Why was "the Tree" placed in the center of the garden (orchard)

[St. SteVen]

The forbidden tree placed where it had to be confronted often.

Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

Interestingly, Adam and Eve had to be deceived to "eat thereof".

It seems they had no intention of eating from the forbidden tree.

What was going on here?

Whether you take the story as literal or figurative, it begs many questions.

 

[Lambano]

Whether you take the story as literal or figurative, it begs many questions.

Like, why am I awake thinking about the problem of theodicy at 3 a.m. EDT on a Sunday morning?

 

[Aunty Jane]

The forbidden tree placed where it had to be confronted often.

Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

Interestingly, Adam and Eve had to be deceived to "eat thereof".

Actually they had to break God’s law to eat it.
Having created humans in his image, God gave them free will, but it was not unconditional.....in order to keep living indefinitely, the humans had to obey their Creator, and the fruit of this tree represented God’s sovereign right to make the rules associated with living forever. He placed this tree as his own property, under penalty of death.
The “other” tree in the garden was the one that guaranteed everlasting life.....when they partook of the TKGE, access to the “tree of life” was denied and they were evicted from the garden, never to enter it again.

It seems they had no intention of eating from the forbidden tree.

What was going on here?

Without the devil lying about the penalty, the woman would never have taken the fruit, but he inferred that there was a sinister motive in God's planting of this one tree, and that he was holding back something that would benefit them and make them “like God”.
He wanted to separate the humans from their Sovereign Creator and take his place in their lives. He desired their worship and it was he who wanted to “be like God”.

To allow the devil to prove his claims that the humans were better off disobeying their God, Luke tells us that God delivered rulership of the world over to him, and that the devil could give rulership to whomever he wished. (Luke 4:6-7)

Whether you take the story as literal or figurative, it begs many questions.

The Bible answers all of them.....

 

[St. SteVen]

Like, why am I awake thinking about the problem of theodicy at 3 a.m. EDT on a Sunday morning?

LOL
Hope you are getting some rest now.

Seems that A&E were different than human children now-a-days.
I think video testing has been done recently on children to see if they
will follow instructions when they THINK no one is watching.

But basically, if you put a toy in the middle of the playroom
and instruct a child that they can play with any toy in the room
except for that one, what happens? An obvious set-up.

With that in mind, why did God place "the Tree" in the middle of the Garden? (orchard)

Or, alternatively, why do I keep writing "Garden"? "(orchard)" - LOL

 

[Lambano]

Seems that A&E were different than human children now-a-days.
I think video testing has been done recently on children to see if they
will follow instructions when they THINK no one is watching.

But basically, if you put a toy in the middle of the playroom
and instruct a child that they can play with any toy in the room
except for that one, what happens? An obvious set-up.

With that in mind, why did God place "the Tree" in the middle of the Garden? (orchard)

"Supralapsarianism" - a branch of Reformed theology that says God decreed that Humanity MUST Fall into sin and death.

I agree that, for whatever purposes God has for Humankind, it is apparently necessary that we know through experience Good and Evil.

 

[Lambano]

Or, alternatively, why do I keep writing "Garden"? "(orchard)" - LOL

I assume you'll reveal that in your own time.

 

[St. SteVen]

"Supralapsarianism" - a branch of Reformed theology that says God decreed that Humanity MUST Fall into sin and death.

I agree that, for whatever purposes God has for Humankind, it is apparently necessary that we know through experience Good and Evil.

Yes.
Seems that the Logos (logic/reason/plan) was in place before creation.
That Logos/Word (logic/reason/plan) became flesh and dwelt among us.
The culmination of the law. (Rom. 10:4 NIV)

 

[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:

Or, alternatively, why do I keep writing "Garden"? "(orchard)" - LOL

I assume you'll reveal that in your own time.

One of the newer translations uses the word orchard. (NET)

Genesis 2:9 New English Translation
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil,[a]
every tree that was pleasing to look at[b] and good for food.
(Now[c] the tree of life[d] and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil[e]
were in the middle of the orchard.)

 

[Gottservant]

It's not wrong to be in the Garden of Eden, if you don't know why you are there (selah)

 

[Ziggy]

Some 2000 years ago in the midst of Israel was the "tree" of Moses and the "tree" of Jesus.
One led to life and the other led to death.

In order to recieve eternal life one must surely die and be born again.
So both trees were necesarry for salvation.

Both trees are good for food.
Gen 2:9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Moses was given the law of do's and don'ts. Jesus was given the keys of faith and grace.
You have to learn the do's and don'ts before you can use the keys of faith and grace.
But once you've learned the do's and don'ts you don't need them to lead you.
You master them. And then you walk by faith through grace.

Jhn 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Why were they placed in the center?

Luk 24:36
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Mat 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Zec 8:3
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Luk 2:46
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Because God is in the center of everything, always.
Whether it be his law or his word.
His word is his law.
And everything flows from the center.

Hugs

 

[ScottA]

The forbidden tree placed where it had to be confronted often.

Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

Interestingly, Adam and Eve had to be deceived to "eat thereof".

It seems they had no intention of eating from the forbidden tree.

What was going on here?

Whether you take the story as literal or figurative, it begs many questions.

Jesus is the tree of life ("the way, the truth, and the life").

The garden is the world.

Jesus came into the world "in the middle" between the times of Israel and the times of the Gentiles. For which it is written:

Daniel 9:27​

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”​

 

[Aunty Jane]

"Supralapsarianism" - a branch of Reformed theology that says God decreed that Humanity MUST Fall into sin and death.

There seems to be an "ism" for everything these days....this one argues with all that God instructed the humans to do however......if we reverse what happened that day, mankind had no way for 'sin and death' to enter their experience. There was no other mention of death to Adam, except if he disobeyed that one command. (Gen 2:16-17)

Apparently the humans as well as the devil could not be told that it was wise to obey their Creator in all things....all of these rebels knew what God had commanded, but disobeyed anyway because it seemed like a good idea to them......but a good idea to the devil was not good for the humans because satan knew it meant death for them, but he didn't care....all he wanted was their worship and to steal it from God was the only way he could gain what he sought.

The woman was deceived, tempted by the devil's lies of something better.....but the man was not deceived....when she tempted him, he sided with his disobedient wife because the devil had created a situation that divided his loyalties......all three had sinned against God, but for different reasons that are all still working for the devil to this day. Selfishness....all three were thinking only of themselves.

I agree that, for whatever purposes God has for Humankind, it is apparently necessary that we know through experience Good and Evil.

It wasn't that man HAD to "fall into sin and death", but that God would not prevent the abuse of free will, (that would mean that it was not free at all) and if they did, he would then use it as an object lesson for all his intelligent creation to learn from. He would allow them all to experience first hand what happens when they leave him out of their decisions.

He had put in place a way for humanity never to experience evil, but the devil found a way to gain his own worshippers and he also took many of his angelic 'brothers' into defection with him. So all that has transpired since Eden, has been as much about God's angelic sons as it has been about his earthly children, because he gave the humans, (born in sin through no fault on their part) an opportunity to rise above their sinful state and repent....no such offer has ever been mentioned to the angels. According to Jesus, the lake of fire is their final destination.....it is a place that he has 'reserved' for them, but the "goats" will get there before them. (Matt 25:41, 46)
Not that the dead in gehenna will know this because they are "destroyed" in that place. (Matt 10:28) The devil and his hordes will be destroyed too when God is finished with them, after the thousand year reign of God's Kingdom. (Rev 20:1-3)

Only the "sheep" will survive "the end" of this current world system of things, when God brings the curtain down on satan's rulership and all who even tacitly support it. God's kingdom, which is "no part of the world", will replace satan's corrupt rulership and usher in "a new earth, where righteousness is to dwell" (2 Peter 3:13; Dan 2:44) Then "the meek shall inherit the earth"...where God put them in the first place....they will inherit a restored paradise. (Rev 21:2-4)

Now that is some good news for those who want to listen......

 

[face2face]

The forbidden tree placed where it had to be confronted often.

Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am In the midst of them.”

The Tree of Life occupied a place in the "midst of the garden" with the "tree of knowledge of good and evil" (see Gen. 3:3).
Two choices: obedience or sin; life or death.
Free will to decide!
The same choice is presented to mankind today.
F2F

 

[St. SteVen]

The Tree of Life occupied a place in the "midst of the garden"...

Interesting.
How did you arrive at that conclusion?

 

[RR144]

Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

because that's where God planted it

 

[St. SteVen]

because that's where God planted it

Oh... silly me. - LOL

Can you post something a bit more thoughtful?
On second thought, never mind.