Quote:
Originally Posted by SpeakersCorner
In John 15 Jesus says “I am the vine.” Lee called a vine a tree. I’ve looked into that in the past and found a few arborists who agree. I’ve always thought of the tree of life in Revelation as having to be a vine. How else could it grow along a River that winds through the city?
|
Context would indicate, at least to me, these are not related to each other.
Jesus says He is the vine (Gk: ampelos). Revelation says there is a tree (Gk: xylon). A vine is one thing; a tree is another, and the Bible used distinct words for them.
Jesus calls Himself a vine in John 15 in the context of our bearing fruit and being a branch that remains in Him, remaining in His love, keeping His commandments. This is a different context than the tree of life is ever shown. We are never shown to be a branch of the tree of life. We eat of what grows off of the branches of the tree of life.
Revelation 22 says the tree of life is "on either side of the river". My understanding is that Ezekiel 47:1-12 is supposed to be a picture of the city in Revelation, with water flowing from the temple and trees growing along the river, and it essentially describes what Revelation calls the tree of life as numerous trees growing along the river (Ezekiel 47:7 and 47:12).
I do think it's a tree and not a vine, but I also agree with you that it seems to be (a tree or trees) abounding by or along the river, not just in one location.