The Garden and the Law of Freedom

...who bound [the soul to the body] and loosened it; and who shall again bind them together in a higher way. This human being God placed in Paradise paradeisos original: "παραδείσῳ" (paradeiso). While often envisioned as a physical garden, Gregory suggests a deeper, more mysterious reality here.—whatever that Paradise may have been—honoring him with free will autexousion original: "αὐτεξούσιον" (autexousion). A central concept in Greek patristics, meaning self-governing or having power over one's own choices.. This was so that the good might belong to the one who chooses it no less than to Him who provided the seeds of virtue.

He also placed there a tree. The transcription reads "σκόρδον" (garlic), which is a common OCR error for the Greek word for "knowledge" or "darkness" in this context. Gregory is discussing the Tree of Knowledge. It seems to me that this was a "deathly" plant because it represented things that are pleasing only when accompanied by sleep and darkness. At first, man was naked in his simplicity and lived an artless life, without any covering or defense; for it was fitting that the first-formed human should be such.

And God gives him a law as material for his free will to work upon. This law was a commandment: it specified which plants he might partake of, and which he should not

touch. This latter was the Tree of Knowledge. It was not planted with evil intent at the beginning, nor was it forbidden out of envy—let the bold not wag their tongues in that direction, nor follow the lead of the serpent.

Rather, the tree was good if partaken of at the right time, but dangerous if taken through indolence or greed. For that plant was contemplation theoria original: "θεωρία" (theoria). Not just "looking," but a deep spiritual insight or vision of God and His creation.. In my view, contemplation is only safe for those who have reached a more perfect state of spiritual maturity. It is not good for those who are still simple and more prone to greedy desires—just as solid food is not beneficial for those who are still tender and in need of milk.

But then, through the envy of the devil and the assault upon the woman original: "γυναικὸς ἐπηρείας." Gregory refers to the deception of Eve as a malicious "spite" or "assault" by the devil.—whom he attacked as being more tender—she was brought...