Abstract

In 1995, Francisco Ayala considered biblical Eve a myth, because a relatively recent single-pair bottleneck is unable to sustain the observed polymorphism of the human immune system. In 2011, Kenneth Kemp showed that Ayala’s conclusion depends on an implicit condition, to wit, that God animates all and only progeny of two animated parents. Here we show that both biology (the polymorphism) and scripture (Eve’s historical existence) are equally saved, upon assuming that God animates _all and only progeny of animated mothers_. We present three reasons in favor this _prima facie_ rather odd restriction: (i) it solves two long-standing biological riddles; (ii) it explains Eve’s scriptural title of “mother of all living”; and (iii) it fully respects the theology of Christ’s perfect humanity (for His lacking a biological father).