📖 Biblical Definition
Second Adam (or Last Adam) is Paul's term in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 and Romans 5:12-21 for Christ as the head of redeemed humanity. The first Adam was a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The first Adam disobeyed and brought death to all in him; the last Adam obeyed and brings life to all in Him. Christ is therefore not merely a remedy for Adam's sin; He is a new humanity's head.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(1 Cor 15; Rom 5.) Pauline term for Christ as head of redeemed humanity, paralleling Adam as head of fallen humanity.
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Romans 5:12-21 sets up the parallel: by one man sin entered the world; by one man righteousness comes. The two men are heads of two humanities. By Adam's disobedience, many were made sinners; by Christ's obedience, many shall be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49: the first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam a life-giving spirit. The first earthy; the last heavenly. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 5:12 — "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Romans 5:19 — "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
1 Corinthians 15:45 — "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."
1 Corinthians 15:49 — "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often understates the federal-head dimension of Christ's work; Paul makes Adam-Christ parallelism the structure of the gospel.
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The federal-head argument is essential to Paul's logic. Adam represented humanity; his disobedience implicated all in him. Christ represents His people; His obedience and resurrection raise all in Him. Without federal headship, the imputation of Adam's sin and Christ's righteousness lose their structure.
The household's appreciation deepens the gospel's reach. The saint is not merely individually forgiven; the saint is corporately raised in Christ. The new humanity has a head, and the head is the resurrected Christ.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek eschatos Adam (last Adam) and deuteros anthrôpos (second man).
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Greek eschatos — last; behind English eschaton.
Greek Adam — transliteration of Hebrew Adam, man / red earth.
Usage
"Two heads, two humanities."
"By Adam's disobedience, many sinners; by Christ's obedience, many righteous."
"The new humanity has a head, and the head is the resurrected Christ."