What is that Tree about?

[BobRyan]

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was not a test created by God;

Gen 2 says the tree was created by God and that He stated the conditions for pass - vs - fail.

rather, it became a source of temptation for Eve due to the devil's cunning deception.

You are pointing to the devils means of trying to get Adam and Eve to fail the test rather than proving that the test did not exist.

God's way according to scripture - is to test.

Jer 17:10
10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

that is exactly what we see in Gen 2 and Gen 3.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Gen 2 says the tree was created by God and that He stated the conditions for pass - vs - fail.

You are pointing to the devils means of trying to get Adam and Eve to fail the test rather than proving that the test did not exist.

God's way according to scripture - is to test.

Jer 17:10
10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.

that is exactly what we see in Gen 2 and Gen 3.

Genesis chapters two and three do not mention God testing Adam, Eve, or both. These chapters focus on the creation of man and woman, the establishment of the Garden of Eden, and the events leading to the fall of man.

 

[Strong in Him]

You may eat anything you like from all the trees in the garden except!

Except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is that tree about. What exactly is the meaning of this prohibition?

It meant that the Lord Almighty had forbidden him to eat fruit from one of the trees.
Why he did that, what the tree stood for etc. was not Adam's concern. His maker, who had given him everything, told him not to do something.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

It meant that the Lord Almighty had forbidden him to eat fruit from one of the trees.
Why he did that, what the tree stood for etc. was not Adam's concern. His maker, who had given him everything, told him not to do something.

Considering the narrative and the objectives of each party, what do you believe is the meaning of this story? What lesson is it intended to convey?

 

[Strong in Him]

Considering the narrative and the objectives of each party, what do you believe is the meaning of this story? What lesson is it intended to convey?

The meaning of the story is that if God commands you not to do something, don't do it.

 

[fhansen]

You may eat anything you like from all the trees in the garden except!

Except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is that tree about. What exactly is the meaning of this prohibition?

It’s a matter of disobedience vs obedience, heeding God vs not heeding Him. To disobey God is to die: all creation is meant to be subjugated to Him, under His wise control. For rational created beings with free will, however, this is a choice, and the eating from the tree, or not, represents that choice. All of Gods work with man since that time has been geared towards patiently bringing him back around to the right choice where he may now eat from the tree of life instead. It’s about the proper use of the beautiful gift of freedom that we’ve been given.

 

[Jonaitis]

You may eat anything you like from all the trees in the garden except!

Except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is that tree about. What exactly is the meaning of this prohibition?

The meaning of the tree's name may be related to the command given to Adam. In eating of the fruit, Adam would know sin, being innocent by nature, thus coming to the knowledge between good and evil.

It is said by some that the prohibition was a covenant stipulation between God and Adam (as the federal head of his posterity).

 

[GentleGospeller]

You may eat anything you like from all the trees in the garden except!

Except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is that tree about. What exactly is the meaning of this prohibition?

Simply about a choice, between God and self. Demonstrates God gives freewill, freechoice to choose between Him and self. Adam/Eve in obedience to God in eating only from the Tree of life, is a reliance upon His providence, and is therefore faith and trust. To eat from the other tree (being just a tree they were commanded to not eat from) reveals the law of God. In eating they transgressed, and obtained experience in both good (harmony with God) and evil (apart from God).

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Simply about a choice, between God and self. Demonstrates God gives freewill, freechoice to choose between Him and self. Adam/Eve in obedience to God in eating only from the Tree of life, is a reliance upon His providence, and is therefore faith and trust. To eat from the other tree (being just a tree they were commanded to not eat from) reveals the law of God. In eating they transgressed, and obtained experience in both good (harmony with God) and evil (apart from God).

Adam and Eve were persuaded by the serpent's tale, which lured Eve with the promise: "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5 RSV). Essentially, Adam and Eve desired to emulate God, not through loyal obedience, but by acquiring autonomous knowledge, determining for themselves what constitutes good and evil.

 

[BobRyan]

Adam and Eve were persuaded by the serpent's tale, which lured Eve with the promise: "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5 RSV). Essentially, Adam and Eve desired to emulate God, not through loyal obedience, but by acquiring autonomous knowledge, determining for themselves what constitutes good and evil.

Is 14 -- Satan said he wanted to "be like God"
Gen 3 - the first thing Satan does is tempt Eve to "want to be like God" - to evolve toward a higher plane of existence. To challenge God etc.

If we delete all the details in a given portion of scripture - we can still get to some vague generalities. To be sure.

 

[BobRyan]

Genesis chapters two and three do not mention God testing Adam, Eve, or both.

Except the part where He says "there is a tree with fruit on it ... looks good.. but don't eat it.. if you do you will die".,

Not a very hard test - but a test.

These chapters focus on the creation of man and woman

True... if we ignore the details about telling them not to do something and warning them they will die if they disobey that rule.

Interesting that "that detail" meant that God the Son Himself would have to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind if God wanted to save man.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Except the part where He says "there is a tree with fruit on it ... looks good.. but don't eat it.. if you do you will die".,

Not a very hard test - but a test.

True... if we ignore the details about telling them not to do something and warning them they will die if they disobey that rule.

Interesting that "that detail" meant that God the Son Himself would have to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind if God wanted to save man.

Advice is not necessarily a test; it's possible to advise someone "Do not eat those mushrooms," without it being a challenge to see whether or not they will comply.