The Origins of the Tree of Life
April 26 and May 3, 2026
Class Description
The Bible introduces us to the Tree of Life in the story of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2-3) but what exactly is it? How can understanding this symbol, which is far more ancient than the Bible, help us understand the Eden story and other biblical traditions about this sacred tree anew? In this two-part lecture, Dr. Amy Balogh returns to share her work on the origins of the Tree of Life in ancient Near Eastern texts and iconography and its application for understanding the biblical text today.
About Amy Balogh
Dr. Amy L. Balogh is lecturer of religious studies at Regis University and specializes in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near East. She also works as the editorial assistant for Gorgias Press and is the academic editor for the Lexham Geographic Commentary Series. Amy recently co-edited the volume A New Era of Comparison in Biblical Studies: Case Studies in Applied Methodology (Lexington Books, 2025) and is the author of Moses among the Idols: Mediators of the Divine in the Ancient Near East (Lexington Books / Fortress Press, 2018), as well as various articles in renowned journals. She also enjoys co-hosting the Biblical World podcast.