“... 19.3 Which do not move in summer or winter, and whose leaves do not fall. There are two dimensions to the imagery here. First, these trees in paradise do not ‘move’, a term elsewhere negatively valued in contrast to ‘rest’ and ‘standing’. This evokes the theme of stability, which recently appeared in 18.3 (on the theme, see further on 16.4 above). Secondly, and relatedly, the trees are unaffected by the seasons. The reason for this is probably the widespread idea that paradise came into being before the creation of the sun and moon, and therefore because of its prior existence is not subject to their influence. The paradisal house in the Gospel of Judas is ‘the place where the sun and the moon will not have dominion’ (Gos. Jud. 45,14–24). More explicit on this theme is Origin of the World, which talks of ‘paradise, which is beautiful and is outside the orbit of the moon and the orbit of the sun in the land of wantonness …’ (Origin 110,2–6). This goes back to Jubilees, in which paradise is created on the third day, before the luminaries which are created on the fourth day: for this reason, paradise can be envisaged as outside of time. ...”