What was the meaning of the tree of knowledge?

[LeeH]

Does knowledge represent technology?

[michael_legna]

Does knowledge represent technology?

No if you look at the whole verse you see it was the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

So it wasn't just technology and it wasn't knwoledge at all really - it was the ability to tell the difference between good and evil.  This ability together with our free will makes it possible to sin, because it allows us to have intent to go with our actions, and this intent can be to have our wills in accordance with God's or not.

[darby]

Thinking in evolutionary terms (it is possible to be a Christian and believe in evolution at the same time, I think "intelligent design" is what they call it), I imagine that this 'discovery' of what is good and what is evil, if you believe the tree and apple are symbolic, occurred at some point millions and millions of years ago.  There must have been a sudden step up in the mental capacity of mankind, like some kind of brain mutation or something.  

 

[LeeH]

I think it may be a reference to genetic engineering, because when I mention technology, I mean God would be able to see the danger in the future. If Adam & Eve could eat from the tree of life but not the tree of knowledge, I interpret it like, if you learn technology which can corrupt the laws of nature you will have poisened all existence by messing with genetics.
Jesus makes this plain to everybody in the last supper by reminding you of that point.

Could be wrong, but good and evil is like Gods food good, Man's food Evil. Either way it is a corruption of Gods law.

No?