Most people do not believe that the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis is historically true. Among Evangelicals, some think that there was no actual Adam and Eve. But many if not most Evangelicals believe that Adam and Eve existed. Yet a growing number of Evangelicals believe that they were born like any other mammal, but when they were young adults God breathed on them the breath of life and changed them from hominids to humans.

But what if the creation account is meant to be understood as historically true? What if Adam and Eve were never born? What if they were young adults on day one of their existence? (I am writing from a YEC perspective. That is, I believe in Young Earth Creationism.)

I’ll begin with what we know for sure.

First, Adam and Eve were created fluent in a language. They never had to learn the language, other than naming the animals (and possibly other things).

Second, they understood the basics of biology from the start. They understood about bodily functions and procreation.

Third, they had at least a basic understanding of horticulture since they were commanded to tend the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:15) and presumably knew what that meant.

Fourth, they believed in God the Creator. They spoke with Him in the Garden in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8). Almost certainly the One they spoke with was the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:18).

Fifth, they knew about food and how to eat. They did not have to be taught to eat solid foods. They ate solid foods from day one. They did not start with a liquid diet. They ate from the fruit of the trees in the Garden. Most likely they were total vegetarians. There is no hint in the Genesis record that they ate meat.

Now let’s consider what they probably knew.

Mathematics. They almost certainly had a working knowledge of math from the start. I say this because they started life as young adults. Without at least a basic knowledge of math, they would not know that two cows in one pen plus three more cows in another pen equal five total cows. But more than just basic math, I imagine they were some of the smartest people of all time, and their knowledge from the start was likely very advanced.

Angels. Likely either they were created knowing about the angels, or God taught them about the angels in their first few days. It is even possible that they met some unfallen angels before they met Lucifer speaking through a serpent.

The Purpose of Life. They knew that they were created to be fruitful and to multiply and to fill the earth (Gen 1:28). But more than that, they knew that they were to please God.

Fire. Most likely they knew about fire from the start. The idea that man discovered fire at some point does not fit the Genesis record.

So why does this matter?

It matters because our view of our first parents impacts our view of ourselves. We did not originate from inarticulate cave men. Our first parents were highly advanced, very intelligent, and very developed.

The popular idea that man started out as ape-like animals and over time gained language, human sensibilities, knowledge, and so forth is contrary to the creation account.

Maybe I can illustrate my view in this way. I think the little three-person community of Adam and Eve and the Lord in the Garden was a more advanced civilization than anything in human history since Adam and Eve fell and were sent out of the Garden. We won’t find that level of civilization again until the Millennium when the Lord is here once again, living with and ruling over us.

Given a choice between living in the Garden of Eden with the Lord Jesus or living in Dallas in 2019, I’d prefer the Garden of Eden. Wouldn’t you?