Adam not ideal man
XXIX. The word Adam is from the Hebrew adamah,
signifying the red color of the ground, dust, nothingness.
Divide the name Adam into two syllables,
and it reads, a dam, or obstruction. This
suggests the thought of something fluid, of mortal mind
in solution. It further suggests the thought of that
" darkness . . . upon the face of the deep," when mat-
ter or dust was deemed the agent of Deity in creating
man, - when matter, as that which is accursed, stood
opposed to Spirit. Here a dam is not a mere play upon
words; it stands for obstruction, error, even the sup-
posed separation of man from God, and the obstacle
which the serpent, sin, would impose between man and
his creator. The dissection and definition of words,
aside from their metaphysical derivation, is not scien-
tific. Jehovah declared the ground was accursed; and
from this ground, or matter, sprang Adam, notwith-
standing God had blessed the earth "for man's sake."
From this it follows that Adam was not the ideal man
for whom the earth was blessed. The ideal man was
revealed in due time, and was known as Christ Jesus.
