was the tree of knowledge "very good"?

[shernren]

I was thinking about this and I can't seem to figure it out. Did God create the tree of knowledge of good and evil? If He did, wouldn't He be pretty much directly responsible for the Fall and advent of sin (assuming that He was able to not have created the tree of knowledge of good and evil).

Also, when was it created? Because I find it hard to believe that God would look at something that was going to bring sin into the world and say "It's very good." So what resolution is there?

 

[TwinCrier]

There are other things God created that can be used for evil, take sex for example. I doubt anyone would argue that God made it and it is good, but then God says "Don't commit adultry." That doesn't mean that God created adultry. The bible doesn't state the purpose of the tree of knowledge, and I guess we may never know now.
Of course if you take an allegorical interpretation of scripture, the tree wasn't a tree at all and never existed anymore than Adam and Eve.

 

[Marshall Janzen]

Yeah, I agree with TwinCrier. Except for the last sentence of course. Even if the tree wasn't a literal tree, what it represented still existed. (Just as Jesus doesn't cease to exist if we believe the Lord's supper only symbolizes his body and blood.)

 

[TwinCrier]

What part of the last sentence is incorrect?

 

[Marshall Janzen]

The part that claimed that if the tree "wasn't a tree at all" then it never existed. Even if the tree of knowledge of good and evil represented something other than a literal tree, the choice humanity made to turn away from God was still real. Personally, I think the reality of that rebellion is more important than the reality of a literal tree.

Similarly, if the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) aren't literal keys, that doesn't mean the keys of death and Hades don't exist or that Jesus doesn't hold them. Your last sentence seemed to confuse allegory with falseness.

 

[morant]

wouldn't He be pretty much directly responsible for the Fall and advent of sin

that's one of the biggest athiestic/agnostic arguments ever

is God omnipotent? if so, isn't all this mess his fault?

 

[TwinCrier]

Oh, I get it. So the tree exists but isn't a tree, just as the keys exist but they aren't keys. It's a parable, like how the seed is the word of God. Not saying I agree, just that I understand why you believe what you do.

 

[onebit]

I believe sincerely that the tree in not just a symbol but an actual tree that God did create. First the tree. If the tree was just a symbol then so were all the other trees in Eden and then the tree of Life was just a symbol and the Flaming Sword another symbol. You do not see where symbolism starts and ends. Understand that God created all the trees and said to Adam:

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

You see he gave Adam freedom and warning. But the devil was subtle and twisted what God said and made Eve feel limitation rather than freedom:

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

There is where all things evil began, the devil twisted God's word. So it is satan the great deciever that is responsible for evil in this world, followed by Adam's transgression. The sin was complete and there eyes were opened when Adam ate. Nevertheless Eve was decieved. They each recieved blame. But sin came into the world by Adam.

Now know that God in the beginning knew all things. He even created an Angel, that He knew would one day seek to exalt himself above Him and He also generated a Son before all things that would destroy the works of the devil. I see great love in that. Paul says in Romans 9, who are we to reply against God.

So before the foundations of the Earth God had a plan for our Salvation. We need to remember that. Many times we think that sin entered into the world and then God had to answer to it. No not so he had an answer to the devil from before the beginning. That answer is Jesus!

 

[onebit]

Yes, God created the tree:

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Just like he created high cliffs. We respect the laws of Gravity. So needed Adam to obey his command.

 

[Marshall Janzen]

Oh, I get it. So the tree exists but isn't a tree, just as the keys exist but they aren't keys. It's a parable, like how the seed is the word of God. Not saying I agree, just that I understand why you believe what you do.

Yes, that's what I meant.

 

[Robert the Pilegrim]

I doubt anyone would argue that God made sex and it is good,

Boy, are you optimistic.
I wouldn't argue that sex is not good, but I doubt it would be too hard to find somebody who would.

 

[ALLinCHRIST]

First of ALL Genesis 1:8-9 states... ​

"Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and
there He put the man He had formed.
And the Lord God made ALL kinds of trees grow out of the ground-
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.
In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

Now to my understanding, through the careful study of Gods Word
there is Spiritual meaning here as well as the literal.
The tree of life is Christ Jesus and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the law.

If one was to look into it further, then Paul states it ALL more clearly in Romans 2:12-16; Romans 2:25-27; Romans 3:19-26 also
Romans 4:13-25; and in Romans, Chapters 5-9...ALL verses.
If one was to live their life thinking that "by whatever they DO will get them into heaven then they are assuredly mistaken"
They must eat also of the tree of life..."in Christ Jesus"
In other words, born again, the "old life" is dead and the"new life" is in Christ
The old life represents living through the law "good and evil"
The new life represents living in Chist Jesus "the tree of life"

 

[TwinCrier]

Boy, are you optimistic.
I wouldn't argue that sex is not good, but I doubt it would be too hard to find somebody who would.

I don't understand the statement here. Could you elaborate?

 

[Karryjoy]

Maybe the tree of knowlege of good and evil was a literal tree of good and evil that contained actual fruits of death --- both good fruit and evil poisonous fruit (like deadly nightshade.) of course, then God would warn or command them not to eat from that tree in the chance they might eat the deadly fruit. Satan would tempt them to eat as eating one of the deadly fruits would cause actual death to one of God's creations, which would seem to Satan a victory. Likewise, their eyes became open to the knowledge of evil, as the opposite of good, in their intent to do wrong, by the direct sin of disobeying God. The fall would still result from disobedience of eating from the tree still the same.

 

[ChrisS]

By disobeying God and eating from the tree of knowledge Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, if they lied to God the same result would probably occur, though I really don't know for sure, I'm not God.

 

[Robert the Pilegrim]

I don't understand the statement here. Could you elaborate?

I exagurated somewhat ...

During the Victorian era (and well beyond) English women did "it" for God and Queen.

The 1800s and early 1900s were full of devices to prevent nocturnal emissions and any inadvertant arrousal, masturbation by boys was cause for serious medical alarm (I don't think it was even acknowledged among girls and women).

Sex was viewed as a necessary evil, not something to be enjoyed.

This wasn't universal, but it was pretty wide spread and I would be very surprised if it had completely died off, i.e. I suspect that with a little digging one could find somebody who would argue that sex is not good.

Certainly there are those who feel that sex that doesn't include the chance of procreation is sinful.

 

[TwinCrier]

OK, but since we all got here through that means (except for the Holy Lord Jesus of course) I think we should at least acknowledge that it was a good thing at least once.
Obviously there are those that would even justify the sinful uses of sex saying God made them that way, but as usual, Satan takes what God made good and twists it into evil.

 

[Robert the Pilegrim]

OK, but since we all got here through that means (except for the Holy Lord Jesus of course) I think we should at least acknowledge that it was a good thing at least once.

I would think so.

Peace be with you,
Robert