Concerning the Creation of Adam and of our Lord Jesus Christ

First, the heavenly Father, the true God, fashioned (*or* created) the heavens with all that belongs thereto, and the earth with all its kinds; he equipped them. As is clear in the inspiration of God (i.e. in the inspired Scriptures). Again, the benevolent God, seeing that all things were good, was pleased to make a king over all beings; and especially because of the most evil slanderer (i.e. the Devil), as is proved by the sense of the word which says: ‘Let us make man in our image and likeness.’ Thus in the twinkle of an eye he, by a single word, fashioned heaven and earth. But also by a single word he fashioned (or created) the old Adam, made him king and ruler of all creatures. Wherefore Satan, beholding the paramount kingship of Adam, was envious, as divine writ says in reference to him: ‘By the envy of the slanderer death came into the world.’ Moreover, St. Paul says that by man came death and by man resurrection. And he also repeats this, when he says: ‘As by Adam all men died so also by Christ shall they be made alive.’ Now at the first we said that the Almighty Father with a single word fashioned (or created) Adam out of clay, and Eva out of his rib, like unto him in . . . .