How did Adam and Eve sin if they did not yet have knowlege of good and evil?

Question

Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which means they did not yet know these things...so when they were tempted by satan they only believed him out of innocent stupidity or being naive, in order for it to have been a sin they would have to have known that they are doing is evil but they couldn't know that because they didn't eat of the tree yet, so how and why was this considered a sin if they were only mislead and it wasn't their fault or intent in the first place to displease God? Wouldn't a God of pure love and understanding forgive them knowing they were naive?

Answer 1

Eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is the first independent act by the human being in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve cannot be said to have been fully aware of the extent of their transgression because they did not yet have knowledge of good and evil. They do, however, know that God has told them explicitly not to eat of that tree. In that respect, they are like children, who may understand that certain behavior is expected but do not fully understand why.

Like any concerned parent, God wants his children to learn and accept responsibility for their actions, however painful it may be. Indeed, God has lovingly provided all the arrangements in the garden - a secure life, the edict against one tree -but also the capacity for free choice that will cause Adam and Eve to mature. He knows perfectly well where the humans are in the garden, but he asks his question, “Where are you?” to draw the story out of them and begin the process of moral development.

God becomes angry not so much at the act of disobedience but at Adams and Eve’s avoidance of responsibility. Significantly, the word SIN is not introduced into the Bible until later when Cain murders his brother, Abel. It seems that Adam and Eve’s worst transgression is their scapegoat, and the couples moral life will finally begin when they can acknowledge having done wrong.

Eve and Adam leave their fathers protective abode, as children must. God knows it is time for them to face life as adults in an imperfect world. The heart broken parent appoints a guard at the garden’s gate to prevent Eve and Adam from regressing to a childhood devoid of adult responsibilities but also to prevent himself from softening and allowing them to return.

The reader sees Eve and Adam leaving the Garden of Eden full of optimism. They are not at all the tearful, dejected couple portrayed in Renaissance art, expelled by a furious father. The first thing they do is make love and create new life. What a better is there to teach us about pleasure and responsibility, behavior and consequences, than through the knowledge that the fleeting gratification of lovemaking produces a child with whom parents share a lifelong bond?

Don't worry, like any good parent, God gave us a way back ... Jesus. This will return us to him with knowledge, wisdom, where we can them spend eternal life with him.

Answer 2

Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and were specifically told by Him not to eat from that tree. When Eve was tempted by Satan, she told him that God warned her not to eat from that tree. Thus, she was not stupid or forgetful. The words of the Lord came back to her, yet she DISOBEYED and ate the fruit anyway. That was her sin.

Answer 3

They disobeyed God. He told them not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Which is a metaphor... Adam and Eve were Gods creation and were to follow and obey him. But Satan wanted to rule over what God had created and therefore made himself known to Eve then Adam. They partook in the sinful things that Satan tempted them with and enjoyed it. Until God came calling for them in the garden and then they were ashamed for they knew they disobeyed God. That's why they were hiding from God. But God knew that they had sinned. That's why he asked them:Why are you hiding? and Who told you that you were naked? Then he asked Eve what have you done? Everyone has to be held accountable for their disobidence to God and Adam and Eve were no exception

Answer 4

That is a good question.The reason is Adam sinned when he told God.....that woman you gave me.....Genesis 3:12.
Adam blamed God and Eve blamed the serpent.
In my mind if Adam had said God I did what you told me not to do,then there would be a different world here.
I don't know why people don't want to see what sin is and has always been,disobedience,but God is merciful to the sinner if he say he sinned.
Whether or not Adam knew he was sinning he would have known that God told him not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and should have answered to it.

Answer 5

As a previous answer has said sin and evil are two different things.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they did just that, disobeyed God which is sin, in doing so they became aware of the knowledge of good and evil.

They both knew and understood that God had told them not to eat off this tree yet they chose to disobey God as mankind has been doing since.


JB

Answer 6

You are right. Adam and Eve were naiive they had no childhood! They needed to learn the difference between right and wrong somehow and this is what the trial of the forbidden tree was about. It is muslim belief that Adam made a mistake but never sinned (a sin is a punishable offence without repentance) even though he ate from the forbidden tree.

Answer 7

The biblical tale is that god told them not to eat of the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:17) but that they did so anyway. Of course, the story is fiction; the race had single male and female progenitors, but they never saw each other -- they lived 250,000 years apart. The notion that a wrongdoing by some people should taint their descendants is patently silly, and one of the reasons that I gave up on the bible. You cannot attempt to deal in a rational fashion with an irrational god.

Answer 8

Very interesting point. Haven't thought of the Genesis story like that before. Although I am very religious (going to mass every Sunday) I believe that Adam and Eve's story isn't exactly like it is told in the Bible (or the Torah); but instead God used their story as a parable, like Jesus did many times. Because the common man in early times could not fathom the thought of evolution, he gave mankind stories that led them to be live what really happened.

Answer 9

My friend you are not looking at the obvious. It is not the fruit itself that will give Adam an awareness of right and wrong. The command God gave him (before he partook of the fruit) presupposes Adam already knew right from wrong, obedience and disobedience. What is in view when Adam takes of the fruit is moral autonomy. The fruit would make Adam think he knew what was best, wise in his own eyes, no longer needing God for direction and moral boundaries.
I hope this helped. Be careful when quoting and making an opinion of the scriptures. One must be wise in its use and study it well before opening their mouths. Be careful.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.

God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 10

Because it was their fault. They didn't listen to God.

God gave them all the information they needed. Much like today. But do people hear and listen today?

Yes God in His love knew they were going to fail and had already provided a way out. That way out is Jesus.

You miss the point. The Bible is a spiritual book for spiritual people. If you are trying to understand in a carnal sense, you just won't get it no matter what you are told.