On Creation of Adam and Eve

On the Creation of Adam and Eve When the Lord of the eighteen and the nine On the creation of Adam and Eve, and on The commandment A king is honored in his image Though distant as if near. The Creator in his image of Adam Desired to give precedence to the rational ones. In the world he established the kingdom The Creator placed his image. And in the visible image He made known the power of his hiddenness. In his image the Creator strengthened The creation when he established it. Through the love toward Adam In his own love he was made like him. The Maker made the angels With a single spiritual self. And he bound the silent natures Through the composition of his members. The Lord God formed Adam from the earth's dust. And he breathed into him the spirit of life And made him living and rational. The Lord God saw And behold all that he had made was complete. Eve alone was lacking A helpmeet to be for Adam. The Lord God cast Sleep upon Adam and he slept. And he took a rib from his sides And established a woman in his likeness. He took a member from Adam And made a woman like Adam. And he filled Adam's members So that he would not be lacking. Adam saw a new wonder A woman who was from a man. Who was complete in everything In body and soul like himself. The Maker then removed himself Visible as he was able.

And He made her so that she would know her place, that Eve is a rib from his flesh. Adam was formed and it was said that Eve is a bone from his bones. This woman shall be hidden, who establishes the dwelling of the sacrifice. In her place with Adam she lives. He placed Adam as the head. And Eve in the second order fills for the man his service. Eve is equal to Adam in rank and place. She is lesser than him in authority, Adam the head and she his feet. Outside the dwelling of Paradise, the Creator established the sign. And in the place of Eden, He placed the sign where the bright ones dwell. For the Lord God made Adam the image of his honor. And He placed him in the Paradise of Eden so that he would be an heir within it. He also placed for him the commandment that was necessary for him at that time, so that he would know the power of his rank and learn the authority of the Creator. The Lord commanded Adam and set a boundary for him in the tree, so that by this the distinction of his rank would be known. All the fruits of Paradise He gave for your enjoyment, O sign. But from one alone you shall not eat, which begets death from its fruits. If, however, you keep their commandments and do not transgress against the tree, the fruit of life will be given to you when you have attained your freedom. For both of them equally He established this law, that they should not be troubled with each other when they transgress the commandment.

He is the one who knows all the wisdoms, who knows every hidden thing. For when he knows his own limit, he sets it as if he does not know. By the prayer of this very nature, the cause of the tree was revealed. For how can a silent one be found who knows the wisdoms? And if he knew, would he not keep the law that he set for himself? Why would death make him die against his will? And if death were not his creation, he would have made Adam the head of the living. That knower of all knowledge, why does he not stop all of this? Hear the word of the reading of David, simple and abundant. For the transgression of Adam's command made death's body. And if it was due to Adam's folly that Adam and his offspring were condemned, that knower of all knowledge, why did he bring this about? Why did he establish creatures so suitable for many deaths? And why are males and females weeping for the sake of motherhood? But it is not fitting to say that this was by the will of the Creator, who did not know that they would sin. And anger would change his will. He knew when he established us that death would make us. And his creation bears witness to his knowledge that we were created for deaths. He made us speaking and discerning, and he increased and filled his wisdoms. And he desired that through trial we would come to the revealed discernment.

Adam was formed and composed equally in body and soul. And his distinction was hidden until the transgression of the command. The command was like a furnace and it cast Adam into the crucible. And his distinction was revealed, that he is not deficient in his nature. The Tree of Knowledge called him when he was deaf in his nature. The knowledge that was hidden in Adam was revealed through the fruit from it. Adam was refined gold before the eating of the tree. And after he ate the fruit, the beauty of his forms appeared. The fruit was like a furnace and Adam within it like gold. And the power of the food blew into him, and he received the taste of knowledge. The seal of the future world was examined for us in the Tree of Life. And he placed it in the place of recompense for the excellence of his will. The desire for the fruit of the tree stirred the youth of Adam. When his soul tasted from it, the fruit of life renewed him. By the hearing of the two trees, he compared both worlds. And as if to youths by means of a mystery, he wished to examine his hiddenness. In the Tree of Knowledge, he bound the earthly wealth. And in the Tree of Life, he examined him upon that heavenly wealth. Adam, the youth, was not able to learn this at that time. And upon that, he urged him toward the tree that would be sufficient for knowledge.

He knew all concerning Adam, that one who created Adam and all. And by the power of his death he wished to make known his service. He mixed him from one tree and dragged him to the desire of the other. And to eat and not to eat was placed in the will of Adam. In the dwelling of Eden he placed a tree, for the simple and the heavy. And he subjected all that was from him to the authority of the image of Adam. The Lord God created the beasts and the animals. And he made them pass before Adam so that he might read names to their species. And he gave him power over them and he read names as many as sufficed. While teaching him by this that the Lord of all had placed him. He is the image of the Creator, how much more excellent his power. His lordship over all is subject, and to him all that existed were subjected. In him are bound equally the lives of the rational and the irrational. And in their assembly with him they honor him as a king. Height and depth for his dwellings, sea and dry land for his expanse. Winds and storms for his life, summer and winter for his refreshment. The creatures rejoiced in him and listened to him as to a lord. And the angels ministered in his service while they rejoiced. With love toward him they inclined, the orders, the silent and the rational. And they rejoiced that he shared the nature of all of them in his honor.

He alone, not his self, in the lordship of the love of Adam. And the union did not please him, which is in the flesh without the sacrament. He was not the knot of the others, his bones would have been that of the one who is against. With his good hand he created him like the angels in the orders of his structure. There was no cause for his envy, nor place for his bitterness. But the greatness of Adam, that he saw him honored by all. His envy cast him into jealousy, and he became wholly against. And he was enraged against the Creator because of that honor of Adam's image. He was losing in his thoughts through the evil jealousy that burned in him. And all kinds of contrivances were being prepared to bring his deceits to light. His jealousy was this, that Adam was honored by all. And about what in his love are the elements, both mute and rational, weary? To me, who am the head of the air and all the spiritual orders, not even in word is honor given, when he sets him over the elements. By the command of this tempter, the living dust of the earth, he made for us a sign in your image, and he will be honored by your death. He made him like a lord on earth, and called him the image of his covering. And he is honored by all that exist, like the Creator in his creation. But he subjected to his honor the heavenly and the earthly. He was formed from mortal earth, and mixed with his hand like the earth. And the authority of his word rules over the upper and the lower.

The lips of the serpent were sealed with his envy, and the fire of his wrath was kindled. He sought to hunt them down and to bring his thoughts to light. He did not reveal his designs to them, as if he had done so now. He was not in control at that time, to appear in the form of a man. The serpent made himself a counselor, and clothed and covered his cunning. So that he would not be recognized from his quietness, by a gaze that does not pass away. The perfect ones are swift and silent, and they keep the order of the creator. And their gaze is fitting for one another, in the humility of their thoughts. The deceiver began to speak, with the voice of the flesh, saying: "What is the cause that you both cease from the food of all fruits?" He asked them first, as he had learned truly, that he might test them by their weeping, that he could not know the hidden things. He did not hear the command that the creator placed in the house of Adam. Concerning this he asked Eve, who had learned the word and yet erred. The serpent said to Eve, a whisper to the purity of thought: "Perhaps the creator has forbidden you from the fruits that are desirable for the time." The simple one said to the cunning one: "We have not been forbidden from the trees." From one tree, she answered, "Death is hidden in its food." The deceiver found a place and began to sow his seeds. And he brought forth the fruit of his will, of exile at the beginning.

Death did not come to them from the serpent, who was leading Eve astray. "You will be like gods," he said, "knowers of hidden mysteries." O, from the counsel of the serpent, who stirred up the enemy of creation, that it was not enough to deceive them alone, but to make them gods. Here his wickedness trembled, and he entangled himself in his own words. He envied Adam and his offspring, and brought in many signs. "You will not be gods, and not a single god alone. And on this account, all of you from him, from the tree, and call it death." Approach, delight in its fruits, and behold, your eyes will be opened. For life is hidden in that food, which will make man a god. The woman saw the tree, which was all desire and all vision. She took from its fruits and ate, and gave also to her companion. She first said that she ate, that she might pluck the name of god. By that she was led to the persuasion that you would be like gods. To her husband she gave later, that she might first be god. A vain hope deceived her, the slanderer's confession. Their eyes were opened by the eating of the fruit, and they saw. And they were stripped of their stature, a vision full of shame. They did not know nakedness before eating of the tree. But when they transgressed the commandment, they saw that they were stripped and exposed.

They covered their bodies with the leaves of the fig tree from the shame of one another. Eve made a garment of leaves and a girdle of fig leaves. The discernment was hidden in the thoughts of the simple ones. And when they ate from the tree, they became discerners of good and evil. On account of this, they called it the tree of knowledge, from which they ate. The knowledge of their thoughts fell with the food from it. It was not that the tree gave knowledge, for this was not in its nature. But rather, because of its Lord, it taught them to transgress the commandment. They made a covering for their bodies from the leaves of that tree. Because of its Lord, knowledge stood, and with its leaves they covered their bodies. That one who knows hidden things did not cease from his cunning. For even when he set the commandment, he knew that the sinner would sin. At the end of the day, the Creator made heard the sound of his footsteps, when he came to pursue Eve, the entrance of the transgression of the commandment. O, nature without rider, which is not restrained in its deeds, which gave voice to its ways when it came to cover Adam. O, the desire of all wisdoms, which holds the measure of everything, which asks as if it does not know where its housemate is hidden. It made heard the sound of its ways, so that Eve would hasten to sin. It asked, "Where are you, Adam?" and showed that it knew where he was.

Where is Adam? He said to the maker of the image that was fashioned. Where is the heir of Paradise? Why do you hide your transgressions? O good one, how much does the dust love the image of Adam! With bitter tears she seeks his lostness. Where are you, noble Adam, whose making the Lord made on earth? Why have you made a separation, the wretched one who cast off his splendor? I heard your voice and you hid yourself. Adam, flee to your maker. And I am ashamed that I saw your face, that I cast off and that I spread out. What has your naked servant done? The Lord said to his servant. Why have you cast off your covering, noble one who grieved himself? Lest the sight of the tree entice you toward food. And the boundary you set for your naked servant without garments. The woman gave to me and I ate, Adam the youth said, when he thought to show that he was far from the transgression. God said to Eve, Why have you done this? She cast the cause upon others, that the serpent deceived me and I ate. But he did not question the cunning one in the same way he questioned Adam. For he has no cause for his lack, that he might say another deceived me. He began then with the judgment of the hand. The creator of the fashioned went. And first he began with the serpent, that he was the cause of evils.

With curses, indeed, he cursed the slanderer. He hinted at his downfall, that he would be removed from his authority. The head of the air was he, and the commander of his hosts. And he led Adam and Eve astray; he fell to the ground and was humbled. God said to the serpent, "Concerning what you have done and led astray: Cursed are you from all the reptiles, and your ways are bound up in you. Dust shall be your food, and within the earth your turning. Because you cast the heir from his glory, in the earth shall be your striking. You shall be an enemy henceforth to Adam and to all his offspring. So that he may crush your head in the earth, and you shall strike him when he sins." After the serpent, he pursued Eve. He bound her to the decree of judgment. She who had received his counsel at first and stretched out her hand to the fruit. With pains and lamentation he cursed her, and with the pangs of childbirth he bound her. And he gave servitude to the man, that she might fill his need. O how wise are the means that the Creator set against his purposes! For those whom he established in weeping, he set a limit like a bridle. For Adam, the image of his honor, the Creator finally cursed him. For the harshness of the decree of judgment was revealed in the serpent and Eve. The Lord said to Adam, "Doer of the image that was fashioned: Because of you, I curse fruits, seeds, and trees.

On account of your listening to the voice of your wife, you ate the fruit of knowledge. You shall be a tiller in the earth, and then she will give you fruits. Adam, you are dust from the earth, and to the earth you shall return because of your sin. You have transgressed the commandment I set for you, the eloquent and the deaf, and your offspring. Behold, from now on you are God, as one who has gone astray through you, the evil one. Command your children to be obedient, if his wickedness is true. These voices the Creator was making heard as he walked in him. Behold, Adam, like one of them, has now become God. He went out from Paradise, an heir without division of his honor, lest he stretch out his hand and take from the tree of life. The Creator was making these voices heard for his instruction: that he might perceive his folly with his eyes and commit sin greatly. And if he transgresses the commandment, he makes his dwelling a temporary one. How fitting it is for him to honor his Creator and not sin again. As pleasant as Paradise was and as much delight as was found in it, when he left it and went out, he was afflicted by sin. The transgression of the commandment, like a great one, made him very foolish, the simple one. And he decreed judgment and condemnation, making him commit sin greatly. Through the tree it was revealed: the covering over his intention. And by the fruit from it, the freedom in it was known.

Adam began to be troubled by the power that the Creator placed in him. And the future events of his weeping he spoke openly with his wife. He called his wife by name, Eve, the mother of life, because it was destined that she would be a mother and give birth to the human race in succession. The Lord God made coverings for the house of Adam, when he stirred their thoughts to cover their members. The Creator clothed them with coverings of skins, by which he placed in them the knowledge to cover their shame. They were amazed at their instruction, all that he decreed and ordained. And their clothing filled the shame of their members. With a voice he commanded them from the beautiful abode of Eden, that they should not taste from the fruits of the tree that gives life, lest Adam be healed and take from the fruit of life, and go out to where he was commanded and work the land of curses. One day they were dust-dwellers, heirs in the abode of Paradise, and at the end of the day they became inhabitants of another place. In the morning they received the command, and at the ninth hour they were expelled. And on the day they were commanded, they ate, sinned, and went out. A great one in spirit wrote for us that they were one day in the place of Eden, and at the end of the day it was said, and it was not at the end of another. Adam went out from Paradise and dwelt in the place around it.

he was called 'earthling' from the earth, that he might be a sojourner in his dwelling. He bowed down to Paradise with his face at the moment of the sword of the lance. And he also set up a guard, a cherub of the power that he had established. O wise Creator, how much he loved his creation! From him all the elements were purified, that they might honor him with glories. His honor greatly weighed upon Paradise, in that he set up a guard. So that Adam might know his folly and turn to seek his honor. The servant of his perception of his sin, that he might honor the command of his Lord. For when the earth toils with his strength, he will know what he will lose. Adam went out from Paradise, and sorrow was bitter to him. And he began to be troubled, that it had happened to me, Adam, a servant. The spiritual powers were grieved when they saw the sorrow of the honored one. And they all put on the bitterness of the free one who had become a servant. They rejoiced in his creation and were glad at his sight. For they saw that he was destroying their own nature by his fall. The pain of love they had put on, that death might counsel against Adam. And they were distressed when they saw that his soul was separating from his body. All creation mourned over the beautiful image of Adam. For with him in love was bound the sin that loosed his bond to the bond. The spiritual ones turned their faces from him like sojourners. And they did not wish that the elements be disturbed for the establishment of his life.

He drove out the animals and the reptiles; they fled and hid in the earth. And all his limbs were bent down upon the place where the word of his Lord was cast. He became a sojourner by his own will for the lordship that was given to him. And his limbs greatly despised the precious shoots that were wanderers. The wild and speaking natures put on mourning over his fall, and only one rejoiced, that one who was troubled in his honor. Near the precinct of Paradise he gave a dwelling to Mortality, so that he might be reminded every hour of his inheritance and also of his folly. Through these means the Creator fashioned the form of Adam and through the subtlety of his plan he wove knowledge for him. These things were hidden in the knowledge of the One who bears all, and they were brought to light through the cause of the transgression of the commandment. Mortality was the creator of Adam, and he established a dwelling suitable for him. And he placed the cause of mortality, the sin of the transgression of the commandment. He made the whole nature wise through this cause of the house of Adam, that if sin had made death, its remedy would be from the one who fashioned it. Great was his decree of judgment, and his chastisement severe for the simple one, that sin cast him to death, and he learned the medicine that revives him. His wisdom greatly increased the commandment, and he made it so that his nature might know, that the dust might not become arrogant and his nature go astray in error. He placed in him a worker, with all the skills in his power.

He made him lord of his own freedom, that he might be governed according to his will. He placed in him gentle motions, natural affection and love. So that when he wished, his body would become the foundation of his entire race. Adam took knowledge of the daughter of his union, and Eve conceived life. She bore a child and called him Cain, a possession from God. Behold his cunning wisdom, which the worker stirred within him. The gift that was given first, he considered his own possession. Eve rejoiced in her possession, that Cain was the firstborn. She bore after him another and called him by the name Abel. For Abel, her hope, that his life might pass like a vapor, while she covered with her maternity her brother who would destroy his life. Eve and Adam saw that the speaking fruits were plucked, that by sin they were mortal; they plucked life through their children. Abel became a shepherd of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the earth. And the firstfruits of their labors they used to offer to God of all. Abel used to offer a lamb, and with his offering his will, and Cain an ear of grain from the earth, and his will was not mingled with it. Through their offerings the wills of their thoughts were revealed. And he who was envious and angry at the devourer, because his offering had turned him aside. That same worker who used to anger Eve and Adam when they sinned, he desired to bring to light through revelations the will of Abel and his brother.

He knew his measure and the weight of his offering for both of them. He saw that Abel was perfect and that his will was pure. He accepted his offering with love, for Abel was pure for his sake. But Cain neglected and cast aside his offering, for his thought was not clear. At the beginning, the Creator examined the offering that was received. Abel had authority and ate, but Cain did not approach it. Cain put on a great mourning and darkened his face greatly. And he became angry at his Creator because he had neglected his offering. And the Lord said to Cain in a gentle voice clearly: "If your will is pleasing, I will accept your gift. But if the bitterness of your thought is not to be softened by gentleness, your sin will increase at the door and will not cease from your limbs. Behold, your offering is harmful; I have given it to you with what is bitter for you. You are ruler over your own; go, distribute your own with your hands." Cain's will did not change after his permission. And he did not accept correction in the anger that was presented to him. He was exalted in pride like the accuser. And he added anger to anger, and his thought gave birth to murder. For the arrogant one thought that when he killed the perfect one, he would distress the Creator because he had neglected his offering. Through Abel, the entrance was being prepared against the Creator.

He knew his measure and the weight of his offering for both of them. He saw that Abel was perfect and that his will was pure. He accepted his offering with love, for Abel was pure for his sake. But Cain neglected and cast aside his offering, for his will was not pure. In the likeness of his great envy, he burned against his brother. And he said to Cain, to his brother, "Envy is against the perfect one. Come, let us go to the plain and see the beauty of the land." The fire of love mounted him who was burning with envy. Because of the fire of love, he went to fulfill his wrath upon the simple one. The simple one believed the deceiver in the likeness of Eve to the serpent. And he went out with him to the plain, the perfect one, not knowing. And Cain hastened, the murderer, and struck the pure one's womb. And he killed his brother with the envy that, by killing him, he thought to hide from God. O heart that begot murder, a new deed in the land. O wanton will that opened a path to the house of the dead. Through Abel a path was opened, and the death of the plain began in it. And Adam learned by the deed that he too would be mortal. The slanderer through Cain filled the measure of his envy. And he was revealed in the full sacrifice when he saw that death had prevailed. The great one taught his disciple deceit and falsehood. And he hid the slain one in the earth so that he would not confess when questioned. For the murderer thought that Abel's blood would be concealed. And he did not know that he who had rejected his offering saw him. Cain hid the slain one and concealed his will with him. And he sought to hide his deed from him who knows hidden things.

He spoke with the craftsman and called out to the murderer with a voice. "O deceitful and cunning one, what have you done, O perfect one? Where is Abel, your brother?" The Lord said to Cain, and he answered him deceitfully, for he knew about what he was calling him. O he who knows everything asks as if he does not know what happened. Just as he asked in Paradise, so he asked the murderer. After Adam he asked, "Where is Adam?" and he saw him. And here he asks about Abel, "Where is your brother?" while he knows. He asks, however, as if he does not know, that the murderer might confess his crime. If he confesses in his folly, he might also grant him forgiveness. Cain, the first disciple, was armed with the weapon of his master. And the great liar and his disciple, and their thoughts became a cause of sorrow. "Where is Abel, your brother?" and the liar did not wish to confess. But he answered deceitfully, "Am I the guardian of my brother?" He spoke to his master with deceit, and the murderer was not ashamed. "If your beloved has perished, what am I guilty of that I should give to you?" With the cords of his strength, the sorrow of Cain's voice, for he did not wish to confess willingly, he revealed and confessed when he was compelled. "What is this that you have done?" The Lord said to Cain, "The blood of your brother cries out against you, while you stand with his murderer." "Now flee from the earth, and the earth beneath you shall not be established.

You shall receive the innocent blood, and with it you shall receive curses. Your body shall tremble, in place of Abel’s body, your hands. And you shall be a terror to beholders, so that your heart does not cease from murder. For you have begun with the first blood and have introduced the beginning of death. For seven generations, blood shall seek innocent blood from your hands. For you have opened a path to the house of the dead, by which the multitude of mankind shall follow. Through you, blood shall establish a pattern that blood shall seek blood. He became a trembling in the deed, and terror clothed the murderer. His body trembled on the earth, and his whole frame quaked. In unwilled convulsions, he was tormented before the Creator. And he sought death for himself, that he might be cut off from his sinews. And Cain said to the Lord, “Behold, I have brought forth trembling from the earth. Terror and trembling have I clothed, so that I am very fearful to beholders. Now ask, O blood, if you wish, to do to me according to your mercy. That through death, your curses might be loosened from my limbs.” “Not so, O murderer,” the Lord said to Cain. “Not so shall it be avenged by death alone, O fool. For seven generations, blood shall draw out the sinews of your evil. And the vengeance of your murder shall be spoken of throughout the world.” The Lord set a sign on Cain, that death by the hand of man should not cease.

When she places the sign upon this one, the sign that is his, the Creator keeps for himself. In life he preserves the murderer, for a spectacle for the generations to come. The blood that is spilled in deception, they become fugitives from murder. Full of sacrifice they became, Eve and Adam, when they gave birth. And the lamentation of the offspring of their children entered. For Abel, who was slain, they wept, that death might destroy his forms. And over Cain they mourned, that he had caused a tremor in creation. The Creator bound himself, by the love of his pure mercies. That the consolation of the pure one might soothe the bitterness of the harsh ones. By this you shall become wise, O worker from the beginning. That through the pains and sufferings of death, the love toward him is acquired. In earthly things he instructed us, by an earthly sign. That when he perceives in the clouds, he shall ask for a life without toil. With milk he raised our childhood, by weaknesses like our strength. That when we come to perfection, by the knowledge of life we shall become. Do not let us stumble over wealth, when our knowledge is childish. For as much as the inheritance is confused, it cannot manage its own affairs. By the life of the soul he gave us, that the life of sacrifice might be established. And when we become immortal, by the power of the spirit he preserves us. It was fitting in all our pure ones, that Creator of our pure ones, and wisely he guides us. From the lowly to the heights.

The blood that is spilled in deception, by the knowledge of the sign, brings these to him. He makes known the power that established all, how much his mercy for the wretched.