The Literal Meaning of Genesis (continued)
CHAPTER 18
The beatitude of man before the fall.
23. Should anyone be said to possess happiness when he is uncertain whether that state will remain or eventually be followed by a state of misery? This is a question that can be asked even about the first man. For if he foreknew his future sin and the divine chastisement, how could he have been happy? Therefore, he was not happy in Paradise. But this cannot be true, since he did not know he was going to sin. Given such ignorance, then, one of two alternatives is possible: either he was uncertain of his beatitude (and how was he truly happy?); or he had certitude based on false hope, not on knowledge (and how was he not a fool?).
24. Nevertheless, when the first man was still in a natural body,>! if as a reward for a life of obedience he was to be given companionship with the angels and a change of body from natural to spiritual, we can understand how he had a measure of happiness even if he had no foreknowledge of his future sin. Those also were ignorant of the future to whom St. Paul said,
You who are spiritual should instruct such a man {one who has fallen into sin] in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.>? But it is not unreasonable or wrong for us to say that these spiritual persons were already happy for the very reason that they were spiritual, not in their bodies but in the justice of their faith, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation.54
With greater reason, then, and in a fuller sense, man was happy in Paradise before he sinned, although he was uncertain about his future fall. He was happy in this hope of reward, the promised transformation of the body; and his hope was such that there was no tribulation for patience to endure in combat. He was not filled with vain presumption, like a fool being certain about the uncertain, but he was strong in faith and hope.
Before possessing that life where he would be unquestionably certain of his own eternal life, he could rejoice, as Scripture says, with trembling;>+ and with this rejoicing he could be Rappy much more abundantly in Paradise than are the saints here on