Chapter 191 — How sin came to the man

The sin came to the man through the woman’s persuasion. He, however, as the Apostle says in 1 Timothy 2:14, was not seduced, as the woman was. That is, he did not believe the words the devil spoke against God. The thought could not cross his mind that God would utter a lying threat or that he would uselessly forbit a useful thing. Nevertheless, he was enticed by the devil’s promise by unduly desiring excellence and knowledge. As a result, his will fell away from the uprightness of justice and, wanting to go along with his wife, he followed her in transgressing the divine command by eating of the fruit of the forbidden tree.