N.T. Wright, Francis Collins, and the Historical Adam: William Lane Craig Responds

Francis Collins and N.T. Wright recently fielded audience questions after a public conversation, several of which centered on the historicity of Adam and Eve. Collins argues that population genetics rules out a single ancestral couple, and lays out the model he finds most plausible: a couple selected out of an existing population and given something new. Wright suggests Genesis 2–3 might work the way Genesis 12 does, with Adam and Eve chosen out of a larger population the way Abraham and Sarah were chosen out of everyone else. Dr. William Lane Craig addresses both claims, including recent population-genetics research on ancient human bottlenecks, the Apostle Paul's treatment of Adam in Romans 5, and how Collins's view compares to the argument Craig makes in his own book, In Quest of the Historical Adam.