THE SERPENT

In Genesis ch. 3In Genesis ch. 3

Genesis 3Genesis 31:1: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? of every tree of the garden? 2:2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3:3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4:4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: surely die: 5:5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. gods, knowing good and evil. 6:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. husband with her; and he did eat. 7:7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. together, and made themselves aprons. 8:8: And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. God amongst the trees of the garden. 9:9: And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? him, Where art thou? 10:10: And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11:11: And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12:12: And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13:13: And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14:14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: days of thy life: 15:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16:16: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17:17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18:18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19:19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. return. 20:20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. she was the mother of all living. 21:21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22:22: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: life, and eat, and live for ever: 23:23: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. was taken. 24:24: So he drove out the man; and he placed at the So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.tree of life.

The ProblemThe Problem

Religious bodies in an attempt to rationalize the miraculous elements in the Biblical record of Genesis, while retaining the fall of mankind, view the serpent, not as a literal beast of the field, but as part of a myth in which the evil

desires within Eve are symbolized.

The SolutionThe Solution

If the literalness of Adam and Eve is retained, If the literalness of Adam and Eve is retained, but a non-literal serpent suggested, the following but a non-literal serpent suggested, the following questions need answering: questions need answering:

How is Genesis 3:1 to be understood: "Now the How is Genesis 3:1 to be understood: "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made?" Are the field which the LORD God had made?" Are the beasts in this verse also figurative? If the serpent beasts in this verse also figurative? If the serpent were only a symbol of sinful thinking, why the were only a symbol of sinful thinking, why the allusion to "all the beasts of the field?" allusion to "all the beasts of the field?"

If the serpent is a non-literal element, are the If the serpent is a non-literal element, are the special trees, the disobedient eating, the special trees, the disobedient eating, the shameful nakedness, the covering, concealment, shameful nakedness, the covering, concealment, subsequent questioning, and expulsion also subsequent questioning, and expulsion also allegorical? allegorical?

The SolutionThe Solution If these details are literal (as many religious persons If these details are literal (as many religious persons

would concede) then why the demand for a non-would concede) then why the demand for a non-literal serpent?1 If a talking serpent is too great a literal serpent?1 If a talking serpent is too great a tax on one's credulity, what then of the tree of tax on one's credulity, what then of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and of the tree of life? knowledge of good and evil, and of the tree of life?

How can one consistently hold a literal Adam and How can one consistently hold a literal Adam and Eve (as some do) and yet have a figurative Eve (as some do) and yet have a figurative environment?2 This leaves the non-literal serpent environment?2 This leaves the non-literal serpent position with no alternative but to view the whole position with no alternative but to view the whole narrative as a symbolic fall which actually took narrative as a symbolic fall which actually took some other form than described.3 some other form than described.3

How is one to understand the curse on the serpent, How is one to understand the curse on the serpent, "Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above "Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle . . . " (Gen. 3:14).all cattle . . . " (Gen. 3:14).

Paul’s Comment To The Paul’s Comment To The CorinthiansCorinthians

There is a relevant comment by Paul on the serpent in his There is a relevant comment by Paul on the serpent in his writing to the Corinthian Ecclesia. He says: "I fear, lest by writing to the Corinthian Ecclesia. He says: "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3). The full force of simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3). The full force of Paul's argument requires a literal serpent in the Garden of Paul's argument requires a literal serpent in the Garden of Eden. His argument rests on parallels:Eden. His argument rests on parallels:

Serpent lied - (Gen. 3:4) False teachers lied - (2 Cor. Serpent lied - (Gen. 3:4) False teachers lied - (2 Cor. 11:13) 11:13)

Serpent was subtle - (Gen. 3:1) False teachers were Serpent was subtle - (Gen. 3:1) False teachers were beguiling – beguiling – (2 Cor. 11:3, 13) (2 Cor. 11:3, 13)

Eve was seduced - (2 Cor. 11:3) Corinthians in danger of Eve was seduced - (2 Cor. 11:3) Corinthians in danger of being seduced - (2 Cor. 11:3) being seduced - (2 Cor. 11:3)

Eve's fall was disastrous - (1 Tim. 2:14) Corinthians in Eve's fall was disastrous - (1 Tim. 2:14) Corinthians in danger of disaster - (2 Cor. 11:3) danger of disaster - (2 Cor. 11:3)

Paul’s Comment To The Paul’s Comment To The CorinthiansCorinthians

The full force of the parallels requires a The full force of the parallels requires a literal serpent. If the serpent were merely a literal serpent. If the serpent were merely a symbol of Eve's unworthy thoughts, then symbol of Eve's unworthy thoughts, then Eve (created "very good" Gen. 1:31) was Eve (created "very good" Gen. 1:31) was tempted tempted withinwithin, yet the Corinthians (fallen , yet the Corinthians (fallen descendants of Adam) were tempted from descendants of Adam) were tempted from withoutwithout. What force would there be in . What force would there be in Paul's allusion to the serpent? Paul's allusion to the serpent?

Other Animals SpeakingOther Animals Speaking

"And the LORD opened the mouth of the "And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?" (Num. 22:28). me these three times?" (Num. 22:28).

Peter endorses the account: "the dumb Peter endorses the account: "the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet." (2 Peter 2:16). madness of the prophet." (2 Peter 2:16).

So who was the Serpent?So who was the Serpent?

one of one of "the living things that moved "the living things that moved upon the earth"upon the earth"

pronounced by God "very good" as pronounced by God "very good" as part of the overall Creationpart of the overall Creation

more subtle, or shrewd, than any of more subtle, or shrewd, than any of the creatures the Lord God had the creatures the Lord God had mademade

““The” SerpentThe” Serpent

Bro. Thomas suggests that the Bro. Thomas suggests that the definite article “the” in Gen. 3:1 definite article “the” in Gen. 3:1 means the chief of the serpent tribemeans the chief of the serpent tribe

The apostasy suggests “the” means The apostasy suggests “the” means it was “Satan”, the fallen angelit was “Satan”, the fallen angel

Could it mean that it was simply one Could it mean that it was simply one particular snake living in the Garden particular snake living in the Garden of Eden and known to Adam and Eve of Eden and known to Adam and Eve better than others? Maybe one to better than others? Maybe one to regularly converse with them?regularly converse with them?

What did the Serpent What did the Serpent look like?look like?

it was later condemned to go upon its it was later condemned to go upon its belly as a part of its sentence, it is belly as a part of its sentence, it is probable it was a winged-serpent in probable it was a winged-serpent in the beginning: fiery, but afterwards the beginning: fiery, but afterwards deprived of the power of flight and deprived of the power of flight and made to move as at present made to move as at present

or did it have paws instead of wings? or did it have paws instead of wings? or both? (In Revelation “the Old or both? (In Revelation “the Old Serpent” refers to the Garden of Eden Serpent” refers to the Garden of Eden episode and styles it “the Dragon”episode and styles it “the Dragon”

Nature of the SerpentNature of the Serpent

quickness of perception was a part of quickness of perception was a part of the goodness of its nature the goodness of its nature

Jesus exhorts his disciples to "be Jesus exhorts his disciples to "be wisewise as the serpents; and harmless as the as the serpents; and harmless as the doves”doves”

It was an observant spectator of what It was an observant spectator of what was passing around it in the garden, it was passing around it in the garden, it new about the Tree of Life and the new about the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, it has seen ElohimTree of Knowledge, it has seen Elohim

Nature of the SerpentNature of the Serpent

He was aware from what he had heard, He was aware from what he had heard, that the Elohim knew what good and evil that the Elohim knew what good and evil were experimentally; and that in this were experimentally; and that in this particular, Adam and Eve were not so particular, Adam and Eve were not so wise as they. But, all this knowledge was wise as they. But, all this knowledge was shut up in his own cranium, from which shut up in his own cranium, from which it could never have made its exit, had it could never have made its exit, had not the Lord God bestowed upon it the not the Lord God bestowed upon it the power of expressing its thoughts in power of expressing its thoughts in speech. speech.

Nature of the SerpentNature of the Serpent

It was an intellectual, but not a moral, It was an intellectual, but not a moral, creaturecreature

It had no "moral sentiments" or conscience, It had no "moral sentiments" or conscience, it’s like God didn’t give him the necessary it’s like God didn’t give him the necessary organs to have conscience; no spiritualityorgans to have conscience; no spirituality

It had only intellectual abilities and It had only intellectual abilities and propensitiespropensities

Man on the other hand had the necessary Man on the other hand had the necessary capability for conscience – a major capability for conscience – a major distinction from animalsdistinction from animals

Nature of the SerpentNature of the Serpent

Moral, or spiritual, ideas would make Moral, or spiritual, ideas would make no impression upon its mental no impression upon its mental constitution; for it was incapable, from constitution; for it was incapable, from its formation, of responding to them. its formation, of responding to them. It would be physically impossible for it It would be physically impossible for it to reason in harmony with the mind of to reason in harmony with the mind of God; or with the mind of man, whose God; or with the mind of man, whose reasoning was regulated by divinely reasoning was regulated by divinely enlightened moral sentimentsenlightened moral sentiments

““Carnal Mind”Carnal Mind”

Result of the Serpent’s Result of the Serpent’s NatureNature

It was "very good" but when he It was "very good" but when he undertook to converse upon things undertook to converse upon things too high for him; to speak of what he too high for him; to speak of what he had seen and heard; and to comment had seen and heard; and to comment upon the law of the Lord, he lost upon the law of the Lord, he lost himself in his own reasoning, and himself in his own reasoning, and became became the inventor of a liethe inventor of a lie. .

The Conversation in the The Conversation in the GardenGarden

““Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of of everyevery tree of the garden?" tree of the garden?"

It questions what God said. The It questions what God said. The Serpent uses pure logic, has no Serpent uses pure logic, has no conscience or moral obligation to conscience or moral obligation to keep God’s law.keep God’s law.

Eve’s reply enounces God’s law, the Eve’s reply enounces God’s law, the spirit of Truth, and shows moral spirit of Truth, and shows moral responsibility.responsibility.

The Conversation in the The Conversation in the GardenGarden

But Eve, instead of putting faith in But Eve, instead of putting faith in what God said, starts the same kind what God said, starts the same kind of “self-enlightened” reasoning, of “self-enlightened” reasoning, logical discourse, fleshly thinking:logical discourse, fleshly thinking:

““We’ll not necessarily die… The snake We’ll not necessarily die… The snake may have a point: all I need to do may have a point: all I need to do after eating of the Tree of Knowledge after eating of the Tree of Knowledge is to have a bite of the fruit of the is to have a bite of the fruit of the Tree of Life and live forever… Tree of Life and live forever… God God must have meant something elsemust have meant something else…”…”

The thinking in the world The thinking in the world today is no different from today is no different from

that in Edenthat in Eden The same fleshly reasoning is happening The same fleshly reasoning is happening

in the world today.in the world today. God has said, "He that believeth the God has said, "He that believeth the

gospel, and is baptized, shall be saved; gospel, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be but he that believeth not shall be condemned". condemned".

People trying to rationalize how a “loving People trying to rationalize how a “loving God” cannot condemn millions of people; God” cannot condemn millions of people; how baptism is not important; admitting how baptism is not important; admitting faith in theory but denying the Law of faith in theory but denying the Law of God by works.God by works.

Lessons for usLessons for us We are subject to the same carnal thinking We are subject to the same carnal thinking

traps as the Serpent, Eve, and the World traps as the Serpent, Eve, and the World around usaround us

The only way to avoid carnal thinking is in The only way to avoid carnal thinking is in firmly grounding our reasoning in the Biblefirmly grounding our reasoning in the Bible

If we use our own conjectures, If we use our own conjectures, “philosophies”, we are in danger of “philosophies”, we are in danger of becoming unwitting liars (unwitting becoming unwitting liars (unwitting because we may mean well but still follow because we may mean well but still follow the wrong path of fleshly vs. biblical the wrong path of fleshly vs. biblical thinking).thinking).

Example: Dress CodeExample: Dress Code

The only Biblical requirement for The only Biblical requirement for clothing is that it should be modestclothing is that it should be modest

Human thinking ignores it and tends Human thinking ignores it and tends to turn it into one of the extremes: 1) to turn it into one of the extremes: 1) Lax: wearing immodest attire Lax: wearing immodest attire incompatible with the spirit of God, incompatible with the spirit of God, 2) Strict: wearing clothes held in 2) Strict: wearing clothes held in high regard by the Worldhigh regard by the World

THE ENDTHE END