[185JHP]

I'm not sure if he was on the scene during the dialogue with the serpent and heard what was said. If he was there, heard what was said, did nothing because he had had a hankering to eat the apple himself at times, and wanted to see what happened to Eve after she ate it, he can be blamed. OTOH, regardless of what happened, Eve was deceived, whereas Adam deliberately and willfully, with obstinance aforethought, sinned. That's why men's lives are so hard.

[CyberAnt]

You got it!

Amazing - very few people have that understanding. I do believe Adam was there, because the scripture says, she gave to him and he did eat - and there was no explanation about where she had to go to give him the apple. At least that's the interpretation I got from the scripture.

I have always believed that if Adam had asserted his authority as her husband, and they had gone together to God about the apple she had eaten, they would never have had to leave the garden. This is based on the fact that when Eve ate the apple - nothing happened. It was only when Adam also ate the apple that the curse came upon all mankind.

[Bonaparte]

185JHP: "...regardless of what happened, Eve was deceived, whereas Adam deliberately and willfully, with obstinance aforethought, sinned. That's why men's lives are so hard."
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And women's lives aren't?

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shalt be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Genesis 3:16

God does not punish the blameless. Eve was well aware of God's prohibition (Gen 3:3) and so was Adam (Gen 2:17). Each was now corrupt and, accordingly, presented God with an excuse (a lie) when confronted with the disobedience. Adam tried to shift the blame onto Eve. Eve tried to shift the blame onto the serpent. Accordingly, both were driven from the garden.

To this day, it pays to follow simple instructions.

NB. CyberAnt: Adam had no authority over Eve until after God punished them.