What was the purpose for the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden IF man had not o

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   graceinusposted 9 years ago

   What was the purpose for the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden IF man had not of fallen?
   
   Let assume for the moment that man had not fallen in sin in the garden of Eden, then what would have been the purpose for the Tree of Life? Would man had lived forever even if they had not sinned and without eating from the Tree of Life? If so, then what was the purpose for the Tree of Life in that time?

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   Titen-Sxullposted 9 years ago

   The magical tree motif seems to have been borrowed from older Mesopotamian legends such as the Epic of Gilgamesh.
   
   Assuming that the fall had not happened one might assume that Adam and Eve would have been able to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life and live forever. This fits with the idea that the whole thing is a test by God, if they pass the test and resist temptation to eat from the Tree of Knowledge they would be allowed to eat of the Tree of Life.
   
   It's open to interpretation as the only mention of the Tree of Life in Genesis is referencing God not wanting mankind to eat of it after the Fall. God does not want human beings to become like him and as the serpent says gaining knowledge of good and evil makes Adam and Eve aware the way God is thus eating from the Tree of Life and gaining immortality would put them on equal footing with God.
   
   It's worth noting that the serpent is another motif from Babylonian/Mesopotamian myth and the idea that the serpent is Satan in disguise is a much later interpretation and is nowhere to be found in Genesis.

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Titen- I'll stick with the bible version and to be honest I do not know what is meant by "motif". I thank you for your answer.

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   Edwin Thomasposted 9 years ago

   The tree of life was to test man's obedience to god. There is no purpose in thinking like if man hadn't fallen to temptation, cause he already did. To fall to temptation is human nature. But good god has given man a chance to praise him on earth and return to eden when Jesus christ returns.

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Edwin- Unless I'm mistaken I think you are referring to the Tree of Knowledge  (of good and evil).

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      Edwin Thomasposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      well whats the diff ?

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Edwin- I believe Genesis 3:22 will give you the perfect answer to your question. Have a good day.

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      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      et-   the difference is one contains all the things God did not  want us to know/experience and the other eternal life.    exact opposites.
      God;s desire was for us to have a pleasant quiet life with Him not the termoil we live in today.

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   GizSleepposted 9 years ago

   I presume it serves the purpose of reminding us that God gave life but also to serve as a constant temptation. That way, for Adam and Eve to enjoy a paradisic existence they would always have to remain strong.

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      David- Thank you for your answer

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   celafoeposted 9 years ago

   Actually they were in the perfect place.    AND  they were free to eat of the tree of life ---UNTIL they disobeyed God (sinned)    The ONLY (one item) in the entire garden that was forbidden was the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil.    God wanted man to be innocent and child like, not the evil bunch running on the earth today.      The tree of life would have given eternal life to them in the condition they were upon eating it.    In other words , if they ate of it while still perfect then man would have lived without ever falling.which is why God had to quickly seal it up so they could not get to it to eat of it AFTER they fell or man would have been destined to forever be Lost.
   Lucky for us God knew the heart of man is deceitful and evil and can not be trusted so He stepped in with His alternate plan and saved us from self destruction as a whole and now it is up to each individual whether to be "saved" or not.     Even though God desires that ALL men be saved , He leaves it to the individual to either be saved or to self destruct.

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      Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Not to start a theological debate but in what way is God's curse on all humanity in Genesis lucky when he could have undid the entire thing and started over?

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      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      TX   Well the alternative was He could have let them eat of the tree of life

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      celafoe- great answer. And many thanks.

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   PlanksandNailsposted 9 years ago

   The purpose of the Tree of Life is revealed throughout Scripture in multiple verses.
   
   Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a DESIRE FULFILLED is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12
   
   A SOOTHING TONGUE is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. - Proverbs 15:4
   
   SHE (WISDOM) is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. - Proverbs 3:18
   
   The fruit of the RIGHTEOUS is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. - Proverbs 11:30
   
   The purpose of the tree of life IS the REWARD for choosing life, and the removal of it for disobedience.
   
   I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSE. - Deuteronomy 30:19
   
   The tree of life comes to those who choose it, and is the REWARD for those who have already chosen it. This is the future of those who choose life.
   
   Blessed are those who WASH THEIR ROBES, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. - Revelation 22:14
   
   He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the ONE WHO CONQUERS I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ - Revelation 2:7
   
   Through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its TWELVE KINDS OF FRUIT yielding its fruit each month. - Revelation 22:2
   
   His SHARE in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. - Revelation 22:19

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      PandN- I did not realize the Book of Proverbs had so many verses relating directly to the Tree of Life. I exspected it in Genesis and Revelation but not so much in Proverbs. I learned something new. Thank you for this information. Blessings

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   krillcoposted 9 years ago

   If you continue to view the Scripture as a piece of history and as literal, you will never achieve an accurate understanding of what the entire Book is really about.

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      William- There is both literal and spiritual aspect to the bible.  And understanding of it will be realed through the Holy Spirit whom can reveal what part is literal and which part is spiritual. I don't trust man to give understanding of His word.

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      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      grace-- amen

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      graceinusposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      William - If you read my new Hub I wrote a day or two ago you will see what the main focus of the bible is about. It's titled; "His Kingdom."

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