Who was correct, Jews or Christians? Was Eden our elevation or our fall?
Who was correct, Jews or Christians? Was Eden our elevation or our fall?
The Jewish view. http://www.mrrena.com/misc/judaism2.php
“Instead of the Fall of man (in the sense of humanity as a whole), Judaism preaches the Rise of man: and instead of Original Sin, it stresses Original Virtue”
In a nutshell, the Jews saw man acquiring a moral sense equal to God’s, --- as man being elevated.
Gen 3; 22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:
The Christian view sees the same story and preaches our fall and all of us inheriting our forefather’s sin. http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=1&wid=T0001304
“They prove the loss not only of innocence but of original righteousness, and, with it, of the favour and fellowship of God.”
The Bible seems to favor the Jewish view.
Deuteronomy 24:16 (ESV) “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV) The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
The declaration which says that God visits the sins of the fathers upon the children is contrary to every principle of moral justice. [Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason]
Whose view is more intelligent and moral and why?
Regards
DL