Tree of Life

Whatever may have been the frame and texture of Adam’s body while in Eden, it is certain that, being “of the earth, it was earthy,” and was thus liable to disease and exposed to decay; just as his soul; at the same time, was liable to the greater evil of temptation by being exposed to the power of the tempter. Hence, while “every tree of the garden was given for food,” the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, was provided by Infinite Wisdom as the appointed antidote of disease or decay of the body while, at the same time, the enjoyment of spiritual life, or the indwelling of the spirit of God, and the right of access to the tree of life, thus securing immortality, were conditioned on our first parents not eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge (Genesis 2:9-17). The various references to the “tree of life” evidently consider it to have been the divinely appointed medium for securing the immortality of our first parents (Proverbs 3:18; 11:30; Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 2:7; 22:2,14). See Reineccius, De Arbore Vitae (Weissenf. 1722). SEE LIFE.

To continue reading this Bible article, click here.

Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Keywords: Tree of Life, garden of Eden, Paradise

Bible reference(s): Genesis 2:9, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 3:24, Proverbs 3:18, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 13:12, Proverbs 15:4, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:14, Revelation 22:19

Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.