The Temptation of Adam

Man, dowered with free will, had to exercise that free will in choosing or rejecting God. Had there been no trial, no temptation, man would have had a kind of mechanical progress from Paradise to heaven, and the greatest of his gifts,the gift that makes him most like to God in his being (that is,free will) would have been a vain and unused gift. Free human nature had to have a chance to choose freely, and this was given inthe temptation. There was no need for Adam to succumb to the temptation. He had a perfect human nature, and he had supernatural grace and supernatural gifts. No creature could harm him or force his choice, against his will. That Adam sinned, that he chose to abuse freedom instead of using it, was his own fault.

The manner and order of the first man’s temptation were entirely suitable. The temptation was rounded and complete. It appealed to the intellect and will; the appeal was made through the senses; into the whole event of the temptation there entered one ofthe man’s own species, the woman; one thing of the animal order, the serpent; and one thing of the vegetal order, the tree with its fruit.