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Showing posts from August, 2026

Proverbs and the Tree of Life—Part 1

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  L'arbre de Vie (The Tree of Life) by Raphaël Toussaint The Book of Proverbs Before this study, the Book of Proverbs wasn't one of my favorite books of the Bible. Not that it lacked thought-provoking and helpful content, but for the most part, it seemed merely practical and was quite random in its mid-section. In this presentation, we will discover that there is more than meets the eye. A deeper look will reveal a pattern, purpose, and design in Proverbs that fit into the larger story. The Tree of Life and its three strategic placements in the Scriptures are the common thread we will trace from Genesis to Revelation. We will discover how God granted humankind eternal life in the beginning, lost it in the middle, and restored it by the end of Revelation — but not before passing through the natural world's exhibit in Proverbs. At this crossroads, we will uncover the allegories and metaphors that will animate what happened in that garden event and foreshadow the glorious rede...

Proverbs and the Tree of Life—Part 2

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  Review and Introduction Part 1 of this series studied the Tree of Life as it is mentioned throughout the Bible and the literary structures that reveal its deeper meaning. This article will explore the bigger picture in the book of Proverbs, along with its allegorical and metaphorical meanings.  King Solomon shares his wisdom. Isaak Asknaziy An Introduction to the Book of Proverbs The Book of Proverbs will provide us with a deeper insight into how the event of eating from the forbidden tree was about much more than just food selection. It was about knowing, or could we say, shacking up with an immoral woman and forsaking the virtuous one, which are both presented in chapter two of the Book of Proverbs. Before examining the two women, we will discuss the book, its author, and the book's purpose. The Book of Proverbs is credited to King Solomon's wise sayings. It begins with what the Tree of Life in the Garden had on its menu. To know wisdom and instruction,  To perceive t...

Proverbs and the Tree of Life—Part 3

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Review and Introduction  Part 2 of this series explored the bigger picture in the book of Proverbs, along with its allegorical and metaphorical meanings. This installment will explore the fig tree as a type of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Proverbs 31 woman will also be examined in the context of making the Lord (Tree of Life) the center of her life.  The Fig Tree It is believed that the tree of life was the olive tree, which we discussed earlier, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was likely the fig tree. The fig tree is more of a shrub than a tree. It produces both good and bad fruit, similar to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The "bad" fruit is the fruit that grows from the previous year's growth; it is called Breba figs. They develop before the leaves appear and are far inferior in flavor and quality compared to the main crop. Most harvesters discard them. Breba figs are also larger than the main figs. They can deceptively appear ...