The warning given to our first parents--"In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17)--did not imply that they were to die on the very day when they partook of the forbidden fruit. But on the day the irrevocable sentence would be pronounced. Immortality was promised them on condition of obedience; by transgression they would forfeit eternal life. That very day would be doomed to death.

Advarslen til vore første forældre - "den dag, du spiser deraf, skal du visselig dø" (1. Mos. 2, 17) - indbefattede ikke, at de skulle dø samme dag, de tog af den forbudne frugt. Men på den dag ville den uigenkaldelige dom blive udtalt. Der var lovet dem udødelighed på betingelse af lydighed; ved overtrædelse ville de miste det evige liv. Fra den dag ville de være dømt til døden.