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I have always believed that man was created to be immortal. God told Adam that if he ate from the tree of knowledge that he would surely die which means, he was created immortal. If this is so, why was the tree of life in the garden to begin with?

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That's some deep stuff right there. Thanks for taking my brain way deeper than it was created to ever go.

:-)

Randy Alcorn has also said something similar to what you present in item #4, which I've considered as well, based on Genesis 2:17--that there's no reason we shouldn't assume they didn't eat of it until they were denied the right to it, and, yes, to me "immortality of man is debatable on one hand" since all mortals have died a physical death, except Enoch and Elijah, and if they're the two witnesses of Revelation, then ... Unless John (John 21:22) is still around :)

I know we aren't to quarrel about words but it's really worth looking into the definitions of words, such as infinity and eternity, as well as immortal, eternal, and infinite. It's also good to look at the Greek and Hebrew words in scripture, such as the word for good in Genesis 1, etc...

The language used in Genesis 3:22 leads me to think they didn't eat of it but did have the right to it prior to disobeying God. They had never eaten from the other tree but finally did reach out and take its fruit for the first time. The language in the verse sounds like physical immortality is linked to the tree of life. Adam and Eve were in natural bodies, not resurrected ones. Yes, "we don't fully know enough to put all the pieces together. Yet, we can speculate a bit." Or a good bit more :)

English Standard Version
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever "--

King James Bible
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

You're correct Amanda. It's important to look up & research individual words because how we say it in English isn't necessarily how they meant it in Hebrew. Like love for instance. We know the Bible contains different levels or different ways to love. In English, we just have the one word - love. Now, we do say 'in love' or merely 'love' someone. But other than that, love is the only word we have to describe that emotion.

I meant to say there's no reason we should assume that they didn't eat from the tree of life :) I'm a dork. Or, rather, we may assume they did eat of it. Except, I assume they didn't. :)

lol @dork

Again, death has several meanings in Scripture beyond just physical death, nor do we know the type of changes that took place after the fall to man and all of creation.

Gen 3:22 NASB Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--

Food for thought.

LT

:-)

Please ask if you have any questions and we will discuss it further.

I agree; and are confused. 

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