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Objection 1: It would seem that man was created in paradise. For
the angel was created in his dwelling-place---namely, the empyrean
heaven. But before sin paradise was a fitting abode for man.
Therefore it seems that man was created in paradise.
Objection 2: Further, other animals remain in the place where they
are produced, as the fish in the water, and walking animals on the
earth from which they were made. Now man would have remained in
paradise after he was created (Question 97, Article 4).
Therefore he was created in paradise.
Objection 3: Further, woman was made in paradise. But man is
greater than woman. Therefore much more should man have been made in
paradise.
On the contrary, It is written (Gn. 2:15): "God took man
and placed him in paradise."
I answer that, Paradise was a fitting abode for man as regards the
incorruptibility of the primitive state. Now this incorruptibility was
man's, not by nature, but by a supernatural gift of God. Therefore
that this might be attributed to God, and not to human nature, God
made man outside of paradise, and afterwards placed him there to live
there during the whole of his animal life; and, having attained to the
spiritual life, to be transferred thence to heaven.
Reply to Objection 1: The empyrean heaven was a fitting abode for
the angels as regards their nature, and therefore they were created
there.
In the same way I reply to the second objection, for those places
befit those animals in their nature.
Reply to Objection 3: Woman was made in paradise, not by reason of
her own dignity, but on account of the dignity of the principle from
which her body was formed. For the same reason the children would have
been born in paradise, where their parents were already.
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