Tree of Life Reference in Compendium of Social Doctrine

[tdmavens]

In section 115 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, it says, “Man, against God’s prohibition, allows himself to be seduced by the serpent and stretches out his hand to the tree of life, falling prey to death.”

I thought it was the tree of knowledge of good and evil that was forbidden. These trees are distinct, yes (see Gen 2:9, 17)? What am I missing?

Or is this a typo?

Thanks!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It appears to be an editing mistake that should have been caught.
I know in some world religions, the “tree of life” and the “tree of knowledge” are considered to be two ways of describing the same “cosmic tree”, but in Genesis they are distinct as you say.

 

[Genesis315]

I checked the other languages and it appears in them all, so it looks like a mistake in the source draft. The email for the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is at the bottom of the website here (along with fax and phone). I wonder if they would do anything if you respectfully let them know!

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...ocuments/rc_pc_justpeace_pro_20011004_en.html

 

[Dovekin]

Then the LORD God said: See! The man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil! Now, what if he also reaches out his hand to take fruit from the tree of life, and eats of it and lives forever?
The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken.
Genesis 3:22-23

Genesis 2:9 does describe the tree of life, 2:17 is definitely about the tree of knowledge. I am not really sure what they are trying to say.

 

[Genesis315]

Maybe the Compendium is referencing the Gen. 3 verses you provide. Essentially God preventing Adam from eating from the tree of life assured that he would die. But there is no indication Adam actually ever tried to. From Haydock:

— For ever. The sentence is left imperfect: (Calmet) but by driving man from Paradise, God sufficiently shewed how he would prevent from eating of the tree of life, (Haydock) which Adam had not yet found. As he was now condemned to be miserable on earth, God, in mercy, prevented him from tasting of that fruit, which would have rendered his misery perpetual. (Menochius) — He would suffer him to die, that, by death, he might come, after a life of 930 years, spent in sorrow and repentance, to the enjoyment of himself. (Haydock) — Lest perhaps. God does not exercise his absolute power, or destroy free-will, but makes use of ordinary means and precautions, to effect his designs. (St. Augustine) (Worthington)