Last week we looked at how all are considered to be made of and originate from the dust.
Being formed of the the dust of the ground does not make Adam and his wife Eve a special creation, since this forming of the dust is applied to everything.
What renders Adam, Eve and all of us special, is the spirit or breath of life, that was breathed in at that time.
This has an intriguing effect only subtly hinted at.
It has to do with the difference between the phrases "flesh and blood" and "flesh and bone"
We find these phrases used in a number of places:
For instance Jesus uses the phrase in response to Peter's reply to His question regarding his identity and mission.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for
flesh and bloodhath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Paul likes the phrase too:
from Galatians
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
from Ephesians
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
from Corinthians
Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that
flesh and bloodcannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
In vs 50 we see that flesh and blood is tied to 'corruption' and mortality in the context of the resurrection and the transition from corruption to incorruption and mortality to immortality.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, andwe shall be changed.
53 For this
corruptiblemust put onincorruption, and thismortalmust put onimmortality.
54 So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, andthis mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
from Hebrews
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood, he also himself likewisetook part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Again flesh and blood is tied to mortality of all mankind (via inheritance) and also that Christ took on the same.
So prior to Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection He and all mortals are referred to as having a body of flesh and blood
Post resurrection this changes.
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not
flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
we also find a body of flesh and bone prior to the fall in Eden.
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now
bone of my bones, andflesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
So Adam's body prior to the fall, is a body of flesh and bone and not flesh and blood, similariy Christ's body is one of flesh and blood and later becomes one of flesh and bone
It is from this context that we begin to understand the command to the Israelite's not to eat blood.
Leviticus 17:11 For
the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: forit is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14 For it is the life of all flesh;
the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: forthe life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Next time we'll look at the implications of this subtlety.
Previous parts of this Series.
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Delving a little deeper
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Into the detail
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Some conclusions
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - Some more conclusions
Were the seven days of creation in Genesis seven twenty four hour periods? - The implications.
The evolution of Adam - a conundrum
The evolution of Adam - Who is Adam
The evolution of Adam - Two trees and choice
The evolution of Adam - Partaking of the fruit and feeling naked
The evolution of Adam - Was there death before Adam
The evolution of Adam - The biological purpose of death.
The evolution of Adam - The need for a Redeemer