesis 2:17 should have used muwth only once as is used in the Hebrew meaning dead, died, or die in an absolute sense and not beginning to die or surely die as die-die is commonly used.  What Eve said was “die” (muwth) once instead of the way God said it in Genesis 2:17 as “die-die” (muwth – muwth).  So, she changed God’s word to appear harsher again by saying they would die almost immediately.

Often, we are led to believe that Satan merely deceived Eve with the statement that “You will not surely die?” in Genesis 3:4. But we neglect the cleverness/cunningness that God indicates that the serpent had in Genesis 3:1. Note also that the exchange seems to suggest that Eve may have been willingly led: that is, she had already changed what God had said.

If you take a closer look, the serpent argued against Eve with an extremely clever ploy. He went back and argued against her incorrect words using the correct phraseology that God used in Genesis 2:17 (“die-die” (muwth–muwth)). This, in a deceptive way, used the proper sense of die that God stated in Genesis 2:17 against Eve's mistaken view. Imagine the conversation in simplified terms like this:

God says: Don’t eat or you will begin to die.

Eve says: We can’t eat or we will die immediately.

Serpent says: You will not begin to die?

This was very clever of Satan using God’s Words deceitfully against her. This is not an isolated incident either. When Satan tempted Jesus (Matthew 4), Jesus said “it is written” and quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:4). The second time, Satan tried quoting Scripture (i.e., God) deceptively just as he had done to Eve (Matthew 4:5–6). Of course, Jesus was not deceived, and corrected Satan’s twisted use of Scripture with a proper use of Scripture (Matthew 4:7). Because of Eve’s mistaken response of God’s command, it was easier for her to be deceived by Satan’s misuse of what God said.

As mentioned, another point that can be brought out about the Woman was her adoption of Satan’s reduction of “LORD God” to simply “God” in Genesis 3:3. This mimicked the way Satan addressed God when he questioned the Woman in Genesis 3:1. Satan had degraded God by not using the term God had used in Genesis 2:16-17 and the Woman followed suit. 

From her response though, she started down the slope into sin by being enticed by her own thoughts about the fruit (James 1:14–15). This culminated with her eating the forbidden fruit and giving some to her husband, who also ate.

The Woman sinned against God by eating the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil prior to Adam. However, at a closer look at the text—their eyes were not opened until after Adam ate (Genesis 3:7)—likely only moments later after they had a discussion (Genesis 3:17, “…heeded the voice of your wife…”).

Since Adam was created first (the Woman coming from him, but both being created in God’s image) and had been given the command directly and being the responsible party for his wife, it required his sin to bring about the Fall of mankind.[1] When Adam ate and sinned, they knew something was wrong and felt ashamed (Genesis 3:7). Sin and death had entered into the creation.

The Sin Of Satan

Like Eve, Satan had sinned prior to this. His sin was pride in his beauty (Ezekiel 28:15–17) and in trying to ascend and be like God (Isaiah 14:14) while in heaven (Isaiah 14:12). He was cast out when imperfection was found in him (Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12:9; Ezekiel 28:15) and then we find his influence in the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28:13; Genesis 3). His sin followed the same progression we read about in James 1:14-15.

Unlike Adam, Satan was never given dominion over the world (Genesis 1:28). So, his sin did not affect the creation, but merely his own person. This is likely why Satan went immediately for those who were given dominion. Continuing in his path as an enemy of God, he apparently wanted to do the most damage, so it was likely that his deception of the Woman happened quickly.

The Responsibility Of Adam

Adam failed at his responsibilities in two ways. He should have stopped his wife from eating, since he was there to observe exactly what she was about to eat (Genesis 3:6). Instead of correcting the words of his wife (Genesis 3:17), he listened to her and ate while not being deceived (1 Timothy 2:14).

Adam also arguably failed to keep/guard the garden as he was commanded in Genesis 2:15. God, knowing Satan would fall, gave this command to Adam, but Adam did not complete the task. But God even knew that Adam would fall short and had a plan specially prepared.

Many people have asked: “Why do we have to die for something Adam did?” The answer is simple—we are without excuse since we sin too (Romans 3:23, 5:12). But then some have asked: “Why did we have to inherit sin nature from Adam, which is why we sin?” We read in Hebrews:

Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. (Hebrews 7:9–10)

If we follow this logic, then all of us were ultimately in Adam when he sinned. So, although we often blame Adam, the life we have was in Adam when he sinned, and the sin nature we received was because we were in Adam when he sinned. We share in the blame and the sin as well as the punishment.

But look back further. The life that we (including Eve) have came through Adam and ultimately came from God (Genesis 2:17). God owns us and gives us our very being (Hebrews 1:3), and it is He whom we should follow instead of our own sinful inclinations.

Since this sin of Adam, we have had the need for a Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who would step into history to become a man and take the punishment for humanity’s sin. Such a loving feat shows that God truly loves mankind and wants to see us return to Him. God—being the Author of life, the Sustainer of life, and Redeemer of life—is truly the One we owe all things. 

Originally here: https://answersingenesis.org/sin/original-sin/who-sinned-first-adam-or-satan/; Edited; Republished by permission.

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[1] Further to this, there are two views. 1. The world and their perceptions were not changed partially because Adam, who was still perfect and hadn’t eaten yet, was also in a position of dominion.  Had Adam sinned first, then it is possible that the same type of scenario could have occurred. In other words, had Adam eaten first, then when the Woman would have eaten, then they would have been ashamed, sin enter, etc. When both of those who had dominion fell, then the extend of their dominion also felt repercussions, but so long as one of them still had perfection, then the world did not appear subjected to it – likely for the sake of the other.  This is why when Adam ate, they then felt ashamed. 2.  Another view though is possible, in that Adam, being the federal head for both he and his wife (1 Corinthians 11:8-12), was the only one required to eat to cause sin and death to enter. Regardless, when Adam ate, sin, shame, and death entered the creation in full force (Romans 5:12).