Unfallen men

[Willandy]

I read in the Summa Theologica that, before the Fall, Adam and Eve “knew everything”: “whatever truths man is naturally able to know”. First Part, Question 94, Article 3. What did unfallen man spend his time doing, then? Art?

If I knew the answer to that question, I could perhaps see what the Fall probably was. That the serpent approaches the woman could suggest this: an appeal to the gain of knowledge via preter-rational means (art, intuition).

I was reading the dialogue in Genesis 3 between the serpent and woman, and it occurred to me that maybe what the serpent is saying is something like:

“God placed that Ban because He desired that you transgress it, to show your spirit.” Or, “God wants to see if you desire wisdom so much that you will be bold and courageous and get it.” Or, "The Ban is a riddle from God, the answer to which is ‘you must transgress it’ ".

Any wise help?

 

[Benadam]

Genesis 2 -*18 And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: *

God reveals that Adam suffers evil.

Before the fall Adam didn’t judge his experience of being human. Adam didn’t know evil. God revealed evil to Adam when Adam was ready to go through the trial that prepared him to recieve it’s remedy.

*19 And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name. 20 And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. *

So man’s earthly life was meant to be a process that took him from perfection to perfection untill he was prepared to enter eternal life body and soul. God reveals that the current state lacks and prepares him for next more elevated state.

*20 And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. *

Adam has responded to God’s will and is prepared when the last animal is named and
he knows that no rememdy exists in the world for his lloneliness. Now prepared to know an elevated state of perfection God acts:

*22 And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam. *

This relationship between man and God was usurped by the serpent

Eve allowed herself to know an evil ( she looked at it and it pleased her eyes (pp))and decided for herself that it was good. Never before had man’s state of being been judged as lacking except by God. dam and Eve allowed the serpent to reveal a good they lacked. Satan is the prince of the world now because man eats from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Man’s nature is deformed by a lie. Not having the knowledge but living a life that is experienced as if that knowledge is natural. Fallen nature. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Obvioulsly they still lacked the ability of being able to know it well eneogh to call it what it is. Once Adam followed her ,they took from God the role of revealing good and evil to man. This is the meaning of the saying, innocense knows no evil. Innocense did know good when God revealed it.

The serpent approached the woman in the humility of one who wants to know. " did God really say?" with the intention of replacing God as the giver of life.

**4 And the serpent said to the woman: No, you shall not die the death. **

 

[Ron_Conte]

I read in the Summa Theologica that, before the Fall, Adam and Eve “knew everything”: “whatever truths man is naturally able to know”. First Part, Question 94, Article 3. What did unfallen man spend his time doing, then? Art?

Adam and Eve did not know everything, but they could not be mistaken in anything that they knew. Their hearts and minds were not obscured by original sin and personal sin. Whatever could be known by them from reason was known with certitude. But this is not the same as knowing everything.

I don’t think your suggestions about the meaning of the serpent’s temptation is in accord with what the text actually says.

 

[Willandy]

Benadam,

Could you give me your exhaustive commentary on Genesis Chapter 1? Much obliged.

 

[Willandy]

Ron Conte,

That was just a wild speculation on my part. I don’t know what to do with the text (of the temptation speeches). I am trying to understand Benadam’s interpretation, which seems to me better than anything I have heard before.

 

[Benadam]

Benadam,

Could you give me your exhaustive commentary on Genesis Chapter 1? Much obliged.

That’s more than I am able to do at this time Andrew. I’m good for answering certain types of questions about Genesis 1. Others here would do better depending on the area of concern. I would be glad to answer whatever question I am able to though.