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

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Ronald Nolette

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Don't you hear the Spirit of Truth communicate with you? And what He says doesn't originate from the scriptures?

Some have thought this and even gone to the extent of saying that all truth is in the scriptures. Now that is something evil spirits would say.

Every word that comes from the mouth of God definatly couldn't be contained in the limited volume of words contained in the scriptures. So it is far far far from being an exhaustive collection of recorded truths.
The Holy spirit will never contradict what is in Scripture.
 

Ronald Nolette

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Might the Holy Spirit contradict our misunderstanding of scripture?

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Yes if we hold a misunderstanding of what Scripture says. He will correct our understanding. But remember He will do so in plain language. God doesn't say one thing here but have a totally different or divergent meaning that we get "special revelation" for.
 

St. SteVen

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St. SteVen said:
Might the Holy Spirit contradict our misunderstanding of scripture?
Yes if we hold a misunderstanding of what Scripture says.
It's not about what scripture says, it's about what we think it means.
Which could be totally erroneous.

What the Holy Spirit is saying may completely contradict our erroneous misunderstanding of scripture.

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Ronald Nolette

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It's not about what scripture says, it's about what we think it means.
Which could be totally erroneous.

What the Holy Spirit is saying may completely contradict our erroneous misunderstanding of scripture.
Well believers are completely forbidden to pirvately intepret Scripture.

2 Peter 1:19-21

King James Version

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The various ways man misunderstands Scripture are:
1. they do nto compare Scripture to scripture to see what the whole counsel of God says
2. they rip verses out of their immediate context
3. they redefine words to suit their predisposed ideas.
4. they don't take into account the cultural differences i nhow language was used.
5. they allegorize or reinterpret Scripture as if god needed an editor.

Jesus did not speak and inspire the bible to be a mystic book that needs decoding!

the best rule of thumg to understand Scripture is this:

“When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.”–Dr. David L. Cooper (1886-1965),

Remember Jesus created language so we could talk to him and each other in an understandable way. He also inspired men to define what words mean so we could understand what we are saying to each other.

He also wrote teh bible so we could understand it.

when there is symbolism used in teh bible and there is lots, The bible itself defines its own symbols.
founder of The Biblical Research Society
 

Ronald Nolette

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Well, everyone does it. (unless you are Catholic)

You are privately misinterpreting the scripture you quoted.

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It doesn't make it right.

And show me that I am misinterpreting from sound biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. Sorry but you just saying so isn't enough.
 

St. SteVen

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It doesn't make it right.

And show me that I am misinterpreting from sound biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. Sorry but you just saying so isn't enough.
Here's what you posted.
Well believers are completely forbidden to pirvately intepret Scripture.

2 Peter 1:19-21​

King James Version​

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Verse 21 explains why "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." - vs 20
BECAUSE: "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."- vs 21

This has nothing to do with the interpretation of the reader. It is saying that the prophets spoke directly from God, THEY did not interpret what He said.

Therefore your claim is unfounded.

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Ronald Nolette

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Verse 21 explains why "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." - vs 20
BECAUSE: "the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."- vs 21

This has nothing to do with the interpretation of the reader. It is saying that the prophets spoke directly from God, THEY did not interpret what He said.

Therefore your claim is unfounded.
It says no prophecy of any personal opinion. that also includes all mankind! It is not your or my opinion, but what the holy men spoke that matters
 

St. SteVen

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It says no prophecy of any personal opinion. that also includes all mankind! It is not your or my opinion, but what the holy men spoke that matters
The personal opinion of the prophet. Nothing to do with us.
Jesus allowed for opinions.

Luke 10:26 NIV
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

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One 2 question

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I fully agree we can hear from the Holy spirit! He still speaks. but He will not give any extra- biblical teachings or unveil "new doctrine". He can warn of impending dangers and such, but never contradict Scripture.
Why in your opinion is Father not allowed to communicate truth to us today? That is, new revelations that He's never disclosed in history?

I'm fairly confident you don't believe any amount of scrolls or books could be considered exhaustive when it comes to all truth, every word that comes from the mouth of God. Most of what God speaks to Jesus, the angels, the heavenly hosts, principalities and powers over the past 6000 years has not been heard let alone recorded by humans.

God certainly communicates new truths that go way further than what is documented in scripture and even the bibles.
 
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soberxp

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St. SteVen said:
Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?

Why so?

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If you look at the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as the same tree, then you can well understand why the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is in the center.
 

Wick Stick

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So you think God couldn't save Adam and Eve?
"God can't" is almost always an error, but...

The point of the story seems to be that mankind is in reprobation. There seems to be no salvation for Adam and his descendants. For men to be saved, they need to be adopted OUT of Adam's lineage and into a different one.
 
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St. SteVen

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If you look at the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as the same tree, then you can well understand why the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is in the center.
Why would you assume they are the same tree?

Genesis 3:22 NIV
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.
He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

[
 

Ronald Nolette

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The personal opinion of the prophet. Nothing to do with us.
Jesus allowed for opinions.

Luke 10:26 NIV
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

[
He wasn't asking for his opinion, but what the law was as written.

We have no right to reinterpret any teaching of Scripture. Men of god spoke as God instructed them. We do not have the authority to decide that it can mean anything other than written.
 

Ronald Nolette

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Why in your opinion is Father not allowed to communicate truth to us today? That is, new revelations that He's never disclosed in history?

I'm fairly confident you don't believe any amount of scrolls or books could be considered exhaustive when it comes to all truth, every word that comes from the mouth of God. Most of what God speaks to Jesus, the angels, the heavenly hosts, principalities and powers over the past 6000 years has not been heard let alone recorded by humans.

God certainly communicates new truths that go way further than what is documented in scripture and even the bibles.
Because there is no new teaching or doctrine that can be given. All we need is found in the Scriptures as was written.

I know god still speaks and communicates, but I also know that He will never contradict what He has already revealed in Scripture! Sadly nearly all "new revelations" redefine or contradict what is already written.
 

soberxp

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Why would you assume they are the same tree?

Genesis 3:22 NIV
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.
He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

[

Because the tree of life is human genealogy, the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil also human genealogy, so I say it is the same tree.