# Adam — The City of God character guide > Adam in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** XV That Adam **First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i ## Snapshot The first man, whose single act of disobedience let death into the world and split humanity into two cities. ## Who they are Adam stands at the origin of Augustine's whole scheme: one man's sin transmitted to all his descendants, making the human race a massa damnata in need of grace. His fall is not just a moral anecdote but the historical hinge that explains why the earthly city and the city of God coexist in conflict. He matters because every argument in the book about sin, death, and redemption runs back through him. ## In the story ### [Chapter XII: A Comparison of the Blessedness of the Righteous and Our First Parents in Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) Representing the first man in Paradise, whose blessedness was uncertain due to the possibility of sin. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) The first man, who could have asked why he was created no sooner, illustrating the timeless nature of the question. ### [That there was created at first but one individual, and that the human race was created in him.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi) The single man created by God, from whom the entire human race descends. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii) The first man whose sin is foreknown by God. ### [Of the nature of the human soul created in the image of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii) The first man, formed from dust, from whose side Eve was taken. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) The first man, created alone, from whom all humanity descends, and in whom the foundation of the two cities was laid. ### [Book XIII: Of the Good of Death, the Resurrection of the Flesh, and the Paradise of the First Parents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xiii) First parent; his sin introduced death, but the righteous now use death to avoid sin. ### [Of the fall of the first man, through which mortality has been contracted.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-i) The first man, whose fall and disobedience brought mortality upon the human race. ### [Whether Death, Which by the Sin of Our First Parents Has Passed Upon All Men, Is the Punishment of Sin, Even to the Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) The first man whose sin brought death into the world and whose nature was transmitted to all posterity. ### [Of the evil of death in general, considered as the separation of soul and body.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-vi) The first man from whom death proceeds by ordinary generation as punishment. ### [What death God intended, when He threatened our first parents with death if they should disobey His commandment.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) The first man, placed in Paradise and threatened with death for disobedience. ### [What was the first punishment of the transgression of our first parents?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii) One of the first parents who transgressed the commandment and experienced the punishment. ### [In what state man was made by God, and into what estate he fell by the choice of his own will.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) The one man in whom all humanity was present and fell into sin. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) The first man who sinned by forsaking God, bringing death upon himself and all humanity. ### [Chapter XX: The Resurrection of the Flesh and the Perfection of the Spiritual Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xx) Referenced as one of the first parents whose prelapsarian body is compared to the future resurrected body. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii) The first man, made a living soul in an animal body, whose sin brought the necessity of death. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) First man, made a living soul; his animal body was mortal unless he sinned. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-i) The first man whose disobedience altered human nature for the worse and brought sin and death to all posterity. ### [Chapter X: The Blessedness of Paradise Before the Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-x) Our first parent, considered in his state before sin, free from mental perturbations. ### [Of the fall of the first man, in whom nature was created good, and can be restored only by its Author](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) The first man, created upright with a good will, who sinned knowingly by yielding to Eve. ### [Of the nature of man’s first sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) The first human being whose transgression altered human nature. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii) Our first parents; their fall into open disobedience is examined as a consequence of prior pride. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) First man who, after eating the forbidden fruit, blamed Eve for his transgression. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) The first man whose disobedience is the subject of the chapter's discussion. ### [Of the Nakedness of Our First Parents After Their Sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii) First man, who named the animals and sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, leading to shame. ### [Of the foolish beastliness of the Cynics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xx) Referenced as the source of the first sin, whose punishment is evident in the insubordination of the bodily members. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi) First parent whose transgression infected the blessing of fecundity with lust. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) Implied as the first man who sinned, leading to the loss of bodily control and the introduction of lust. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi) First parent, whose sin and banishment from Paradise prevented the experience of passionless generation. ### [Of the angels and men who sinned, and that their wickedness did not disturb the order of God’s providence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) The first man, created upright with a good will, who was tempted by the devil and fell. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-i) First parent of the human race, from whom all are born evil and carnal. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) The first man, father of Cain and Seth, whose generations are traced in Scripture. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-x) First man; his age before begetting Seth is given as 230 years in Augustine's manuscripts and 130 in the Hebrew, but total lifespan agrees. ### [Chapter XII: Of the opinion of those who do not believe that in these primitive times men lived so long as is stated.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) Cited as having lived 130 years (Hebrew text) before begetting Seth, used to refute the short-year theory. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) First man, father of Cain, Abel, and Seth; his age at begetting sons is not recorded. ### [Chapter XVI: Of Marriage Between Blood-Relations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi) First man, who was both father and father-in-law to his children due to sibling marriages. ### [Of the two fathers and leaders who sprang from one progenitor.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii) The common progenitor of both the earthly and heavenly cities. ### [The Significance of Enoch’s Translation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xix) The first man, from whom Enoch is counted as the seventh generation. ### [The Generations of Cain and Seth: The Two Cities Before the Flood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xx) Common father of both Cain and Seth; his progeny through Cain ends in sin, through Seth leads to Noah. ### [Chapter XXI: The Two Cities from Cain and Seth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi) Common ancestor of both cities; from his condemned seed come both vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) The first father of all humans; all rational mortal animals trace their pedigree to him. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) First man from whom all humans, including hypothetical Antipodeans, would have to descend. ### [Of the years of Terah, who completed his lifetime in Haran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) Adam is referenced as the starting point of the genealogical series that records the years of each patriarch's life. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) The first man through whom all have sinned, breaking God's covenant. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxviii) Mentioned as the progenitor from whom Enoch is the seventh. ### [About the Most Mendacious Vanity of the Egyptians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xl) First man, from whom less than six thousand years have passed according to divine books. ### [Chapter XX: The Resurrection of the Dead at Christ's Coming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xx) First man, to whom God said 'Earth thou art, and unto earth shalt thou return.' ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi) Represents the first parents in paradise, whose sinless state before the Fall is compared to the future purity of the saints. ### [Chapter XII: Of the greatness of the first transgression, on account of which eternal punishment is due to all who are not within the pale of the Saviour’s grace.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) The root of the human race in whom all sinned and are condemned. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) Referenced as the progenitor of humanity, whose sons bear a heavy yoke. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) The first man whose sin brought misery and the heavy yoke upon all his sons. ### [Whether the Bodies of Women Shall Retain Their Own Sex in the Resurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii) His sleep and the creation of Eve from his rib prefigure Christ's death and the Church. ### [Of the Miseries and Ills to Which the Human Race Is Justly Exposed Through the First Sin, and from Which None Can Be Delivered Save by Christ’s Grace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii) Referenced as the origin of the condemned human race, with 'children of Adam' suffering from inherited ignorance and evil desires. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv) First man whose sin brought about the fall and condemnation of human nature. ### [The Eternal Felicity of the City of God and the Perpetual Sabbath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx) The first age from Adam to the deluge; Adam lost the first immortality by sinning. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/adam - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters