the old Adam

the old Adam

The evil or reckless side of human nature, as attributed to the Biblical Adam (who disobeyed God's orders). I'm so sorry I yelled at you like that—the old Adam really got a hold of me there. The old Adam is in each of you, but do not succumb to it. Turn away from sin, children.
See also: Adam, old
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the old Adam

unregenerate human nature.
In Christian symbolism, the old Adam represents fallen man as contrasted with the second Adam , Jesus Christ.
1993 Outdoor Canada It is the Old Adam in us. We are descendants of a long line of dirt farmers, sheepherders…and so forth.
See also: Adam, old
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (as) old as Adam
  • Adam
  • as old as Adam
  • old as Adam
  • Would you Adam and Eve it?
  • eve
  • Adam and Eve
  • Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve
  • don't know from Adam
  • forbidden fruit
References in classic literature
You have not only got the old Adam in yourself against you, but you have got all those descendants of the original Adam who form the society around you.
Middlemarch
Water is thus the most apt sign to signify the imparting of the supernatural life of grace, supernatural cleansing and purification, and a spiritual dying to the old Adam and a rising in Christ.
A concise account of why woman are not ordained
Funnyman Jim Carrey definitely has a bit of the old Adam in him.
Well, would you Adam and Eve it
the old Adam; the offending Adam Adam, as the head of unredeemed man, stands for " original sin, " or " man without regenerating grace.
Adam and Eve