Genesis 5:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Was what I asserted at the outset not valid—that the holy Scriptures contain nothing written without purpose or care? Consider the careful expression of this blessed prophet. "He begets," he notes, "Adam and begets... in his own likeness and after his own image, and he calls his name Seth." However, he makes no such declaration regarding the firstborn, Cain, having already stated his leanings toward wickedness; and rightly so, for Cain did not uphold his father's virtues but quickly turned to wrongdoing. Here, Moses declares "in his image and after his likeness," which signifies that Adam fathered a son of the same essence as himself, embodying similar virtuous traits, revealing through his actions the likeness of his father and capable, through virtue, of correcting his elder's transgression.

The Scripture stating "in his image and after his likeness" conveys not physical attributes but the condition of the soul, indicating that Seth will not mirror Cain. Therefore, when his mother names him, she does so with gratitude, attributing his birth not to her natural capacity but to the divine power of God, which activated nature to conceive. She proclaims: "And God called his name Seth, saying, ‘God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, whom Cain killed’" (Gen. 4:25). Observe the precision of her words. She didn’t say, God has given me, but rather, He has raised up for me. Notice how this statement hints at the origins of resurrection, albeit subtly. It’s as though she implies, "Instead of the deceased, You have given me this child." Though Abel met his end at the hand of his brother and succumbed to death, the power of God has raised another in his stead. As the time for resurrection had not yet arrived, God did not revive the fallen one but provided another in his place. Thus, Eve remarks: "God has raised up for me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."

Consider the gratitude of the woman. Witness the lovingkindness of the Lord—how swiftly He provided comfort to Adam and Eve! Let us all emulate Eve and credit everything to His supreme grace, for while nature acts, it does so not by its own strength but in obedience to the Creator's will. Wives should not lament if they do not conceive but instead approach the Creator of nature with heartfelt gratitude and request childbirth from Him, the Lord of all. They should recognize that the birth of children is due neither to marital union nor any other means, but to the Creator, who has summoned your nature from nothingness into existence, and has the power to rectify its shortcomings.

Behold, Eve transformed her sorrow into a reason for praise, attributing everything to the Lord, declaring, "God has granted me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." Notice how she neither complained nor uttered a word of sadness (the holy Scripture would not have overlooked such expressions), but rather, having bravely endured misfortune, she is soon consoled, showing even greater gratitude by proclaiming the goodness of the Lord. Observe, then, how generously the Lord imparts His gifts. He not only grants another son but also reveals in advance that this son will exhibit virtue. "Beget a son," the Scripture states, "after his kind and after his image."

To affirm the virtue of this son, note how he himself embodies a God-fearing spirit in naming his own child. "And Seth," it states, "had a son, and named him Enos. This one called upon the name of the Lord God" (Gen. 4:26). Here is a name more illustrious than a crown, more radiant than fine purple! What could be more blessed than a man who is graced with a divine calling and who bears this very name as a distinction?

Seth was 205 years old when Enos was born; Enos was 190 years old when Cainan came into the world; Cainan was 170 years before Maleel was born; Maleel was 165 years until Jared’s birth; Jared was 162 years old when Enoch was born; and Enoch was 165 years before Methuselah was born. The total of these ages amounts to 1287 years. Furthermore, this total must include the 969 years leading up to the Flood (Gen. 5:26-32; Gen. 7:6). Therefore, from the creation to the Flood, there were 2256 years, according to the chronology found in the Greek and Church Slavonic texts of the Bible, corroborated by ancient Samaritan records and Josephus. The Greek account indicates about 600 more years than the Hebrew version, where the first six patriarchs are noted as fathers at an earlier age than in the Hebrew Scriptures. While explaining the origin of this discrepancy is challenging, it does not detract from the sound teaching contained within the Holy Scriptures.

Second, the remarkable lifespans of the patriarchs before and after the Flood, which persisted until the time of Abraham, has raised skepticism among some. They find it astonishing that individuals could live to be 900, 800, or even 600 years old, suggesting that Moses may have recorded these ages in months rather than years, following ancient Egyptian customs. However, there is no evidence in Moses’ narrative to support this claim. In fact, he distinctly mentions years and makes it clear in his account of the Flood that a year cannot be equated to a mere three or eight months. In recounting the Flood, Moses indicates that it lasted around a year. The deluge began on the seventeenth day of the second month (presumed to be November) in Noah's 600th year and concluded on the 27th day of the second month in his 601st year (Gen. 8:13-14). The period from the start of the Flood to its cessation lasted 150 days (or about five months), and he meticulously details the gradual reduction of the waters after that time. Considering that the patriarchs were said to have lived for several hundreds of years, it becomes implausible to propose that some were fathers at impossibly young ages, such as Arphaxad fathering Salah at just 12 years old (though Genesis states he did so at 135 years, Gen. 11:12-13), or that Terah, Abraham's father, had his son at the age of six (Gen. 11:26-32). Moreover, Jacob, at 130 years, laments to Pharaoh about his short life in comparison to that of his ancestors (Gen. 47:9). If the lives of his ancestors lasted not in years but in months, this complaint would bear little significance.

The longevity of the patriarchs signifies the active Providence of God: longer lifespans allowed for rapid population growth, enhanced life experience, and wiser individuals capable of guiding the younger generations, especially crucial during humanity's early, primitive state. This also ensured the preservation of divine revelation and sacred traditions among those who honored the true God. In an era lacking written scripture, the patriarchs served as living testimonies to God’s revelations, passing on the same divine truths for centuries. For instance, Noah, who lived about 600 years before the Flood, could communicate with Maleel, who in turn could engage with Adam. Methuselah, who died in the year of the Flood, could relay teachings directly acquired from Enos, Seth’s son. This continuity made it possible for foundational truths revealed to Adam in Paradise to remain intact and vibrant in the post-Flood world.

In addition to divine Providence, natural conditions likely contributed to the patriarchs' extended lifespans. The abundant natural resources, less impacted by sin, a lifestyle closely aligned with nature, and the primitive state of human physiology allowed for less hereditary degeneration. These factors highlight the advantages of the earlier generations compared to later ones.

The genealogy also emphasizes the pivotal moments in each patriarch's life, noting when each one fathered their successor, who was destined to carry forth the sacred lineage, concluding each life with the phrase 'and died.' This underscores the universal truth that while humanity does not perish as a whole, individual lives cycle through renewal with new generations. The lineage leading to the holy seed, which would facilitate the spiritual rejuvenation of humanity, continues. However, the decree given to Adam, stating, 'For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,' still holds true for individuals, despite the truth that not all have transgressed as Adam did (Rom. 5:14). Yet, one figure stands apart in this patriarchal lineage: Enoch. Of him, it is said, ‘And Enoch pleased God; and he was not found, for God had taken him’ (Gen. 5:24). This can also be interpreted as Enoch 'walking with God,' indicating a profound spiritual closeness (1 Kings 25:15). He drew near to God through faith and love, garnering His special grace, possibly experiencing divine manifestations similarly to Adam in the Garden of Eden. His disappearance marks a unique phenomenon, as the Apostle notes: ‘By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death; and was not found, because God had taken him’ (Heb. 11:5).

The event of Enoch’s ascension is reminiscent of Elijah, who was taken alive to heaven (2 Kings 2:10), and serves as a precursor to what will occur to those who are alive at Christ’s second coming. These individuals will not experience death but will be transformed alongside those resurrected, becoming incorruptible in a moment at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Enoch experienced this miraculous transformation without encountering death or illness. This divine act aims to inspire hope amidst the prevalent reality of death and decay, affirming the belief in eternal life and the promise of immortality. Additionally, the author of Sirach notes, ‘Enoch... was taken as a model of repentance for his peers’ (Sir. 44:15). This implies that Enoch’s life exemplified the high rewards associated with a penitent existence dedicated to combatting sin, serving as a tool for his contemporaries to learn about repentance, not only through his example and fate but also through his prophetic ministry. The apostle Jude references Enoch’s prophetic declaration: ‘Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all’ (Jude 1:14-15). This prophecy, while echoed in a spurious book attributed to Enoch containing numerous inaccuracies and unfounded notions about celestial phenomena, reflects genuine tradition and truth.