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Commentary on "Nature as a Source of Health"
Day 2: Sunday, March 13, 2011 - A Perfect Environment
OVERVIEW
This day contains general statements about the Garden of Eden, its environment and what it must have been like for the first couple to live there. Genesis 1:27–2:25 is where you find a description of the Garden in detail. There’s an Ellen G. White quote (The Ministry of Healing, p. 261) embellishing what the Bible says about the Garden of Eden. At the end, a question is asked, “Try to envision what Eden must have been like. Think of the sights, the smells, the tastes, everything designed to appeal to our senses. What should that tell us about how, in principle, our physical bodies are good and were made to be enjoyed by us?”
OBSERVATIONS
There really isn’t much substance to this lesson. Except for reading Genesis 1:27-2:25, what’s written are random thoughts, ideas or questions about what it was like to live in the Garden of Eden. The Ellen G. White quote is unbiblical and unnecessary; merely subjective ramblings. The question at the end is a frivolous exercise that is rather unrelated as to why our physical bodies are good and were made to be enjoyed by us. The Bible says,
“Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own for you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19
There are many things that could be said about the body, but the important thing to remember is that, as believers, we’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 14). It’s more about who we’re housing in our body than it is about our physical pleasure. In this world, many believers have sacrificed their bodies (the temporary) and physical well-being for the sake of the gospel (the eternal) (1 John 5:13).
CONCLUSIONS
- There isn’t a lot of biblical material presented here, mostly subjective ramblings.
- The Ellen G. White quote is subjective and unsubstantiated biblically.
- Our physical bodies are good, but not because it’s all about our senses and physical pleasure. Our bodies house and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
- While our physical comfort is nice, as believers, what’s important is our eternal spiritual condition. Our physical body may perish, as our physical security can’t be guaranteed in this world, but our spiritual security is guaranteed (1John 5:13)!!
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 13, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 12
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