The Fall of Man & Redemption of the World: History's Great Antithesis

CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Fall of Man & The Participants                                     The Redemption & The Participants

Adam (CCC 374) Jesus the New Adam (CCC 359, 504-05)
1. Created without sin
(Wis 2:23; CCC 376)
1. Born without sin
(Heb 4:15; 1 Jn 3:5; CCC 470)
2. Ends physical life in sin
(Gen 2:17; Wis 2:24; CCC 400-403, 1007)
2. Ends physical life without sin
(2 Cor 5:21)
3. Falls to serpent
(Gen 3:1-13; CCC 397-98)
3. Conquers serpent
(Gen 3:15; 1 Jn 3:8; CCC 539)
4. Loss of virginity
(Gen 4:1; CCC 400)
4. Keeps virginity
(Mt 19:12; CCC 1618-19)
5.The head/1st of human race
(Gen 1:27; 2:7; CCC 362)
5. Head of the Church
(Eph 1:22; CCC 669, 792)
6. Introduces sin into the world
(Wis 2:24; Rom 5:12; CCC 397
6. Takes away the sin of the world
(Jn 1:29; 1 Jn 1:7; Rom 6:22; Heb 1:3;
CCC 601, 606, 608)
7. Serves himself at expense of humanity
(Gen 3:6-8; CCC 400-402)
7. Sacrifices Himself for humanity
(Rom 8:3; CCC 457, 609)
8. Life given by breath/Spirit of God
(Gen 2:7; CCC 362)
8. Life given by Spirit of God and seed of the woman
(Gen 3:15; Lk 1:35; Rom 8:10-11)
 
 
Eve Mary the New Eve (CCC 494)
1. Created without sin
(Wis 2:23; CCC 376)
1. Born without sin
(Lk 1:28-30; Gen 3:16; Is 66:7;
CCC 411, 490-493)
2. Ends physical life in sin
(Gen 2:17; CCC 400-403, 1007)
2. Ends physical life without sin
(Rev 12:1; CCC 966)
3. Disobeys God
(Gen 3:1-13; CCC 396-97)
3. Obeys God
(Lk 1:38)
4. Loss of virginity
(Gen 4:1; CCC 400)
4. Keeps virginity
(Is 7:14; Ez 44:1-2; CCC 499-501, 506, 510)
5. Mother of humanity
(Gen 3:20; CCC 489)
5. Mother of Church/all believers
(Rev 12:17; CCC 963)
6. 1st sinner
(3:5-13; CCC 494)
6. 1st Christian
(Lk 1:31-35, 46-55)
7. Self-interested/self-indulgent
(Gen 3:6)
7. Altruistic/serves others/God's will before her own
(Lk 2:35)
8. Made from man by God, man encompassed her
(Gen 2:21-23; CCC 371)
8. The woman encompasses the Man*
(Jer 31:22; Lk 1:30-33; CCC 494-495, 711)

Jason G. Hull, copyright 2005, www.AgapeBibleStudy.com Adam and Eve both participated in the fall of man. The redemption is the antithesis of the fall, and as such Jesus and Mary were both active participants in the redemption of humanity. As there was both a masculine and feminine element to the fall of humanity, also there was a masculine and feminine aspect to the redemption of humanity. Mary's yes to Christ was the beginning of the beginning of the salvation events. Her submission to God allowed for the Incarnation of the Christ who redeemed the world through His submission to the Father.

* "The woman encompasses the man" is the literal translation. Adam encompassed the woman for Eve was made from the rib of Adam. Mary encompassed Jesus as He was born from her womb. Again we see an antithesis between the fall and the redemption in the origin of humans who disobeyed verses those who obeyed.