This is pretty much old news, is it not?
Not in my experience, at least. I am accustomed to people conflating wrong and sin as one and the same thing.
From their (human) perspective, sure. But you are also speaking from the perspective that there were humans before Adam. So, you must prove that first, I would say.
Two things. First, I was talking about the fact that (a) humans are not unique with respect to wrongdoing, but (b) they are entirely unique with respect to sin—either one of which points you were free to contest. The latter point (humans are the only natural creatures who sin) has nothing to do with those who lived prior to Adam and the garden because, on this view, there was no such thing as sin until that covenant relationship between God and mankind inaugurated in Eden.
Second, this answer to your original question is produced by my particular view of Genesis and human origins. Your question pertains to Adam and Eve and the fall, specifically their nature and motives, and not to human origins. In other words, it's perfectly valid to assume for the sake of argument a particular view of human origins because it doesn't beg the question (or assume the very thing to be proved). It would be like an atheist saying, "You are speaking from the perspective that God exists. So, you would have to prove that first." That's not true. It is perfectly valid to assume things for the sake of argument, as long as it doesn't beg the very question.
Perhaps in order to convince you (that there were humans prior to Adam) I would need to prove it, but I am not trying to convince you. We are all just providing views that we think answer your question, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. This one I think has the greatest strengths and least weaknesses. What do you think? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
It seems something that God put in place.
What is?
Agreed. And nothing I said suggested otherwise.
And Adam was not the first sinner, Satan was.
We are speaking of the human sphere—at least your original post was. In the perceived context of the thread, Adam was the first sinner. Whether from the perspective of my view or young-earth creationism, Adam was the first sinner. If you were talking about sin
per se and Satan and his cohorts, that was not even remotely obvious in your OP.
And no one would have known if the law did not reveal it. May I suggest adding Romans 7 to your study?
Instead of uncharitably and rudely assuming that I haven't considered Romans 7, instead assume that I have and raise the relevant point that applies to my view.
Again, I said that "once that covenant relationship was established, however, sin became a potential—but not an actuality until Adam disobeyed God." Exactly how does this conflict with Romans 7? Please be specific.
So, you're suggesting all those born and who lived before Adams sin, we sinless?
Yes, I am suggesting that all those who lived and died prior to the covenant relationship between God and mankind were sinless, in the same way that dolphins, bears, and elephants are sinless—because, as I said, "there is no such thing as sin apart from a covenant relationship with God." I am open to correction, however. (And, again, we are dealing with the human realm, natural life here on Earth.)
This is a whole different subject which you would need to prove first.
I disagree, because it does not pertain to your question about Adam and Eve and the fall, specifically their nature and motives.
