Contradiction with Genesis 1:29
Genesis 1:29 states that God has given all seed-bearing plants and trees with fruit as food for humans, suggesting all plants are good for consumption, contrasting with Genesis 2:9 where some are explicitly not for eating, like the Tree of Knowledge.
Genesis 1:29: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. [bearing...: Heb. seeding seed] [yielding...: Heb. seeding seed]
Paradox #1
Genesis 2:9 might seem to contradict the idea of an all-knowing and benevolent God by including the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which ultimately leads to human sin and suffering. It raises questions about why such a tree was placed in the garden and why humans were given the choice to disobey if God knew the outcome. This can lead to discussions about free will, the nature of temptation, and the purpose of human choice.
Paradox #2
Genesis 2:9 mentions the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. A potential contradiction or inconsistency could come from how these trees are treated in relation to free will and God's intentions. Specifically, the question arises as to why God would place these trees in the garden with the command not to eat from one of them, if He knew Adam and Eve might disobey. This raises questions about free will, the nature of temptation, and predestination, leading to different interpretations and debates among scholars and theologians.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in Genesis 2:9 involves the idea of trees with special powers, like the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which doesn't align with scientific understanding. In science, trees are living organisms that do not possess supernatural properties.
Paradox #4
One possible contradiction in Genesis 2:9 is the presence of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. While God creates this tree, He also commands Adam and Eve not to eat from it, which could pose a contradiction between providing free will and simultaneously setting a prohibition that leads to severe consequences if disobeyed. This could raise questions about the nature of temptation and the fairness of punishing disobedience when the choice was presented by God.