His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that God was never afraid of Adam eating from the Tree of Life.
God’s prohibition was not out of fear but out of divine justice and mercy — to prevent man from living forever in sin.

1. God Fears Nothing:
It is against God’s nature to fear.
The idea that He feared Adam becoming “like God” is a misunderstanding.
God is infinite; creation can never equal its Creator.

2. The Real Reason for the Prohibition:
When God said,

“Lest he take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22),
He meant that it was not right for man to live eternally while separated from God through sin.
Eternal life in sin would mean eternal corruption, not holiness.

3. Eternal Life Is for the Righteous:
God promised eternal life only to those who overcome, saying:

“To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)
So the Tree of Life was not denied forever — it was reserved for the redeemed.

4. The Link Between Sin and Death:
Scripture states:

“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
Therefore, Adam, having sinned, could no longer partake of eternal life.
God’s justice required that life be separated from sin.

5. God’s Mercy in the Prohibition:
By preventing Adam from eating, God actually protected him from eternal misery in a fallen state.
Through Christ’s redemption, the path to the Tree of Life was reopened.

6. The Symbolism of the Tree of Life:
The Tree of Life represents Christ Himself, who said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
Through Him we receive true eternal life.

Faith Message:
God’s action was not fear but wisdom and love.
Eternal life cannot coexist with sin.
Through Christ, the Tree of Life is once again open to all who believe and overcome.

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