Read Genesis 1-3
Before the incident with the fruit, is there evil in the world (or outside of it)?
What is the nature of the first sin, and why was it such a problem?
(i no the first sin is eve taking the fruit but why is it such a problem?)
It was the sin of disobedience. According to the story, God had said not to eat of the forbidden fruit ( metaphorically - knowledge). This can also be called man's desire to take responsibility for himself - self determination.
With this comes the ability for man to chose a course of action and therefore, he can make bad (sinful) decisions.
If man had not chosen to make his own decisions, but had lived "totally innocently" without knowledge, then he would have always been as a "child". That is why that choice has caused "problems". We ge to make mistakes, but then on the other hand we also get to make our own choices.
Good answer by Guru. To expand on it a little bit more, knowledge in itself isn't bad. The problem comes in with how we use knowledge.
Notice that after eating the fruit, they are ashamed of themselves. Before that time, the focus of the world was how beautiful the world is. After that, Adam and Eve looked at themselves and were embarrased. It is also a problem that we do not see ourselves as great creatures of God, but as something God messed up and needs fixing. Imagine how many problems in the world stem from this idea.
Matt
To answer your first question, according to the biblical account in Genesis 1-3, before the incident with the fruit, there is no explicit mention of evil in the world or outside of it. The description of the world in Genesis 1 portrays a perfect, harmonious creation where God declares everything to be "good." However, it is important to note that the idea of evil is not explored in great detail in these early chapters, and the book of Genesis primarily focuses on the origins of humanity and the consequences of human actions.
Regarding the nature of the first sin and why it was such a problem, the first sin, commonly referred to as the "Original Sin," occurs when Eve, influenced by the serpent (Satan), eats the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and then offers it to Adam, who also eats it. The act of disobedience in eating the fruit represented a violation of God's commandment and a rejection of His authority.
The significance of this first sin lies in the consequences it brings. Firstly, it results in a rupture in the relationship between humanity and God. Both Adam and Eve become aware of their nakedness and hide from God, indicating a sense of shame and separation. Their disobedience introduces sin into the world, leading to the introduction of suffering, pain, and death. It is from this point forward that humanity is believed to inherit a sinful nature, passing it down through generations.
Additionally, the first sin highlights the fundamental issue of human free will and the misuse of that ability. God had given Adam and Eve the freedom to choose, and they exercised that freedom by rejecting His command. This act of rebellion against their Creator was a significant problem because it represented a rejection of the relationship and trust that humanity was meant to have with God.
Overall, the first sin is seen as a crucial event in the biblical narrative because it fundamentally alters the state of humanity and introduces sin, suffering, and separation from God into the world.