What is the Tree of Life in Christianity?

Answer 1

The tree of life in ancient Mesopotamia was actually a coniferous pine it was called so because while all other tree's died in winter this one remained green all year. Although Christianity has changed it to a more symbolic reference of religious significance it was called the tree of life for it's extreme medicinal value. There are many ingredients in pine cone extract that are bioactive phytochemicals and they stimulate the immune response at a cellular level. Studies have shown that they increase antibodies and assist the body in healing itself. Published studies indicate that pine cone extract (PCE) inhibits the growth of HIV in human T cell cultures, and even the growth of influenza and the herpes simplex virus. In laboratory tests it has been shown to enhance immunity, inhibit tumor activity, and suppress induction of lymphoma (a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system) this is the real reason the Sumerians, not the Hebrews, called this the Tree of Life. Eating from the tree of life according to these scientific studies, would definitely promote a longer life especially if it were a regular dietary supplement.

Answer 2

The Tree of Life was part of ancient Mesopotamian mythology before it entered The Bible, where it is found in the story of Adam and Eve. The ancients believed that the gods feared that humans would discover the secret to immortality, and the story of the Garden of Eden is really the story of man's search for immortality.

After Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they became like gods (Genesis 3:22: "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us..."), but had also become aware of their mortality. Knowing that they would now be tempted to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, God drove them from the Garden of Eden and placed cherubim (sing: cherub)and a flaming sword at the entrance to keep [block] the way of the Tree of Life.

Because an understanding of the two Trees leads inevitably to a recognition of the polytheism of the early Israelites, Christians tend to ignore the Tree of Life completely, and talk of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as if it were an apple tree or the like.

Answer 3

Most Christians believe the story of humankinds origins being in the Garden of Eden (Paradise) with Adam and Eve, who were actually friends with their Creator walking and being taught by Him. When the time came (some believe this teaching took a full cycle of 19 years), in Genesis 3, God tells both of them they can enjoy all the trees of Paradise except ONE - the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The other tree was named the Tree of Life which they were allowed to eat from and would have been granted eternal life as part of the God family. This is God's great plan for all mankind.

As the story goes, Satan disguised as a serpent (see Revelation 12:9) through deception, plants the seed of doubt into Eve's mind. She takes the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and then offers it to her husband Adam who willingly eats from it. So Eve was deceived and fell into transgression while Adam was more culpable (see 1 Timothy 2:14). Adam freely chose to follow in his wife's transgressions and sin entered the world through him (see Romans 5:12).

The free choice given our first parents helps to explain how we humans have behaved ever since. Figuratively we each have a choice in how we behave and interact with each other. We may either embrace what our Creator God has to say about right and wrong - being blessed with life or we may decide for ourselves (like Adam & Eve) and be cursed with suffering and death (compare Deuteronomy 30:19).

Lastly and to my last point, it is interesting to read of the legends that have come about by various cultures concerning this biblical account of the Garden. The Sumerians, Babylonians and others all have altered the original account to fit their ideas of the beginnings of civilization.

In any event, the Tree of Life will be seen by all who accept Christ as their Savior and repent, get baptized and follow Him in the World to come receiving eternal life (see Revelation 2:7; 22:2). In the interim, the Scripture and living by every word of God is the way of entering into life:

Revelation 22:14Contemporary English Version (CEV)14 God will bless all who have washed their robes. They will each have the right to eat fruit from the tree that gives life, and they can enter the gates of the city.