Ángel
Manuel Rodríguez
What
is the meaning of the expression "the knowledge of good and evil" in
Genesis 2:s17?
This phrase, in the
context of the Creation narrative, has been debated among Bible students
for centuries, and various interpretations have been given to it.
Among
the most common is the sexual theory, which argues that the verb "to know"
refers here to the sexual act. It is then pointed out that after eating
of the tree, Adam and Eve realized that they were naked. This interpretation
implies that sexual knowledge belongs to the exclusive domain of God.
This is not, however, what the narrative indicates (see Gen. 2:18-20).
Another
suggestion is that the phrase "good and evil" is an idiomatic expression
used in the Bible to indicate everything, the totality of knowledge; similar
to the phrase "heaven and earth," which designates the totality of God's
creation. To know good and evil would then mean to be omniscient. Needless
to say, the context rules out this possibility. Adam and Eve did not become
omniscient after eating of the tree.
Another
interpretation argues that the knowledge of good and evil consisted of
the ability to distinguish between what is morally right or wrong. I find
it highly unconvincing that God would not want Adam and Eve to develop
their moral judgment. The fact that He gave them a command implies moral
discrimination on their part.
We
must ask ourselves what the narrative itself says about the phrase under
discussion. First, we are told that knowing good and evil is a characteristic
of God. Second, Adam and Eve did not naturally possess this type of knowledge;
it was not a deficiency, simply the way the Lord created them. Third,
this knowledge leads to the dissolution of the creatures, their return
to nothingness, to death. Fourth, humans can misappropriate this knowledge;
they can attempt to break away from the loving limits imposed by the Creator.
Any
interpretation of the phrase "knowledge of good and evil" must be in agreement
with the facts provided for us by the context itself. The totality of
the story uncovers the meaning or significance of the phrase. It makes
clear that to know good and evil is to claim complete and absolute autonomy
for our existence; to attempt to eliminate any sense of accountability
to anyone else, including God. It is humans deciding by themselves what
is good or evil without taking into consideration God's revealed will.
God
is the only totally autonomous being, not accountable to anyone except
to His own character. This type of existence is not possible for us. To
be a creature is by definition to be accountable to the Creator. Any attempt
to exist in total independence from God would ultimately result in extinction.
The serpent led Adam and Eve to believe that they could aspire to and
experience—come to know—this kind of autonomy and continue to
enjoy life apart from God. They could certainly live in rebellion against
God, perceiving themselves as unaccountable to Him. This is what the Lord
meant when He said that Adam and Eve were "like one of us, knowing good
and evil" (Gen. 3:22, RSV).
We
must go a step further in attempting to understand what the biblical writer
is communicating. The same phrase "good and evil" is used once more in
the Old Testament in conjunction with the verb "to know," and it would
be good to see whether that usage supports, modifies, or rejects our interpretation.
In
Deuteronomy 1:39 we read, "Moreover your little ones, . . . and your children,
who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall go in [to the Promised
Land]" (RSV). The phrase is used here in a positive way. Children do not
know good and evil; they exist in total dependence on their parents; they
are not autonomous. Once they grow they will assume responsibility for
their own lives, becoming independent of their parents. Even here the
phrase expresses or at least implies the ideas of independence and autonomy.
God
granted us freedom, but our existence depends on our relationship with
Him. To claim autonomy is tantamount to rejecting the gift of life. The
knowledge condemned by God is that which is sought in rejecting or rebelling
against His revealed will. To rely on Him in our search for knowledge
requires that we become dependent, like children.
2/13/97
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