Soil, Food, and Faith: A Primer in Environmental Theology

When God made heaven and earth, the land was initially dry and barren. There was no one to "till the ground" (Gen. 2:5), no one who could work the land to make it productive of life. So God "formed [Adam] from the dust of the ground (adamah)" and breathed life into him (Gen. 2:7). Then God planted a "garden of delight"-this is what the Garden of Eden literally means-and put Adam in it. His job was clearly defined: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it (Gen. 2:15)."

Duke Scholars

Author Norman Wirzba Divinity School