Edward J. Young on Genesis 3

[sam]

Ed J. Young was a distinguished OT scholar (he taught at Wesminster for years). He wrote a little book simply called, Genesis 3 (Banner of Truth Trust, 1966). I was re-reading this little book out on the backporch of my freshly mowed lawn (nothing like the smell of a mowed yard in the Summer) and leapt from the chair when I read the following:

"Eve followed what is sometimes called the 'scientific method.' She believed herself capable of evaluating all the facts of reality, including the fact of God and his commands, and passing upon them an impartial judgment. It was knowledge that she sought."

Further, Young relates that the in the Egyptian language "good and evil" was "a synonym for the expression, 'everything.'" If a person knew good and evil they knew everything.

This is exactly the nature of their fall. God knows good and evil comprehensively. Eve was lured, through her own observation and perception, to desire knowledge. What, then does it mean to be "like God, knowing good and evil"? Notice, too, that when Paul wrestles with himself in Romans 7 he uses the words, "good," "evil," and "know." There, even when does the good, the evil is ever present.

Now, to be like God. God determines knowledge. He Himself is Absolute Truth. This says something for the Christian concerning the definition of "truth." How did God derive this knowledge of good and evil? Observation? Hardly. God has known all things from eternity. His knowledge is derived from his own being. This is what Eve set out to be.

Man now had the ability to determine for himself what is good and evil, just like God. Man could now make law and enforce the judgment of that law. Man could now determine without any reference but himself what was good and evil. After all, isn't that all law is for? To determine what is legal and illegal, right and wrong, good and evil? Since God said that He created the earth and heavens in 6 days, man would follow with his own cosmogenies - man would determine the comprehensive origins of the world - and he would do so based upon his own observations - the scientific method. Man would define ethics, culture, law, origins - he would build his own picture and determine his own destiny - so he thought.

This is, essentially, what living "in the world" involves. Notice, again, Paul: "and the sin did enter and the death through the sin into the WORLD." What specific "sin" ("the sin") is Paul addressing? The one we are addressing here. The "world" is the "lust of the eyes" - the world is the place wherein man has asserted himself and his own laws and own religions. He has made powerful arguments - seducing arguments that sometimes even the best of Christians are snared (Christian evolution, etc.). He claims that he can tell us how the planets rotate - how the universe was formed - and since the Bible is not really defining these things "in a scientific way", then our knowledge of the universe is far more superior.

Ask yourself. Modern science arose within Christendom. However, within a very short span of a few hundred years, science has thrown off its Christian origins. Man, armed with the knowlegde of Adam and Eve, eventually throws off "what God hath said." It refuses to do its work within the confines of God's Word. Stay ever mindful of this fact. Listen to yourself and critically be aware of how you arrive at the conclusions of the day. Where did you get that "knowledge" from? Jesus, or Adam?

Sam

[Michael Bennett]

Great illustration Sam. I like that "Nazi" illustration. I always use the death = a gate (see OT references death as a gate) analogy, and now the "gate" is ripped off (New Jerusalem has no gate ever shut etc.) and the "dead" (all start outside the gates) that God chooses enter.

[sam]

The "body of this death" in Greek is the "the Body of this one, the Death." "The Death" here is the same "the death" that entered in through "the sin". the "Body of the Sin" is also the same (Romans 5.12-8.39 forms one argument). Thus, the Death came through "the one man" Adam. Being ENSLAVED to the Body of the Death meant that the Death Sentence (separation from God) reigned over the believer REGARDLESS of what he did or didn't do. Paul is asking how he can be delivered from this sentence (reconciled to God). The Body of the Death is not our physical body...that would leave Paul's argument meaningless. We are born in Adam and as such, sentenced, before doing good or evil, to death. The REIGN of the death has been, though, swallowed up in victory so that NOW those born in Adam (Adamic genetics has not been swallowed up, only the REIGN has) can come into reconciliation through Christ (enter into the gates).

It's like Hitler and Nazi germany. Hitler has been destroyed, but Nazi Germany was left in shambles - and many were still loyal (many still are) loyal. They are on the outside. Others began to clean up operation - this is the postbellum period of any war - Reconstruction. The New Jerusalem is seeking recruits, converts from the ruins. However, if they still remain loyal to the old, dead regime, a new order, a new "Second Death" has been issued (the Greek is, the Second, the Death).

As we come to Christ and His victory over the Death, we are made entirely clean - even though "in this world" we still have the effects of those "ruins" - the knowledge of good and evil - it's just that now in Christ those effects do not get us booted from the Garden...Nothing can separate us. Nothing. It is, indeed, a new heaven and a new earth.

Sam

[Sharon Nichols]

Wow... I agree with Mike. This is excellent Sam!

This paragraph had me sitting up straighter in my chair:

What, then does it mean to be "like God, knowing good and evil"? Notice, too, that when Paul wrestles with himself in Romans 7 he uses the words, "good," "evil," and "know." There, even when does the good, the evil is ever present.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man;
Rom 7:23 but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself with the mind truly serve the Law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin.

Awesome Sam! This makes more sense to me than anything I've read on this topic yet. :o))

[Michael Bennett]

Sam - this is REALLY good. I am gonna share with my home group - thanks and nice find !!!