Hi genuineoriginal
You suggested:
It really helps to research the words used.
The word translated "eternal" in this one place is translated very differently in other places in the KJV Bible
east 32, old 17, eastward 11, ancient 6, east side 5, before 3, east part 2, ancient time 2, aforetime 1, eternal 1, misc 7
I like that definition for eternal just fine, because within it we find that the term
forward ... could certainly be referring to "before all things: and
in front ... could also be referring to "before all things"
This could certainly be considered to mean that
God already existed before even the world was... so he is certainly not just limited to our frame work of time.
Why, even Jesus explains that he, as the WORD who was God, existed with the Father God when he shared the glory with the Father before the world was. John 17:4,5 KJV
These things certainly mean that the God who created the sun, moon, and stars, the earth, and all in it - even man and the Garden was the
God who existed even BEFORE (IOW, forward and in front of) the world as we know it and before TIME as we know it.
You wrote and asked:
Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.[/LEFT][/BOX]
Did God plant an eternal garden in Eden?
Yes, because He existed
before the Garden in the East.
You asked:
Was the garden only on the east side of Eden? Was it an ancient garden planted in Eden? Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.[/LEFT][/BOX]
Did God plant an eternal garden in Eden? Was the garden only on the east side of Eden? Was it an ancient garden planted in Eden?
How does this help establish that God is outside of time?
Well, I accept the inspired word of God as related to Moses for sharing. I believe Eden was a place and that the Garden existed in a particular location within it.
Now, here is a great question for you and I to ponder:
If the Garden was in the eastern part of Eden ... and then later (Gen.3:24 KJV) God placed Cherubims, and a flaming sword
east of the garden ... then what existed east of east? Is it the far east or the nearer east?
We know one thing
that this eastern door would be protecting an eastern place from which mankind had been exiled as mortals.
We also can see that God is the God who was (existed) BEFORE (forward, in front of) the first dwelling place of mankind (AKA - the eastern part of Eden.)
You asked:
Where are the passages in the Bible that speak of God being outside of time?
Well, if you read my post above ... you saw that I do not believe there is a place that co-exists along with God called - "OUTSIDE of God."
ALL THINGS exist IN HIM and CONSIST of HIM.
Colossians 1:16,17 KJV
This means that even TIME actually exists IN HIM ... but due to the fact that He is omni-present ...
He is aware of all TIMEwhich he created or established IN HIM.
I think the discussion of
God existing OUTSIDE of time is a question with no answer ... because it is a faulty question. Time is IN HIM and HE is aware of any TIME measurements he has established.
You probably know that from planet to planet - time (such as length of days and years) changes?
God is not limited to any particular time, but is aware of all time... which he established WITHIN HIMSELF.