How does the Bible contrast Adam, the first man, with the second man?
Scripture contrasts Adam, the first man, as earthy, formed from the dust of the earth, while the second man is the Lord from heaven. Paul explains the natural comes first and the spiritual afterward. Adam served as the fallen federal head of the human race, and Christ, the second Adam, is God's provision to restore what Adam lost.
Les teaches that verse 46 establishes the order: that which is not first is spiritual, but that which is natural comes first, and afterward that which is spiritual. Verse 47 identifies the first man, Adam, as of the earth and earthy, made from the elements of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. Adam is the federal head of the human race back in Genesis, but Adam fell, so there had to be a way of restoring it. Christ, the second Adam, is the response to that federal head and the one who would restore. Les also offers an unproven thought he likes to pass on: before he sinned, Adam may have had a body identical to Christ's in His earthly appearance, because Adam before sin was incorruptible and could have lived forever had he not fallen, while Christ did not fall.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
More Questions
What does it mean that the first man Adam was earthy?
The first man, Adam, was of the earth and earthy — he was made of the earth and he went back to the earth.