What Did Paradise Look Like? | Jonathan Pageau

Summary

This script delves into the symbolic significance of trees in the biblical narrative, particularly in Genesis. It explains the tree as a symbol of order and hierarchy, with the Tree of Life representing unity at the summit of a cosmic mountain. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil symbolizes the division of order into opposites, acting as a barrier to the Tree of Life. The fig tree at the garden's base signifies humanity's fall and covering of their nakedness. A fourth, thorny tree represents the world's hostility beyond the garden. The script suggests a hierarchical structure from unity to multiplicity, reflecting the transformation from fresh to salt water, encapsulating the biblical cosmology.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The tree is a symbol of order and hierarchy in biblical symbolism, representing how everything is interconnected.
• 🌿 The trunk of a tree symbolizes the axis of the world, with branches showing the repeating pattern of unity and separation.
• 🍂 In the Garden of Eden story, there are not two but three trees: the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the fig tree.
• 🏔️ The Garden of Eden is often imagined as a mountain, with the Tree of Life at the summit, representing the source of all life.
• 🚫 The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil served as a barrier to the Tree of Life, symbolizing the division of order into two opposites.
• 🍇 According to Saint Ephrem, Adam and Eve were destined to eat from the Tree of Life after obeying God's command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.
• 👕 The fig tree is associated with Adam and Eve's creation of clothing from its leaves, symbolizing their covering of their higher mystery as they moved away from the Tree of Life.
• 🔪 The fourth tree mentioned is a thorn tree or bush, representing the world's hostility and the protection needed for the Tree of Life.
• 🌊 The fresh water from the Garden of Eden is seen as flowing from the Tree of Life, moving downwards and transforming into the salt waters of chaos.
• 🌐 Saint Ephrem describes the Garden of Eden as existing outside normal time and space, with its base extending beyond the known world.
• ⛰️ The entire world is contained within the hierarchical structure of the Garden of Eden, from the gate to the Tree of Life, reflecting a cosmic connection.

Q & A

What is the primary image of a tree in biblical symbolism according to the script?

The tree in biblical symbolism represents order and hierarchy, acting as an axis that brings everything together towards oneness.

How does the script describe the structure of a tree in relation to its branches?

The script describes the trunk of a tree as an axis and the branches as repeating patterns of the tree's structure, with each branch having the same structure as the main tree, signifying cosmic connection.

How many trees are mentioned in the script in relation to the Garden of Eden?

The script mentions four trees in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the fig tree, and the thorn tree or bush.

What is the significance of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden according to the script?

The Tree of Life is at the summit of the mountain in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing the axis of the world and the place where all life comes together, offering eternal life.

What role does the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil play in the script's narrative?

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is seen as a barrier or test, where Adam and Eve's obedience or disobedience determines their access to the higher mystery of the Tree of Life.

How does Saint Ephrem interpret the relationship between the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Saint Ephrem suggests that if Adam and Eve had obeyed God's commandment, they would eventually have been given the fruit of the Tree of Life, allowing them to ascend towards eternal life.

What is the significance of the fig tree in the script's interpretation of the Garden of Eden?

The fig tree is at the bottom of the mountain in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve use its leaves to cover their nakedness after the fall, symbolizing the covering of their higher mystery.

What does the script suggest about the location of Paradise in relation to the Garden of Eden?

The script suggests that Paradise is a mountain, with the Garden of Eden at its peak, from which four rivers flow out to water the world.

How does the script describe the relationship between the hierarchical structure of the Garden of Eden and the cosmos?

The script describes the Garden of Eden as a hierarchical structure that brings order to the potentiality of the world, with fresh water flowing from the Tree of Life towards the outer waters of chaos.

What is the script's interpretation of the thorn tree or bush in the Garden of Eden?

The thorn tree or bush is seen as a protective element outside the Garden of Eden, symbolizing the world of hostility and conflict that exists beyond the garden.

How does Saint Ephrem describe the mountain of Paradise in relation to normal time and space?

Saint Ephrem describes the mountain of Paradise as existing outside of normal time and space, with its base extending beyond the known world and the physical ocean.