Two Adams

Duos homines beatus Apostlus hodie retulit humano generi dedisse principium, Adam videlict et Christum: duos homines pares corpore, sed merito dispares; compage membrorum tota veritate persimiles, sed ipso sui principio tota dissimiles veritate. Factus est, inquit, primus homo Adam in animam viventem, novissimus Adam in spiritum vivificantem. Ille primus ab isto novissimo factus est, a quo est et animam consecutus, ut viveret; hic est ipso se figuratus auctore, qui vitam non exspectaret ab altero, sed ipse vitam solus omnibus largiretur; ille vilissimo plasmatur ex limo, ex utero pretioso Virginis hic procedit; in illo terra mutatur in carnem, in isto caro promovetur in Deum. Et quid plura? Hic est Adam, qui suam tunc in illo cum fingeret imaginem collocavit. Hinc est quod ejus et personam suscipit, et nomen recepit, ne sibi, quod ad suam imaginem fecerat deperiret. Primus Adam, novissimus Adam, ille primus habet initium, hic novissimus non habet finem. Quia hic novissimus vere ipse est primus, ipso dicente: Ego primus, et ego novissimus. Ego sum primus, id est sine initio. Ego novissimus, utique sine fine. Sed non prius, inqui, quod spirituale est, sed quod animale, deinde quod spirituale. Prius utique terra quam fructus; sed non tam pretiosa terra quam fructus; illa gemitus exigit et labores, hic substantiam largitur et vitam. Merito propheta de tali fructu gloriatur, dicens: Terra nostra dedit fructum suum. Quem fructum? Illum nempe de quo alibi dicit: De fructi ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam. Primus homo, ait, de terra terrenus; secundus homo, de caelo coelestis. Ubi sunt qui conceptum Virginis, Virginis partum, mulierum partibus existimant exaequandum, cum illud de terra sit, hoc de caelo; hoc divinae virtutis sit, illud infimitatis humanae; illud sit in corpore passionis, hoc totum sit in tranquillitate divini Spiritus, humani corporis in quiete? Sanguis siluit, caro stupuit, soporata sunt membra, et aula Virginis tota est in coelesti commoratione suspensa, donec auctor carnis, carnis sumeret indumentum, et fieret homo coelestis, qui non solum terram redderet homini, sed homini donaret et coelum. Virgo concipit, Virgo paturit, Virgo permanet. Ergo virtutis est caro conscia, non doloris, quae magis pariendo integritatis augmenta suscipit, damna pudoris ignorat: testis potius sui partus existit, quae nullas partus pertulit passiones; et sacramentis coelestibus interfuisse se nova mater miratur, quae nascentis ordinem intelligit humanae consuetduinis nil habere. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo CXVII, In Verba Apostoli: 'Factus est primus homo Adam in animam viventem etc' Source: Migne PL 52  520a-521a

The holy Apostle recounts that two men gave a beginning to the human race, that is, Adam and Christ, two men equal in body but unequal in worth, in the structure of members truly similar but most dissimilar in their beginnings. 'The first man Adam was made into a living soul, the last Adam into a life giving spirit,' he says. 1 That first one made by the last, from whom he received his soul that he live, the last fashioned by His own self who had not waited to receive life from another but alone gave it to all men. The first was shaped from vile mud, the last came forth from the Virgin's precious womb, in the former earth is changed into flesh, in the latter flesh is raised up to God. And what more? This last Adam is he who placed His own image in the first when He made him. That is why He takes up his form and receives his name, so that that which He had made to His own image not perish. The first Adam, the last Adam; the first one has a beginning, the last has no end. For in truth the last is first, with Himself saying, 'I am the first and the last.' 2 'I am the first' that is, without a beginning. 'I am the last' and so without an end. 'But it is not the spiritual that comes first but the physical and then the spiritual,' the Apostle says. 3 Certainly the earth is before the fruit, but it is not so precious as the fruit; the first exacts groans and toil, the latter gives substance and life. Rightly the Prophet glories in such fruit: 'Our earth has yielded its fruit.' 4 What fruit? Clearly that concerning which it says elsewhere: 'Of the fruit of your womb I will set on your throne.' 5 'The first man was from earth, earthly, the second man from heaven, heavenly,' the Apostle says. 6 Where are they who think that the Virgin's conception and the Virgin's giving birth are adjudged to be like other women when the latter are from the earth, the former from heaven, the former is by Divine power, the latter by human infirmity, the latter is in a body of passion, the former completely in the tranquility of the Divine Spirit and the peace of the human body? The blood was still, the flesh stunned, the limbs were put to sleep, 7 and the entire royal chamber of the Virgin was in suspense until the creator of flesh took up the garment of flesh to become the heavenly man who was not merely to restore the earth to men but also to give man heaven. The Virgin conceives, the Virgin gives birth, The Virgin persists. Therefore the flesh is conscious of virtue not suffering and by giving birth she receives an increase of chastity with no harm to her modesty, rather she is a witness of giving birth who suffered none of its pains, and the new mother marvels at having a part in the heavenly mysteries, understanding that the manner of her giving birth has nothing to do with the ways of men. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 117, On The Words of The Apostle 'The first man Adam was made into a living soul etc' 1 1 Cor 15.45 2 Isaiah 48.12 3 1 Cor 15.46 4 Ps 84.18 5 Ps 131.11 6 1 Cor 15.47  7 cf Gen 2.21