Mary, The New Eve

Mary, the New Eve

In his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul speaks about Christ, the second Adam (Rom 5:12-19). The question arises. Who then, is the new Eve? Although the Bible doesn’t speak explicitly about Mary, from the contexts of many Bible references it becomes obvious that Mary is the new Eve.

In the book of Genesis (Ge 3:1-20) God speaks about Eve, a woman (ha ishshah), the mother of humankind. The woman who failed to obey God's order. In the same passage (Ge 3:15), God speaks about a woman, the enemy of satan (the snake). The Scripture speaks about the woman who will always be at enmity with satan. The woman who will remain sinless at all times. The woman whose offspring will overcome satan by crushing his head. Mary, called by the angel full of grace (Lk 1:28), whose offspring (Jesus) has destroyed satan (Heb 2:14), is the woman the Book of Genesis points at.

Calling His mother “Woman” at the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-11), and at the foot of the cross (Jn 19:26), Christ wanted to make it obvious to everyone, that Mary, His Mother is (ha ishshah), the true mother of the living, the new Eve.

In the first Adam all have died, as Saint Paul says, so in Jesus Christ, the second Adam, all receive new life (Rom 5:18). Similarly, the first Eve by falling into sin became the mother of all the dying, while Mary, the mother of Jesus, always faithful to God, became the mother of all the living, the new Eve.

Furthermore, many Fathers and Doctors of the Church have seen the woman announced in the the Book of Genesis (Ge 3:15) as Mary, the mother of Christ, the “new Eve”. Saint Irenaeus writes:

With fitness, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying,

“Behold Thy handmaid, O Lord; be it to me according to Thy word.” But Eve was disobedient; for she obeyed not, while she was yet a virgin. As she, having indeed Adam for a husband, but as yet being a virgin… becoming disobedient, became the cause of death both to herself and to the whole human race, so also Mary, having the predestined man, and being yet a Virgin, being obedient, became both to herself and to the whole human race the cause of salvation" (Against Heresies, 224).

It is rather important to notice that satan, the serpent (Rev 12:13) and his offspring, will always be at enmity with the woman, and her offspring (Ge 3:15). The archenemy of Mary will endlessly try to diminish, to undermine her name by using all kinds of improper words, false ideas or wrong interpretations of the Scripture. Satan will always be at war with Mary.The Book of Revelation says:

Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood (Rev 12:15). The river, which stands for innumerable slanderous words has one purpose, to bring down the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This shows satan’s anger and frustration towards the Mother of God, and the mother of us all, the sinless woman - the second Eve.

Each one of us of should ask himself or herself the question,on which side am I ???

Original Article by Fr Zdzislaw Karczewski