Garden of Eden, Tree of Knowledge, not quite literal

by EndofMysteries 17 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • EndofMysteries
    EndofMysteries

    I did not quote it, but yes, in EZEKIEL 31, it makes garden of Eden appear symbolic............and then those other scriptures I quoted seem to agree,

    Ezekiel 31:8 [Other] cedars were no match for it in the GARDEN OF GOD. As for juniper trees, they bore no resemblance as respects its boughs. And plane trees themselves did not prove to be like it in branches. No [other] TREE IN THE GARDEN OF GOD resembled it in its prettiness. 9 Pretty is the way that I made it in the abundance of its foliage, and all the [other] TREES OF EDEN that were in the garden of the [true] God kept envying it.’
    10 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘For the reason that you became high in stature, so that it put its treetop even among the clouds and its heart became exalted because of its height, 11 I shall also give it into the hand of the despot of [the] nations. Without fail he will act against it. According to its wickedness I will drive it out. 12 And strangers, the tyrants of [the] nations, will cut it down, and people will abandon it upon the mountains; and in all the valleys its foliage will certainly fall, and its branches will be broken among all the streambeds of the earth. And out from its shade all the peoples of the earth will come down and abandon it. 13 Upon its fallen trunk all the flying creatures of the heavens will reside, and upon its branches there will certainly come to be all the wild beasts of the field; 14 to the end that none of the watered trees may become high in their stature, or put their treetops even among the clouds, and that none drinking water may stand up against them in their height, for they will certainly all of them BE GIVEN TO DEATH, to the LAND DOWN BELOW, in the MIDST OF THE SONS OF MANKIND, to those going down into the pit.’
    15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘On the day of its going down to She′ol I shall certainly cause a mourning. On its account I will cover the watery deep, that I may hold back its streams and [that] the many waters may be restrained; and on its account I shall darken Leb′a·non, and on its account the trees of the field will all swoon away. 16 At the sound of its downfall I shall certainly cause nations to rock when I bring it down to She′ol with those going down into the pit, and in THE LAND DOWN BELOW ALL THE TREES OF E'DEN, the choicest and the best of Leb′a·non, all those drinking water, will be comforted. 17 With him they themselves also have gone down to She′ol, to those slain by the sword, and those who as his seed have dwelt in his shadow in the midst of nations.’
    18 “‘Whom have you come to resemble thus in glory and greatness among the trees of E′den? But you will certainly be BROUGHT DOWN WITH THE TREES OF E"DEN to the land down below. In the midst of the uncircumcised ones you will lie down with those slain by the sword. This is Phar′aoh and all his crowd,’ is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.”

    Moshe - any input on how Jew's compare this to Genesis? Both their book right?

  • EndofMysteries
    EndofMysteries

    O and Tec, yes the story as literal or symbolic unless in a completely different way does not loose it's meaning. Which was what my 2nd original reply was about. Whether eating fruit was sin, or taking in knowledge. Or even if not. Lets say drinking soda is a sin, your whole life you don't know that, and it's not in your thoughts of doing wrong. At the most would be a sin of ignorance. Now, your shown that it IS a sin, then each time you drink it, you sin. That's what Romans 14:13, 1 Cor 15:56 are talking about.

  • tec
    tec

    I did not quote it, but yes, in EZEKIEL 31, it makes garden of Eden appear symbolic.

    So it does.

    Tammy

  • cult classic
    cult classic

    If God is so loving and great why do his children have to exhaust themselves to figure out "his" words and their meanings?

    Thanks for those references Moshe. Very helpful.

  • moshe
    moshe

    Moshe - any input on how Jew's compare this to Genesis? Both their book right?

    E-o-M , No. The Jews in the black hats could answer that, but they don't talk to us Reform Jews much. You are welcome CC.

  • EndofMysteries
    EndofMysteries

    cult classic - by 'NOT' knowing the answer to that question, and not being clear, in what way is your life different then if there was a clear cut path? So one, his reason may involve allowing one to live their life a certain way, to present it to them and either as a lesson or judgement.

    Also, if it was so clear, would you be putting your faith in 'men' who showed you? It could be, that the only way to really understand, is not through men, but putting your faith in him, and your mind being opened up to deeper understanding.

    There are MANY logical explanations.

  • cult classic
    cult classic

    "It could be, that the only way to really understand, is not through men, but putting your faith in him, and your mind being opened up to deeper understanding." "There are MANY logical explanations."

    If you really believe that then why are you trying to explain anything? If that were true then we would be aglow with contentment because we have this deeper understanding. And if the explanations are logical, there would be little need for debate. But biblical debates happen all the time because there is so much room for interpretation. Thus my original point that if God wants us to understand him and what he wants he could make that clear in a way that all understand. That shouldn't be too difficult for the creator to pull off.

  • alfmel
    alfmel

    Mall Cop said:

    First you are using scripture to get your points across. I would recommend that you read two very good eye-openining books.

    Are you saying the Bible is not a solid foundation because other books say it's not? Exactly what makes any book infallible? What backs up your position that your books are better sources of truth than the Bible? If the anwer is "read and find out" then wouldn't the fallacy of a book be based on the opinions of the reader? And if so, what makes your opinion any better than EndofMysteries' opinion?

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