The Whole Counsel of God Genesis 2:8-25
6 snips
Aug 14, 2023 A verse-by-verse tour of Genesis 2–3 that treats Eden as a walled, temple-like garden modeled on ancient Persian designs. The talk traces rivers as divine life flowing from a sacred mountain and links naming animals to authority and order. It explores the meaning of the forbidden tree, the phrase knowledge of good and evil, the creation of woman from man, and the roots of marriage and innocence.
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Eden As A Walled Divine Garden
- Eden is described as a particular walled garden, not the whole world, reflecting ancient Near Eastern imagery of divine dwelling places.
- Fr. Stephen De Young links this to Persian 'paradise' gardens and the Taj Mahal's walled garden layout as a model.
Garden As Preparation For A Greater Mission
- The garden is preparatory: humanity is created innocent with a destiny to cultivate the whole world, not to remain permanently in Eden.
- Salvation aims to accomplish humanity's original vocation, not simply restore Adam's initial state.
Trees Symbolize Sustenance And Limits
- The tree imagery emphasizes provision without death, with fruit trees offering life without killing the plant.
- The two special trees (life and knowledge) set symbolic boundaries for human maturity and access to certain knowledge.
