(Ecclesiastes 1:13-18)—Age after age, the curiosity of men has led them to seek for the tree of knowledge; and often they think they are plucking fruit most essential, when, like Solomon’s research, they find it altogether vanity and nothingness in comparison with that science of true holiness which will open to them the gates of the city of God. The human ambition has been seeking for that kind of knowledge that will bring to them glory and self-exaltation and supremacy. Thus Adam and Eve were worked upon by Satan until God’s restraint was snapped asunder, and their education under the teacher of lies began in order that they might have the knowledge which God had refused them,—to know the consequence of transgression (Manuscript 67, 1898).{1BC 1083.7}

(Præd. 1,13-18).--Gennem alle tider har menneskers nysgerrighed fået dem til at søge efter kundskabens træ; og ofte mener de, at de plukker en frugt, som har stor betydning, hvor de dog ligesom Salomon ved sin ransagning opdager, at det alt sammen kun er endeløs, forfængelighed og tomhed i sammenligning med den sande gudsfrygts visdom, som de vil erfare ved Guds hellige stads. porte. Menneskers ærgerrighed har søgt efter den slags visdom, der kan bringe dem ære og selvforherligelse og magt. Sådan blev Adam og Eva påvirkede af Satan, indtil Gud mistede sin magt over dem, og deres undervisning hos løgnens fader begyndte, for at de kunne få den kundskab, som Gud havde nægtet dem.-- for at kende konsekvensen af overtrædelse (MS 67, 1898).