If Adam and Eve had not eaten from the tree of knowledge, how could they know it was wrong to do so

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Faithsong

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In the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, if the fruit of the Tree-of-Knowledge contains the knowledge of Good/Evil and Right/Wrong, then how could Adam and Eve have known it was “wrong” to disobey God and eat the fruit before they did? They couldn’t have known what right and wrong meant. Also if God had explained to Adam and Eve what right and wrong was before they ate of the fruit so that they would understand why it was wrong to eat the apple, then wouldn’t He have essentially given them the Knowledge that he had just forbidden them to have? Remember; THIS is the Original Sin, the basis for the need for salvation in all of Christianity.

Moreover, why did God put the Tree-of-Knowledge in the Garden of Eden in the first place? Especially if He knew what was going to happen? Isn’t he supposed to know everything that will ever happen? It would have been so easy just to place it on the other side of the world; or on the Moon for that matter.

So why did God not know that this fruit would be eaten, did God err?

Why?
 

Nancy

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In the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, if the fruit of the Tree-of-Knowledge contains the knowledge of Good/Evil and Right/Wrong, then how could Adam and Eve have known it was “wrong” to disobey God and eat the fruit before they did? They couldn’t have known what right and wrong meant. Also if God had explained to Adam and Eve what right and wrong was before they ate of the fruit so that they would understand why it was wrong to eat the apple, then wouldn’t He have essentially given them the Knowledge that he had just forbidden them to have? Remember; THIS is the Original Sin, the basis for the need for salvation in all of Christianity.

Moreover, why did God put the Tree-of-Knowledge in the Garden of Eden in the first place? Especially if He knew what was going to happen? Isn’t he supposed to know everything that will ever happen? It would have been so easy just to place it on the other side of the world; or on the Moon for that matter.

So why did God not know that this fruit would be eaten, did God err?

Why?

Hi Faithsong, and welcome to CB! :)
Can we equate being wrong with sin? And, the verse you quoted doesn't have Right/Wrong in it... I am wrong a lot, lol. I'm just not so sure they are the same things.
My take is that God wished for His creation to Love Him without forcing them to. He want's us to choose to love Him on our own so...free will has much to do with this too..
I believe God knows everything, from beginning to end. And, God never errs, ever.
We are not to know some things, I think. But we will see one day clearly :)
nancy
 
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Hidden In Him

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In the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, if the fruit of the Tree-of-Knowledge contains the knowledge of Good/Evil and Right/Wrong, then how could Adam and Eve have known it was “wrong” to disobey God and eat the fruit before they did? They couldn’t have known what right and wrong meant. Also if God had explained to Adam and Eve what right and wrong was before they ate of the fruit so that they would understand why it was wrong to eat the apple, then wouldn’t He have essentially given them the Knowledge that he had just forbidden them to have? Remember; THIS is the Original Sin, the basis for the need for salvation in all of Christianity.

Well greetings in Christ Jesus.

There are different interpretations of what "then you shall know both good and evil" mean. They did indeed know beforehand right from wrong, because the command was clearly given not to before they ate. But I take "good and evil" in the sense of knowing that both spiritual good and spiritual evil existed, and that there would be judgments upon those who obeyed evil, both among men and angels.
Moreover, why did God put the Tree-of-Knowledge in the Garden of Eden in the first place? Especially if He knew what was going to happen? Isn’t he supposed to know everything that will ever happen? It would have been so easy just to place it on the other side of the world; or on the Moon for that matter.

Because God wanted us to enter into the arena, as it were. There was a choice that would have to be made; man would be made aware of the rebellion of Satan and his angels, and he would have no choice but to take sides. Would he obey the enemy or God?

Welcome to the forum, and hope you like being a member here.
Hidden In Him
 

Faithsong

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Hi Faithsong, and welcome to CB! :)
Can we equate being wrong with sin? And, the verse you quoted doesn't have Right/Wrong in it... I am wrong a lot, lol. I'm just not so sure they are the same things.
My take is that God wished for His creation to Love Him without forcing them to. He want's us to choose to love Him on our own so...free will has much to do with this too..
I believe God knows everything, from beginning to end. And, God never errs, ever.
We are not to know some things, I think. But we will see one day clearly :)
nancy
If God did not err, why did he put the tree of knowledge in the garden when he knew what they would do because he made them.
 

Faithsong

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Well greetings in Christ Jesus.

There are different interpretations of what "then you shall know both good and evil" mean. They did indeed know beforehand right from wrong, because the command was clearly given not to before they ate. But I take "good and evil" in the sense of knowing that both spiritual good and spiritual evil existed, and that there would be judgments upon those who obeyed evil, both among men and angels.


Because God wanted us to enter into the arena, as it were. There was a choice that would have to be made; man would be made aware of the rebellion of Satan and his angels, and he would have no choice but to take sides. Would he obey the enemy or God?

Welcome to the forum, and hope you like being a member here.
Hidden In Him
How did they know right from wrong if the apple contained this knowledge.
Why did God not know what they would do beforehand?
 

101G

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Hi Faithsong, and welcome to CB! :)
Can we equate being wrong with sin? And, the verse you quoted doesn't have Right/Wrong in it... I am wrong a lot, lol. I'm just not so sure they are the same things.
My take is that God wished for His creation to Love Him without forcing them to. He want's us to choose to love Him on our own so...free will has much to do with this too..
I believe God knows everything, from beginning to end. And, God never errs, ever.
We are not to know some things, I think. But we will see one day clearly :)
nancy
100% correct N, just as the Devil is evil and not sin. and most equate evil with sin. but evil was created by God, and God is not EVIL......

the same thing with sin and iniquity, they are not the same.

so on point N.

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101G The "Spiritual Saboteur"
 
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101G

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How did they know right from wrong if the apple contained this knowledge.
Why did God not know what they would do beforehand?

it's how one use knowledge, Eve want to make ... HERSELF WISE... and not God.

and he, God, did know, Romans 8:20 (KJV)

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Enoch111

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...how could Adam and Eve have known it was “wrong” to disobey God and eat the fruit before they did
Do parents of 2 and 3 year olds explain certain hazards to those children in detail, or do they simply tell them to avoid doing certain things (like touching a hot stove)? The very fact that Adam and Eve were forbidden to do something was enough (or should have been enough).
 

Sabertooth

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...how could Adam and Eve have known it was “wrong” to disobey God and eat the fruit before they did?
They did not know "wrong" as compared to "right."
They did not know "bad" as compared to "good."

But by God's pronouncement, they did know "safe" vs. "unsafe;" "healthy" vs. "unhealthy."
So why did God not know that this fruit would be eaten, did God err?
He did know, but it was necessary that they were apprised of the consequences, anyway.
God wasn't looking to punish them in their failure. Indeed, He mounted a rescue mission immediately [Genesis 3:15].
Our horrible state was a consequence of their actions. And He blocked access to the Tree of Life [Genesis 3:22-24] so we would not be stuck in this condition forever.

Even the curses in Genesis 3:16-19 were designed to drive us back to Him. See Matthew 6:24-33.

"But seek first
the kingdom of God and
His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33 NKJV
 
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Faithsong

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Because God said not to.

The serpent said: 'Hath God said...?'
God said not to eat the apple, but since the apple contained the knowledge of right and wrong they could not have known what right and wrong were, however God already knew this.
 

Hidden In Him

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God said not to eat the apple, but since the apple contained the knowledge of right and wrong they could not have known what right and wrong were, however God already knew this.

You are caught in circular reasoning without listening to the responses you are getting. They knew right and wrong because they were told by God right from wrong from the outset in Genesis 2:17. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil did not "contain the knowledge of [moral] right and wrong." If eaten, it would open their eyes spiritually to know the reality of spiritual evil and spiritual good in the universe, and the costs of obeying the former.
 
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101G

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They did not know "wrong" as compared to "right."
They did not know "bad" as compared to "good."

But by God's pronouncement, they did know "safe" vs. "unsafe;" "healthy" vs. "unhealthy."

He did know, but it was necessary that they were apprised of the consequences, anyway.
God wasn't looking to punish them in their failure. Indeed, He mounted a rescue mission immediately [Genesis 3:15].
Our horrible state was a consequence of their actions. And He blocked access to the Tree of Life [Genesis 3:22-24] so we would not be stuck in this condition forever.

Even the curses in Genesis 3:16-19 were designed to drive us back to Him. See Matthew 6:24-33.
Good point, God started the first war, and the devil got kicked out of the Garden, and the paradise to come, that is restore, the devil is nothing but a looser all the way around.

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Faithsong

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You are caught in circular reasoning without listening to the responses you are getting. They knew right and wrong because they were told by God right from wrong from the outset in Genesis 2:17. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil did not "contain the knowledge of [moral] right and wrong." If eaten, it would open their eyes spiritually to know the reality of spiritual evil and spiritual good in the universe, and the costs of obeying the former.
There is a larger question and this one is not about Adam and Eve.

How come God did not know what they would do? This is the equivalent of God testing himself, and he failed, just like you would fail if your invention stopped working
 

101G

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God said not to eat the apple, but since the apple contained the knowledge of right and wrong they could not have known what right and wrong were, however God already knew this.
Spiritual maturity comes with time. Proverbs 22:6 (kjv).

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101G

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There is a larger question and this one is not about Adam and Eve.

How come God did not know what they would do? This is the equivalent of God testing himself, and he failed, just like you would fail if your invention stopped working
error, a teacher don't test their student to see if they, the teacher know... no they test to see if the student know.

and if they fail, have a plan as Sabertooth said, long term tutoring ........ :eek: YIKES!

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101G The "Spiritual Saboteur"