The Tree of Life VS The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

 

The Tree of Life VS The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:8 Now the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, which was in the east, and there he set the man he had formed.

Genesis 2:9 And the Lord God made every kind of tree grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden was the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

Section	The Tree of Life	The Tree of the Knowledge of  Good and Evil
Symbol & Meaning	Highest symbol, signifying God—the Triune God—as man’s life in his relationship with God. Simple, life-giving.	Highest negative symbol, signifying Satan, the evil one, bringing death to man. Complex, containing knowledge, good, and evil.
Nature / Composition	Pure life; contains no other element.	Death; contains knowledge, good, and evil. One tree produces both good and evil.
Purpose (Eating)	Its fruit is for nourishment, supplying and imparting divine life.	Its fruit is poisonous, killing those who eat it. Modern media often functions as branches of this tree.
Source of Humanity	Source of people who seek God as life; Abel as the leading one.	Source of people who follow Satan as poison unto death; Cain as the leading one.
Related Kingdom	Produces the kingdom of God—first Israel, then the church.	Produces the kingdom of Satan.
Related Way (Path)	The way of life: narrow way, straight way, way of righteousness, way of God, way of the Lord. Leads to seeking, gaining, enjoying God, being born of God, transformed, glorified. Followers include Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, prophets, NT believers.	The way of good and evil:  the broad way, the way of death. Leads people to follow Satan as his children unto eternal perdition. Followers include Cain, Lamech, Nimrod, Korah, Balaam, Saul, Absalom, antichrist, all unbelievers.
Principle	Principle of life: maintaining contact with God, progressing in gaining and enjoying God.	Principle of death, good, and evil: conscious or unconscious rejection of God, following Satan unto destruction.
Destination	New Jerusalem—the city of the water of life, God’s eternal dwelling; the best and most glorious goal.	Lake of fire—Satan’s eternal prison; the worst, most tragic conclusion.

 

References: Life-study of Job; 2019 Elders’ Training; 2020 Winter Training; 2025 Elders’ Training on Matthew 5–7.