Knowledge and Life in Paradise

¹ When you encounter these things and listen to them with eagerness, you will know how much God provides for those who love rightly, who have become a paradise of delight, raising up within themselves a fruitful tree flourishing, adorned with various fruits.

² For in this place the tree of knowledge and the tree of life have been planted; but it is not the tree of knowledge that destroys, but disobedience that destroys.

³ For what is written is not without meaning: that God from the beginning planted a tree of knowledge and a tree of life in the midst of paradise, showing life through knowledge; those from the beginning who did not use it purely were stripped naked by the deceit of the serpent.

⁴ For there is neither life without knowledge nor secure knowledge without true life; therefore each has been planted near the other.

⁵ Perceiving this power, the apostle, reproaching knowledge that is practiced for life without the truth of the commandment, says: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

⁶ For the one who thinks he knows something without true knowledge that is attested by life has not known; he is led astray by the serpent, not having loved life. But the one who has come to know with fear and seeks life in hope plants, expecting fruit.

⁷ Let your heart be knowledge, and life the true word that is received.

⁸ Bearing its tree and taking its fruit, you will always gather the things desired by God, which the serpent does not touch nor does error taint; nor is Eve corrupted, but the Virgin is believed;

⁹ and salvation is shown, and the apostles are made wise, and the Lord’s Pascha comes forth, and the seasons are gathered together and harmonised with the world, and the Word teaching the holy ones rejoices, through whom the Father is glorified; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.