Margaret Barker’s comments on the tree of knowledge and the tree of life:
The problem was knowledge. The knowledge of good and evil from the tree which had been forbidden. The Garden of Eden was full of trees, but the storyteller named only two – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life – and only one of them was forbidden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Similar myths have only one tree, and so we recognise that this is the point to investigate. Why two trees? Those who first heard this story would have known that the tree of life was also the source of knowledge, so why does the storyteller describe two trees, both of them sources of knowledge, but one of them forbidden? The tree of life was not forbidden to Adam until he had chosen to eat from the other tree. Adam could not eat from both trees.
The tree of knowledge appears nowhere else in the Bible, but the tree of life is elsewhere described as Wisdom (Proverbs 3.18). In the vision of the Book of Revelation, the fruit of the tree of life is promised as a reward for the faithful, and there are other ancient texts in the Hebrew tradition which describe the beautiful perfume of the tree of life and how its fruit would one day be given to the righteous (1 Enoch 25). This fruit is described as the ‘sevenfold instruction concerning his creation’ (1 Enoch 93.10). The tree of life was a source of knowledge about the creation, it was the source of life, and, as we shall see, it was the source of healing and renewal.
It has sometimes been said that the story of Adam and the forbidden tree shows that the biblical tradition did not want humans to have knowledge. The Adam story would then have been the Hebrew version of the Prometheus myth, with Adam trying to wrest secrets from a jealous God. This is not correct. The position was far more subtle. The fruit of the tree of life gave ‘sevenfold instruction concerning his creation’, and the writings of the Hebrew wise men are full of lists which can be regarded as summaries of the scientific knowledge of their time: ‘the breadth and length of the earth and how it was founded and the number of the stars and where they rest’ (1 Enoch 93.13-14). Detailed astronomy texts have survived. The story of the two trees saw the problem with knowledge in terms of the source of the knowledge, the attitude to its possession, and how it was used.
After Adam & Eve were cast out of the garden, God sent angels to teach them the Gospel.
28 And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;
29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.
30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.
31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—
32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.
33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.(Alma 12:28-34. Emphasis mine.)
Two points: this state is one where we can be agents and not suffer immediate consequences, and God called on us first.
Alma 13:1 “These commandments” (Given to Adam and Eve)
“ordained priests” Aaron’s sons Ex 19:6, oath and covenant D&C 84 (made by God to us–I think this is what it means above that God called on men in the name of his son)
Adam was first priest: baptized, confirmed and ordained Moses 6:59-68 Note how it begins with chilbearing imagery: birth is an ordinance performed by women, rebirth by men. Harah=pregnant, har=mountain/temple. “Thou art one in me, a son of God” cf. 1Jn 2:28-3:2
Holy order. See the previous post, near the middle for etymology of order & related concepts.
To teach:Jacob 5:61, Moro 7:31-2, D&C 1:17-23, Jer 23:18-22, D&C 76:57,70, Num 11:29
“…that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption” Called to be Christ-types.
The preparatory redemption redeems priests and prepares them to face God D&C 84:23 The priesthood and the priests were called and ordained like Christ was. They are called to teach others to be priests tat they may also enter his rest (Moro 7:3). Verses 3-9 focus on preparatory, 10-12 on redemption.
D&C 84:33Sanctify bodies, abhor sin. How?
Christ, the great High Priest Heb 4:14-5:16
Repent and work, repent and serve God Alma 42:4
Convert a sinner, hide sins James 5:20
Melchizedek (= King of Righteousness) as Christ type in Salem (= shalom, peace):
16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have more particularly made mention.
We watch for the day of his coming.
Alma 14 Compare lake of fire & brimstone for righteous & wicked.
