»Biblical analogies to characters«

After reading the "garden of eden/ first matrix" I thought I'd share some ideas I had about some possible analogies that can be made to some of the charecters in the movie. NOTE: I dont think the W Bros made any of their charecters entirely based on any allegories they might have hinted at. I think you can read too much into it, but there still may be certain parallels they refer to.

In Hebrew legend, Lucifer was a very high ranking angel that was supposed to watch over Eden and man. He began to envy both God and man and raised the question of whether or not God had the right to rule over mankind. Because he deceived Eve with a serpent, he was cursed and renamed Devil and Satan. (in actuality "lucifer" may not be his real name, which may have been hidden so as to dishonor him). Eve goes on to offer the apple to Adam, who is not decieved, but chooses to eat- freely disobeying God.

Adam, prior to the rebellion had the job of observing the animals and naming them.

In Gnostic tradition, the tale of rebellion is slightly twisted so that Satan is actually a hero, saving mankind from the control of a god who is actually their equal.

In Christian belief, Jesus Christ is the "greater Adam". Both Jesus and Adam were the only two perfect men to have walked the planet. Yet, Adam was no messiah. Where Adam failed to obey God, Christ fulfilled his duty. Christ saves mankind by succeeding where Adam fails.

Back to the Matrix:
Lucifer/Satan and Eve are blamed for offering human rebellion against God, causing a flawed (sinful) system to arise, which can only be corrected by the messiah.

Could Merovingian have been a sort of "adam"- a program or man that at one time had the opportunity to bring harmony to humans and machines, but failed? Perhaps failing because of selfish desire (Merovingian craves power)? He seems very bitter towards the One, not just Neo, but Neo's predessors as well. Perhaps he uses "cause and effect" to describe his failure and to excuse himself from any wrong. Maybe he feels or pretends that he had no choice but to make whatever choice he made (or maybe just failing to make a choice) which resulted in some sort of falling short of whatever role he was planned for, and now he views the One and the concept of choice as "sour grapes". Is Neo therefore as a sort of messiah role, therefore the "greater Merovingian"?

Could Smith be "adam"?: he says that earlier his duty was to categorize life forms in the Matrix, plus he has clear knowledge of the earlier versions of the matrix.

Is the Architect "satan"? Partnering with "eve" he introduces (and thereby creates) a flawed system that allows for rebellion by choice. (Satan in the bible is said to be the ruler of this system of things). There is also a famous scene in the bible where satan tempts the messiah Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the earth. Perhaps the choice of doors offered Neo parallels this story?

Likewise could Smith be "satan"- the disobedient program that chose to rebel and seeks to war against a god-like achitect, his matrix, and the One (the son of the Architect- created for a specific purpose).

There are also many double meanings in dialogue and clues that point to a parallel between Zion and "hell" (to many to list really), but this could point to an alienated human world and machine world. In biblical tradition, the messiah is a mediator that brings atonement (at-One-ment) between divinity and alienated mankind.

StaticAge wrote:

In Christian belief, Jesus Christ is the "greater Adam". Both Jesus and Adam were the only two perfect men to have walked the planet. Yet, Adam was no messiah. Where Adam failed to obey God, Christ fulfilled his duty. Christ saves mankind by succeeding where Adam fails.

Adam was mere man, a created being. On the other hand, Christ was God incarnate, the very being of God Himself. You're right, Adam was no messiah. Within a week of his exsistence, he disobeyed God, and blamed it on his wife. Christ came to earth as a sacrifice that all might be saved through Him

sproylie2314 wrote:

StaticAge wrote: In Christian belief, Jesus Christ is the "greater Adam". Both Jesus and Adam were the only two perfect men to have walked the planet. Yet, Adam was no messiah. Where Adam failed to obey God, Christ fulfilled his duty. Christ saves mankind by succeeding where Adam fails. Adam was mere man, a created being. On the other hand, Christ was God incarnate, the very being of God Himself. You're right, Adam was no messiah. Within a week of his exsistence, he disobeyed God, and blamed it on his wife. Christ came to earth as a sacrifice that all might be saved through Him

I heard preachers preach that Jesus was the greater Adam sent to undo Adams sin.

Quote:

I heard preachers preach that Jesus was the greater Adam sent to undo Adams sin.

I'm curious. What kind of church was this that you heard it from? That might help me to understand from where you're coming...

For now, I'll give you my view on the subject.

I think the term "greater Adam" puts the idea in the minds of people that Jesus was merely a man. We know from Scripture that is very incorrect. Adam sinned. Sin is kind of hereditary, like you get it from your Father.("Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned"(Romans 5:12) Jesus' Father was God, so he was born perfect, and because he was God continued to live a perfect life. He was sent to earth to be a sacrifice that all people might be forgiven of their sin. In the Old Testament, Jews had to sacrifice a lamb "without blemish and without spot" (lev 4:32) to pay for their sin. Well Jesus was the final sacrifice that paid for the sin of all mankind (1 Peter 1:19) All you have to do is accept his free gift to you. For by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 )

Christ did not come to 'undo' Adam's sin, simply to place Himself over it(as well as all sin) So, when God looks at us(those who have accepted His Gift), he sees only His perfect Son. Please, pm on this if you have ANY questions, anyone....

P.S. In case anyone ever wants to check my Scripture quote, I use the New King James translation of the Bible which I know is the very Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)