The Deceiver and the Deceived Both Punished

But in this matter, so that we may shun evil counsels, we ought to learn a special lesson. The author of the deception was visited with fitting punishment and condemnation, and yet the one who was led astray did not go free of punishment either, though his was somewhat lighter than that of the author of the deception. We see this very plainly expressed. For Adam, who was deceived, or rather, to use the apostle’s words, “was not deceived,” but seems to have come to give a deadly consent by going along with the wishes of the woman who was deceived, is condemned only to labor and the sweat of his brow. And this is laid on him not by a curse on himself but by a curse on the ground and its barrenness. But the woman who persuaded him to it is visited with increased anguish, pains and sorrow, and is also given over to the yoke of perpetual subjection. And the serpent, who first urged them to this offense, is punished with a lasting curse. So we should be on our guard against evil counsels with the utmost care and caution. For as they bring punishment on those who give them, so too they do not let those who are deceived by them go free of guilt and punishment. [a]