What fruit did Adam and Eve eat in the garden?

The Bible does not specifically say what kind of fruit it was other than it was from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Some have speculated it was an apple because the Latin word for apple is malus, which is similar to the word for evil. Yet others believe it was a fig because, they argue, apples don’t grow in that part of the world. We truly don’t know what kind of fruit it was. People have come to accept it as an apple because, in the English language, the word “apple” is etymologically (or the source word, root word) a generic term including all fruits, berries and nuts.

When did unwholesome words come into the world? If Adam and Eve were Christians why did they come up with those words?

Awesome questions! Wow, you really like to stretch my brain, don’t you??? Well, the answer is that unwholesome words entered into this world when sin entered the world. Remember, “unwholesome words” just aren’t swear words. It’s anytime you say something that can be hurtful to others or that hurts the heart of God, such as taking His name in vain.

Look at what Ephesians 4:29 has to say about unwholesome words: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” As Christians, we are supposed to speak in a way that helps people according to their needs not make them feel worse.

Let me try and give you a real life example. Let’s say you’re really good at a video game and a friend comes over and wants to play it. Let’s say that friend is absolutely terrible at the video game and keeps losing. The unwholesome way to speak to that friend would be to say, “Give me that controller! You stink!!! I’ve never seen someone play this game as badly as you just did!” That does nothing to build up your friend. You didn’t curse at him but you said he stunk. The Christ Follower would say, “It’s okay … it’s a hard game to play but I know, with practice, you’ll get better.”

Now, regarding the second part of your question, I don’t know what kind of words Adam and Even came up with but, if they did come up with bad words, it’s because of the sin that entered the world. I’m fairly certain they did not invent many of the curse words we hear so often today but because of their sin, that has been passed on throughout the ages we, human beings, have invented inappropriate and unwholesome words to say.

Remember what happened immediately after Adam and Eve bit into the apple? Their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked. (Genesis 3:7) Right then and there, sin entered into the world. Adam and Eve even hid from God because of what they had done. I can only imagine what they were saying to each other too; it was probably the first time unwholesome words were spoken in the Garden of Eden. I’m not saying Adam all of a sudden started cussing but I bet he looked right at Eve and said something like, “Boy, that sure was dumb … thanks a lot!” Again, not using cuss words but certainly not using words to build her up. Of course, we don’t know what was said but we do know that from that point, sin was in the world and it is that original sin that perpetuates unwholesome words today.

What about Adam and Eve, how were they tempted?

That is an awesome question! They were tempted by the serpent (who was really Satan, darn that guy!) who said to Eve, “Did God really say you mustn’t eat from any tree in the garden?” And poor Eve, replies, “Well, we may eat fruit from the trees in the Garden but God did say, you must not eat the fruit from the middle of the garden and you must not touch it or you will die.”

And that wily old serpent kept pestering Eve and kept tempting her, which distracted her and caused her to doubt. He lied and said, “Ohhhh, you surely will not die! For God knows that when eat of it your eyes will be open and you will be like God knowing good and evil.””

He played to her pride, making her think she could be like God. See? That’s what Satan does! Satan is smart…he won’t tempt you with things you don’t care about. He’ll tempt you in the area that he knows will push your buttons. In Eve’s case (and Adam’s too) he appealed to their envy and pride.

And so, Eve and Adam ate of the apple and their eyes were open but they certainly weren’t like God. They realized they were naked and were embarrassed. And, because of that small but significant act of taking a bite of an apple, sin entered the world.

But, it all started with the serpent tempting Eve and pushing the right buttons so she couldn’t resist.