r/RecoveryVersionBible

The tree of life first shows up in the garden of Eden in Genesis 2:9:

>And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, as well as the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve then proceed to NOT eat the tree of life; instead they eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and get booted from the garden of Eden. The way to the tree of life was consequently closed, as seen in Genesis 3:24:

>So He drove the man out, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned in every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

After that, there's no direct mention of this tree of life until you get to the last book of the Bible, in Revelation 2:7; 22:2, 14, and 19. Revelation 2:7 says,

>He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

What happened after the fall of Adam and Eve and how do we get back to the tree of life? A few footnotes from the Recovery Version are so helpful in understanding what the tree of life is and what God's intention for us is:

>[God] place[d] the created man in front of the tree of life, which signifies the Triune God embodied in Christ as life to man in the form of food. God’s placing man in front of the tree of life indicates that God wanted man to receive Him as man’s life by eating Him organically and assimilating Him metabolically, that God might become the very constituent of man’s being. According to John 1:1, 4, life is in the Word, who is God Himself. This life—the divine, eternal, uncreated life of God—is Christ (John 11:25; 14:6; Col. 3:4a), who is the embodiment of God (Col. 2:9). The tree of life grows along the two sides of the river of water of life (Rev. 22:1-2), indicating that it is a vine. Since Christ is a vine tree (John 15:1) and is also life, He is the tree of life. He was processed through incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection that man might have life and live by eating Him (John 10:10b; 6:51, 57, 63). (Footnote 2 of Genesis 2:9)

>God’s original intention was that man should eat of the tree of life (Gen. 2:9, 16). Because of the fall, the way to the tree of life was closed to man (Gen. 3:22-24). Through the redemption of Christ, the way by which man could touch the tree of life, which is God Himself in Christ as life to man, was opened again (Heb. 10:19-20). (Footnote 6 of Revelation 2:7)

Christ is life, Christ is the tree, Christ is food—Christ is the tree of life for us to eat, partake of, and enjoy today! The way is opened for us to once again come forward to eat of Him! In eternity, God's redeemed and regenerated ones will enjoy Him as the tree of life as our eternal portion (Rev. 22:2).

In Hebrews 4:16 (and elsewhere in Hebrews) the Recovery Version translates “come forward” which is a unique phrase and when looking at Bible Gateway - is only translated that way in this version. Wondering how/why that choice was made?

Two follow up questions

1. why no footnote explaining the unique translation as seems to be standard in other footnotes in the recover version?

2. why isn’t the Recovery Version listed on Bible Gateway?

Ecclesiastes 3:11 footnote 1 on eternity

“A divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy” (The Amplified Bible). God created man in His image and formed in him a spirit that man may receive and contain Him (Gen. 1:26 and note 3; 2:7 and note 5). In addition, God put eternity, an aspiration for something eternal, in man’s heart so that man will seek God, the eternal One. Hence, temporal things can never satisfy man; only the eternal God, who is Christ, can satisfy the deep sense of purpose in man’s heart (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18). See note 4^1 in S.S. 1.

In Revelation 1-3, the term often translated as “angels” is rendered as “messengers” in the RcV, and I think that is a thoughtful and meaningful choice. On the surface, both renderings may seem similar, but the RcV brings out a richer application.

A couple of simple questions help show why this word should not refer to angelic spiritual beings here. Does it make sense for John to send a written message to angels so they can relate it to the churches? And in Revelation 2 and 3, do angels normally function as part of local church life? Even casually, the answer seems no. “Messenger” fits the context much better.

If these are messengers, then the matter is not just about carrying information. It shows us that the Lord is looking for human messengers on earth—people who are living in fellowship with Him and are fit to carry His speaking. That also means we ourselves must be heavenly people on earth, partaking of His divine nature and regularly enjoying Him.

This is why I appreciate the RcV. Its rendering is not only more accurate in context, but it also opens up a deeper spiritual application. The Lord is not only concerned with the message being delivered, but also with the kind of people who carry it.

For that reason, I would strongly recommend the RcV here. Its use of “messenger” instead of “angel” helps us see the Lord’s desire for people who are heavenly in their living and faithful in transmitting His word.

"That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17)

I’ve really been enjoying this verse, today Christ is making His home in my heart. He is the home-making Christ. He is no longer homeless, for He is making His home in our hearts. The more Christ settles down in our hearts, the more He can boast to Satan that He has a home in His believers.

What are some examples of Christ making His home in our hearts?

I recently handed out a pocket-size NKJV New Testament to a young Christian who was so appreciative. I would like to hand out the Recovery Version. How do I get some?