Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • CARLOS RAMIREZ TREVINO on Genesis 2 - 3 years ago
    In Genesis 2:17 God tells Adam and Eve that the day they eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they will surely die. They did not die. So, what are the possibilities?

    1. They will be subject to death.

    2. They will die Spiritually and be subject to Physical death.

    3. God will not keep them alive forever.

    Many argue that the reference is to an immediate Spiritual death and a subsequent physical death. Others, like St. Augustine and many of the Church Fathers, will say Adam and Eve were created subject to physical death anyway. But, as long as they obeyed God's commandments, they would not experience death and God would keep them alive forever.

    Others insist Genesis must be interpreted literally and therefore, the meaning of Genesis 2:17 is they would die Spiritually and eventually die Physically. But if Genesis is to be taken literally, the passage has to be taken at face value. Dying can only mean Physical death. The verse doesn't say Spiritual death. It doesn't imply Spiritual death. And God never discussed Spiritual death. The passage, therefore, must be taken literally or allegorically. Which is it?

    If it means physical, then it didn't happen and God was either wrong, or He meant something else. Could the same be said for other things in Genesis 1-3? How many things are there in Genesis 1-3 that can be taken allegorically, if any? Are there any metaphores? Similes? So, the verse is either literal or it is not.

    The message of Genesis 1-3 is that God created everything. He created mankind. And Jesus was the object, the reason, the Purpose for Creation. God didn't create man so s/he could could be happy busy bees frolicking in the Garden. He created mankind and everything that exists, so Christ (God in the flesh) could enter creation to liberate it from sin, corruption and all manner of evil. And through the Death of Christ, to bring in Eternal Perfection, immortality, sinlessness.

    Well developed arguments and comments are welcome.
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 2 - 3 years ago
    Facts:

    1. Adam and Eve were immortal

    2. They ate the forbidden fruit

    3. They became immortal and died

    Therefore what God said was true and what satan said was false.

    The #1 problem is people assume a timeframe, but no timeframe is given nor implied. People tend to assume that someone dying will happen 'soon' within an arbitrary timeframe made up in their own mind, like within a couple seconds, or few minutes, or that day or the next few days. Then when what was stated doesn't match their arbitrary timeframe then they may draw conclusions from it. This is not the only part of the Bible where the assumption of a timeframe causes a conflict with people. Revelation 22:20 says Jesus will return soon. Has He? How soon is 'soon'? James 4:14 says your life is a vapour. If you live to be 100 years old are you still a 'vapour'? The answer is yes. God's perspective is very different than our perspective. Life is extremely short compared to eternity. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God's promise, so was God 'wrong' or was Abraham and Sarah wrong in their perspective and assumption of time? In all cases mankind is the one wrong in false assuming a timeframe when God makes a promise. Have a nice day!



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