Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 10/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi again, i asked you a question a few days ago, about Adam & Eve etc. and your reply was excellent. i have another question, i am seiously interested.
 we have all been told about  " the Forbidden Fruit " with refernce to Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden.    as a child who went to churc, and sunday school regular, the Forbidden Fruit was often refered to as  a  Apple,
why a  Apple  ?????  please
kindess regards  carol

ANSWER: Hello, again, Carol.

Thank you for your kind remarks - and for another unusual question!

The first point to make is, of course, that the Book of Genesis nowhere mentioned any specific fruit, merely referring to the more generic term 'fruit'.

It is my understanding that the 'popularity' of the apple has come about because of a word-play in the Vulgate - the first generally-accepted Latin version of the Bible (there had been other attempts to translate from the Hebrew and Greek, but this one [4th -5th century]was 'authorised' by the contemporary pope).  In the Latin language, the word for 'apple' is 'malum', while the word for 'evil' is also 'malum' ('malus' if used as an adjective).  One can see the obvious temptation (no pun intended!), therefore, to use the apple as the fruit that introduced evil to the fledgling humanity.

Other attempts have been made to identify the actual fruit - ranging from a fig to a pomegranate; from a grape to a lemon.  For each of the alternatives, there is some level of reasoning but the bottom line is that, for reasons of His own, Father God has not seen it to be necessary that we have that specific information.

The important teaching of Gen.3 is, of course, nothing to do with the specific fruit that was produced by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (that may well have been a fruit that was never even seen outwith the Garden in Eden!); but with the indisputable fact that mankind sinned by disobedience, can never make up for that sin, and needs a Saviour.  The same Father God Who planted that Garden provided that Saviour in the Person of the Son (you may wish to listen to my audio message on the Doctrine of the Trinity at www.revcbross.blogspot.com).  It would be my hope that, while coming up with all of your interesting questions, you will come to a saving knowledge of the Second Adam, and receive eternal life.

Blessings

C.Brian Ross (Rev)
www.crazyrev.blogspot.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi again, again many thanks for the info & reply above.
one point i do Not understand is
The  Second Adam ????
sorry as i said i,m only  had a limited schooling and that was amny years ago, but i do not understand this at all
i look forward to your explaination
kindess regards carol

Answer
Hi Carol,

I am glad that I have been of some assistance, and that you feel that your knowledge base is expanding.  

The term the "Second Adam" actually comes from a hymn - "Praise to the Holiest in the height", written by John Henry Newman in the 19th century.  The second stanza (verse) reads:
"O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came"

This is, however, a direct reference to the words of Paul when, in I Cor.15:45,47, he refers to the Lord Jesus as "the last Adam" and "Christ, the second man".  The word 'adam' is, I should pont out, the basic Hebrew word for 'man'.

What Paul is stating is that, just as by the first man - Adam - sin and death entered the world, so by the sacrifice of Jesus, and His glorious resurrection, both sin and death were defeated.

The point that I was trying to make in my last answer is that knowledge, of itself, is of limited value.  The basic message of the Christian Gospel is that, because of Adam each one of us is born a sinner, and that we are incapable of living a life that would cancel out our sinfulness.  However, in the Persona of Jesus, the Holy and sinless God paid the penalty on our behalf - although we must consciously accept the forgiveness that He gained in order for it to be effective for us as individuals.

It's as if, in the days when the death penalty operated in this country, I had just been found guilty, in court, of multiple murders.  The judge has just placed the black cap on his head, and pronounced the sentence - that I be taken to a place of lawful execution, and there hanged by the neck until I am dead.  I have nothing to say - I know that I have been justly condemned.  Then, to my amazement, the judge removes the black cap; removes his judge's wig and robes; and allows himself to be bound, and led to the gallows.  There, the noose is placed around his neck, and he is hanged.  I am the guilty one, but I am the one who goes free!  However, I could have insisted that I be hanged also - yet what a waste of the judge's life that would have been! You will find a little more about this, and a helpful song, on my main ministry blog at http://www.crazyrev.blogspot.com/
and at Sat. 26th Septmber, 2009.  I hope that you will take time to look it up, read, and listen.

Kindest regards

C.Brian Ross (Rev)