This account emphasizes knowledge because it reveals to the human person that God has created the earth in an orderly manner for humans to interact with. For example, the fact that God created the seas, land, plants, and animals to share unique but important characteristics allows for humans to understand the function of the earth and how the human person fits into this creation. Further, it forms a differentiation between divine knowledge and human knowledge, revealing the high power of God over the human person. Legaspi states that the emphasis on human knowledge demonstrates that human knowledge is mainly concerned with responsibility instead of power. This means that human knowledge is not used to assert power over others, but rather should be carefully used at the appropriate times in situations that are not concerned with issues of power.
According to Legaspi, by eating of “the tree of the knowledge of the good and bad” God communicates the knowledge to humans that they need to obey his commandments and respect his authority. Adam and Eve’s understanding that they are naked reveals that after eating the fruit of the tree they have been provided the knowledge to realize they need clothing. However, the greater knowledge they have been given is that they need to listen and obey God and his commandments. Additionally, they are eating from the tree rather than looking or touching because eating implies that it has been given to them by God. Eating signifies that the fruit is a gift that has been created and given to them by God. However, by consuming this gift they gain knowledge, against God’s will, that they are naked.
Finally, Adam and Eve eating from the tree can not only be described as an act of disobedience but it can also be described as an act of important human experience. Prior to eating from the tree, Adam and Eve had no knowledge of what would happen if they ate from the tree. However, the knowledge they received represents a critical human experience revealing that God’s commandments need to be followed and revealing the high power of God.
Tommy Gallagher Blog 