Did Adam ever eat from the Tree of Life?

[TheBear]

Please explain your vote.

 

[TheBear]

I made it a public poll, cuz that seems to be the thing these days.

 

[TheBear]

I voted no.

There is no scripture that states that Adam ever ate from the tree of life. Not once. Other scripture, combined with sound reasoning and logic, dismisses any assumptions that he did.

 

[TwinCrier]

I voted yes. That part in Genesis 3:6 that clearly states "and he did eat" makes that clear. It was Adam's sin that brought death into the world. Eve was simply deceived. God never told her to not eat the fruit.

 

[Critias]

TwinCrier, I think you are thinking of the Tree of Knowledge instead of the Tree of Life..?

It seems on these polls someone will always say you left an option out. I apologize, but for me you left an option out.

My vote is that the Bible does not say if they did or did not eat from the Tree of Life. It is human assumption that says otherwise, and is not backed by Scripture.

Can we fall away from faith in Jesus Christ? If so, then Adam and Eve could have eaten of the Tree of Life and received eternal life, then have it taken away from them for sinning.

 

[TheBear]

It seems on these polls someone will always say you left an option out. I apologize, but for me you left an option out.

It's a very simple question. Not complicated at all.

Did Adam ever, even once, eat from the Tree of Life?

Yes or No?

 

[TwinCrier]

TwinCrier, I think you are thinking of the Tree of Knowledge instead of the Tree of Life..?

It seems on these polls someone will always say you left an option out. I apologize, but for me you left an option out.

My vote is that the Bible does not say if they did or did not eat from the Tree of Life. It is human assumption that says otherwise, and is not backed by Scripture.

Can we fall away from faith in Jesus Christ? If so, then Adam and Eve could have eaten of the Tree of Life and received eternal life, then have it taken away from them for sinning.

Sorry, I was still running on adrenaline from posting about creation. So the real question is did Adam have eternal life? If so then I do believe that Adam will have a place in heaven. I believe Christ died for all sinners, past, present and future and it seemd as though Adam repented of his sin.

 

[herev]

quick answer: We don't know
longer, but still manageable answer:
I think he did, to me it is conceivable that it would have been necessary to eat from the tree of life continuously, hence there is no reason to think he didn't--he was not forbidden, only restricted after he sinned. So, I think he quite possibly did eat of it before the fall.
just my humble opinion

 

[TheBear]

quick answer: We don't know

First of all, thank you for your honesty. I respect an "I don't know" answer. It is refreshing, and earns my respect.

BTW, who is 'we'?

longer, but still manageable answer:
I think he did, to me it is conceivable that it would have been necessary to eat from the tree of life continuously, hence there is no reason to think he didn't--he was not forbidden, only restricted after he sinned. So, I think he quite possibly did eat of it before the fall.
just my humble opinion

I think understand what you're saying.

So, Adam was created mortal, and unless he ate a regular diet from the Tree of Life, his mortal body would die.....which is what happened, since he got cut off from the Tree of Life.

How am I doing?

 

[herev]

First of all, thank you for your honesty. I respect an "I don't know" answer. It is refreshing, and earns my respect.

BTW, who is 'we'?





I think understand what you're saying.

So, Adam was created mortal, and unless he ate a regular diet from the Tree of Life, his mortal body would die.....which is what happened, since he got cut off from the Tree of Life.

How am I doing?

right on

 

[Didaskomenos]

Same for me, herev. Bear, not once does it say he didn't eat it. It doesn't say he looked at Eve, or that he blinked, either. I'm more interested in what you said here:

Other scripture, combined with sound reasoning and logic, dismisses any assumptions that he did.

Can't wait to see your evidence!

 

[TheBear]

Same for me, herev. Bear, not once does it say he didn't eat it. It doesn't say he looked at Eve, or that he blinked, either. I'm more interested in what you said here:



Can't wait to see your evidence!

We could make up a whole bunch of doctrine, the foundation of which, is based on 'silence' in scripture.

You can't prove a negative. The burden of proof lies with those who assert Adam did eat from the Tree of Life.

 

[TheBear]

Okay. I'll change the wording around.

Who is inclined to believe that Adam ate from the Tree of Life, and what logic and reasoning did you use to come to that conclusion? And, for those who are inclined to believe he didn't, what is your logic and reasoning behind that?

Better?

 

[Marshall Janzen]

Since we're supposed to explain our vote, I'll copy my reply from one of the other threads about this:

Adam was kicked out so he never had the chance to eat of the tree of life even once, because if he did, he would live forever. While it does not explicitly say that Adam did not eat of it before, it does explicitly say that if he did eat of it, he would live forever.

I do see how it could mean that if Adam continues to have access to the tree so he can eat of it continually, he could live forever, but I think that's a less likely interpretation.

 

[TheBear]

Since we're supposed to explain our vote, I'll copy my reply from one of the other threads about this:

Adam was kicked out so he never had the chance to eat of the tree of life even once, because if he did, he would live forever. While it does not explicitly say that Adam did not eat of it before, it does explicitly say that if he did eat of it, he would live forever.

I do see how it could mean that if Adam continues to have access to the tree so he can eat of it continually, he could live forever, but I think that's a less likely interpretation.

Well said.

 

[Didaskomenos]

The tree of life is mentioned three times in Revelation. Is it something we need to take a bite of once we get there? If it's a literal tree in heaven, why would we need to eat from the tree? I would have thought our eternal security was all taken care of by that point.

Well then, what's the tree of life in heaven for? Is it symbolic for the perpetual flow of eternal life? A "one taste, no waste" version of it carries less value for symbolism, and besides, elsewhere the Bible seems to take a more universal purpose for the tree of life than simple "fire insurance".

In Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, and 15:4, the tree of life is a picture of the productive life of the believer, not just for some poor ******* about to die. The tree of life is not simply the way for man to not die, it's the way for him to really live. I could use some more of that fruit right about now.

 

[TheBear]

The tree of life is mentioned three times in Revelation. Is it something we need to take a bite of once we get there? If it's a literal tree in heaven, why would we need to eat from the tree? I would have thought our eternal security was all taken care of by that point.

Well then, what's the tree of life in heaven for? Is it symbolic for the perpetual flow of eternal life? A "one taste, no waste" version of it carries less value for symbolism, and besides, elsewhere the Bible seems to take a more universal purpose for the tree of life than simple "fire insurance".



In Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, and 15:4, the tree of life is a picture of the productive life of the believer, not just for some poor ******* about to die. The tree of life is not simply the way for man to not die, it's the way for him to really live. I could use some more of that fruit right about now.

I understand what you're saying.





The doctrine of the Fall, which asserts that there was no physical death of any living thing before Adam sinned against God, is used to support a young earth position. This critical aspect has been glossed over and blindly accepted by YEC's.



I am pressing the issue, because it's time we take a real close look at what seems to be a taylor-made doctrine, fit to support the YEC position.



Like I said before, if Adam was created immortal, there's no requirement for him to eat anything, let alone from a tree that will keep him alive forever. Immortal is immortal - exempt from physical death.



If Adam was created mortal, then there was physical death before he sinned against God.



And what about all the animal and plant life? Did they also have to eat from the tree of life in order to remain immortal?



This discussion goes deep to the core of a doctrine which is false - the doctrine of the Fall. These questions cannot be glossed over or dismissed out-of-hand. They address the very fiber of the doctrine of the Fall.



God is not the author of confusion. Yet, with the doctrine of the Fall, there are many levels of inconsistencies, faulty logic, unsound reasoning, assumptions, guesses and fill-in-the-blanks......all adding up to major confusion.

We need to examine and rigorously test all of our beliefs and doctrines. This one is no exception.

 

[Critias]

Hey Bear, maybe you can start a thread and state what you believe the inconsistencies are. The ones you mention above.

 

[TheBear]

Hey Bear, maybe you can start a thread and state what you believe the inconsistencies are. The ones you mention above.

No need. We are discussing them right now in this thread.

For example, you assert that Adam did eat from the Tree of Life. Yet you struggle with the logical consistency that follows. ~ Why would he need the Tree of Life if he was already created immortal? But if he was created mortal, then there was physical death before Adam sinned against God. ~ Either way, you struggle to justify it in your mind. It's a faulty logic quagmire, and you're in it.

 

[Critias]

Ok, what are the inconsistencies?