Why is Adam tied to original sin and not Eve?

[chuckd]

Why in Romans 5 does Paul attribute original sin to Adam only and not (1) "our parents" as the WCF or (2) Eve?

Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned...Adam's transgression... (Rom. 5:12ff)

...and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression... (1 Tim. 2:14)

 

[KMK]

The word 'Adam' can refer to both parents.

Gen 5:1-3 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; *2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

Rom.5 is a locus classicus respecting NT discussion of contrasting Federal heads of their respective covenants. Paul's point seems to be to contrast the effects of the works of both persons. In the case of Adam, the result is that because of his one sin, death spread to all men (who were represented in him). Adam's one sin is more important (and more damaging) than Eve's--sorry ladies. In similar fashion, through the obedience of One (or one act of obedience), life comes to all (who are represented in him).

Paul also plays up a special dissimilarity: Rom.5:16, "And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification." But all of these corresponding and contrasting aspects point to one, Federal reality undergirding God's dealings with men: he acts toward them on the basis of representation.


1Tim.2:14 is not dealing with the issue of Original Sin, but the sinfulness of man in general. Original Sin is a particular doctrine that has first of all to do with the imputation of Adam's guilt to his posterity and the want of original righteousness; and only secondarily to the sinful nature passed along, together with all actual transgressions that proceed from that condition.

WSC18 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

The whole-nature corruption is a qualitative defect that is passed on to them that follow, whereas the guilt and the want are forensic (judicial) declarations.



WSC15 What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.

WSC16 Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
"The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression."

The two questions taken together express our understanding of their fullness of guilt and responsibility. Both parents were sinners, and both are productive of the sin of their progeny.

 

[chuckd]

The two questions taken together express our understanding of their fullness of guilt and responsibility. Both parents were sinners, and both are productive of the sin of their progeny.

Thank you for your responses. You answered my question. To push the point further though (we don't have to), I would think that both points taken together would mean that both parents were sinners, but the guilt of Adam is associated with original sin as the covenant head (post #2).

WCF 6.3 They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed;[6] and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.[7]

WLC Q.22 Did all mankind fall in that first transgression?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity; all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression. Acts 17:26; Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 5:12-20; 1 Cor. 15:21-22.