the story of life, death, and new life is part of RTB’s biblical model. It does not contradict New Testament statements about the kind of death that originated with Adam. Romans 5:12 clarifies this position: ”Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned.” This death, introduced by Adam’s sin, applies strictly to humans. The whole of Scripture confirms that only humans, among all life created on Earth, can (and do) sin. Therefore this “death through sin” applies to humans alone, not to plants and animals. In addition, the passage states specifically that this “death came to all men.” It does not say “to all creation” or “to all creatures.” The verses make no apparent reference to plant or animal life, nor do other parallel passages (see 1 Cor. 15:20-23). 26This role of death seems to be, at least in part, a way for RTB to deal with the problem of evil in the world. 27
26 Ross, More Than A Theory, 85
27 “God has the capacity right now to reduce human suffering. But a loving, merciful God allows people … to suffer discomfort, illness, injury, and death. Can it be that God has good purposes for what seem like bad things? Could Earth’s long history of plant and animal death have been part of God’s good preparation for humanity and human civilization, technology, and the efficient spreading of the gospel?” Ross, A Matter of Days, 134-135.
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