The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil According to the Holy Scriptures

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The tree of the knowledge of good and evil truly existed in Paradise.

In this terrestrial and corporeal place, Paradise, was planted that tree of which we speak at present, namely the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The literal text of Holy Scripture convinces us of this once again in Genesis 2, verse 9: And the Lord God brought forth out of the ground all trees, beautiful to the sight, and pleasant to eat: the tree also of life in the midst of Paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, no one can doubt the existence of this tree, since Scripture makes special mention of it, in addition to the other timber and trees placed in Paradise. Whatever our opponents may understand by this tree, they must nevertheless admit that it existed in Paradise. By the very fact that they raise a question about it, they seem to assume its existence; unless they prefer to argue so bitterly and initiate a debate about nothing, and about that which never existed. Why this tree is called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we shall say below. For the present, it suffices for us that it truly existed in Paradise, just as the literal sense of Scripture clearly indicates.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a true tree.

Just as the existence of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is certainly derived from Scripture (§ 3), so it is clearly shown from the plain letter of that same text and the direct connection of the text with its context that this tree was truly such a tree, that is, a certain corporeal and wooden substance bringing forth its fruits at stated times, such as we are accustomed to call a tree. For if we look at the words of Scripture, they make no distinction between the production of other trees and our tree. Just as the others are expressed by the name of trees, so is this one: And the Lord God brought forth out of the ground all trees, beautiful to the sight, and pleasant to eat: the tree also of life in the midst of Paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2, v. 9). Since, therefore, Scripture makes no modification regarding this tree of the knowledge of good and evil, without urgent