"To the tempter's ensnaring question she replied: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” PP 54.1"
"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
This is a direct quotation and paraphrase of Genesis 3:2-5. EGW is retelling the biblical narrative.
"By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge. He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. And he insinuated that the Lord jealously desired to withhold it from them, lest they should be exalted to equality with Himself. It was because of its wonderful properties, imparting wisdom and power, that He had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it. The tempter intimated that the divine warning was not to be actually fulfilled; it was designed merely to intimidate them. How could it be possible for them to die? Had they not eaten of the tree of life? God had been seeking to prevent them from reaching a nobler development and finding greater happiness. PP 54.2"
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
EGW is elaborating on the serpent's words in Genesis 3:5, providing further context and interpretation. It's more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct expansion of the biblical text.
"efforts to search out what God has been pleased to withhold, multitudes overlook the truths which He has revealed, and which are essential to salvation. Satan tempts men to disobedience by leading them to believe they are entering a wonderful field of knowledge. But this is all a deception. Elated with their ideas of progression, they are, by trampling on God's requirements, setting their feet in the path that leads to degradation and death. PP 54.3"
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
The EGW passage illustrates the principle of Proverbs 14:12, where a path that seems right can lead to death. The pursuit of forbidden knowledge, though seemingly progressive, leads to degradation and death, mirroring the proverb's warning.
"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Both passages address the danger of pursuing knowledge or learning that distracts from or contradicts revealed truth. The EGW passage speaks of overlooking essential truths while searching for hidden knowledge, while 2 Timothy 3:7 describes those who are "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." The connection is thematic and meaningful.