Irenaeus on Adam’s Sin

Abstract

What was the nature of Adam’s sin according to Irenaeus? It can be understood most lucidly from the standpoint of the temptation account of the last Adam. This article’s main purpose is to propose that for Irenaeus the original sin of humanity was essentially rooted in Adam’s failure to become established in his identity by always looking to God to be nurtured, matured, and perfected through his ongoing relationship with his creator. The three responses to the tempter by the last Adam reveal the true identity of the imago Dei, by exhibiting the three critical dimensions of self-concept which were neglected in the first couple.