Law of the tree: immortality kept or mortality if transgressed
But so that the human being might not think himself too great and swell with pride, as if he had no master; so that, in his relations with God his creator, he might not mistake the power and liberties given him by overpassing the bounds set for him; and lest, flattering himself in proud thoughts, he should revolt against God — a law was given him by God, to teach him that he has a master, the Lord of all things.
And he set him certain limits, so that if he should keep the commandment of God he should always remain as he was — that is, immortal; but if he should not keep it, he should become mortal and be dissolved into earth from which his formation had been taken. (dust you are)
Now the commandment was this: ‘Of every tree that is in the Paradise you shall freely eat; but of that tree alone from which is the knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat; for in the day you eat, you shall surely die.’ (Gen 2:16-17)
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About this text
Irenaeus’s short handbook of the apostolic preaching (Epideixis), preserved in Armenian. English here is a densified reading translation for study. Prior English exists (Robinson / Wilson) — this is not an Original English Translation.
English follows the Armenian of Patrologia Orientalis XII.5. Barthoulot’s French was used as a sense-check only. Robinson (1920) and Wilson’s prior English exist and were checked for independence — this page is densified English, not Original English Translation / no-previous-English.
Witnesses
- Copy-text PO XII.5 Epideixis (Armenian, Matenadaran M3710) (Armenian · §§1–10)
- Checked print Barthoulot French (PD) (French · §§1–10)
- Prior English Check Robinson 1920 / Wilson English (English · full work (prior complete English exists))
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.