If you think it was Satan then why was the reptile punished?
If you think it was just a serpent how did it talk?
Maybe you have another take...
2007-03-21 08:42:23 · 23 answers · asked by 10 Point Shoe-In 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The "serpent" is a metaphor for our evil inclination. Sin is not mentioned until Cain slays Abel.
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2007-03-21 08:47:54 · answer #1 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The serpent in the garden originally was merely a created being: intelligent, attractive, and perhaps vertically erect. The operative word is created. As created, the serpent was lesser than Adam and Eve and named by Adam. Adam would have given it instructions, not accepted instruction from it. As created, any suggestion from the serpent should have been instantly suspicious for two reasons. Firstly, Adam had informed Eve of his God-given command over the creatures. And secondly, God had always spoken directly to Adam and Eve.
The serpent in the garden became a willing conspirator with Satan in deceiving Eve. No other animal served his purpose so well. From thoughtful and discreet, it became conceited and duplicitous. The original Genesis context stresses the duplicity of the serpent. The Devil’s use of the serpent portrays the serpent’s consent and cooperation. God cursed the serpent for its part in Eve’s deception.
2007-03-21 15:48:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hey! How's it goin'?
You know my take on it. I think the animals talked before the Fall of Man (Adam and Eve's sin).
Eve wasn't very surprised that the serpent talked. She just kept up with the conversation.
I believe the serpent was Satan in disguise.
And yes, I believe every God-breathed word of the Bible.
2007-03-21 16:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by squeezy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lucifer entered into the serpent in spirit. The reptile was not punished. If you research other stories in the bible(especially that of Moses and the staff) God used snakes as He saw fit. Lucifer was punished and was casted down as satan. It was not punishment towards the snake but in fact God caused satan to be "cursed more than all cattle and more than every beast of the field'(Gen. 3:14). This includes humans as well
2007-03-21 16:14:43 · answer #4 · answered by sweet_classy_lady_2000 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you subscribe to the belief that evil can masquerade in various forms to tempt mankind, then the serpent was a form taken on by the Devil/Satan to create chaos in the plan of God.
It was his intention to thwart the Creation of God and thus place himself in a position of pre-immenance and usurp the powers of Almighty God for himself.
Because he was the form of the serpent, but not the serpent himself, it was a form of possession. The serpent, in allowing the possession was made an accomplice, and thus, was punished for participation in the plan of the Evil One.
Eve, being deceived, partook of the fruit of the tree, whereupon her understanding was enlightened and she understood that she had transgressed. In so doing, she knew she would be thrust out of the presence of God in the Garden and would be alone, again frustrating the plan of God. (Satan is pretty bright, but no genius)
Adam, seeing that he would be left a lone man in the Garden, knew that he could not live there and fulfill the measure of his creation as God intended. he then chose to follow Eve and also ate of the fruit.
they were then cast out of the Garden of Eden, but were able to fulfill God's purpose, because as children in the garden, they could not take on them the responsibility for thier own actions and choices nor could they become the parents of all mankind upon the earth.
It was a choice, a transgression and not a sin. So Satan, once again, was compelled to find another way to destroy us.
2007-03-21 15:52:25 · answer #5 · answered by stonechic 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Metaphors. The serpent gets around the earth by crawling on its belly. It's the lowest creature. It uses cunning to get its way. The talk was the power of suggestion in the human mind to convince one to doubt God or conscience. Having an evil will toward man, the serpent knew that it could deceive man by first getting to the woman, because man, not Eve, was given the warning not to reach for knowledge. By reaching to become a god by knowledge, man disobeys and separates from God, the source of his life. Now enters death, as warned and promised. The serpent appealed to the pride of man, pride being the desire to be God. But only God can be God. It was a deception. When Adam saw what had happened to him, the serpent replied "I made you fall by that which I myself fell"
God had to send away man because he does not coexist with sin, and he cursed and punished the serpent for ruining his creation. (But all part of a great plan, as we later learn).
2007-03-21 15:56:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
One sect of Gnostics, called the Ophites (from the Greek ophis, serpent) believed that the snake in the Garden of Eden was an agent of divine goodness who gave man forbidden knowledge so that he could set out on his long road to saving his soul.
2007-03-21 16:06:31 · answer #7 · answered by Dark Knight 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was a serpent. That is why it says IN THE BIBLE that the serpent was the most cunning of all the creatures.
It doesn't say anything about Satan, the devil or evil.
2007-03-21 15:46:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
One of the Fallen Arch Angels, Samiel was the serpent in the garden of Eden. He descended of his own free will after Lucifer fell from grace. This is fact. Look it up on a search engine if you have any doubts.
2007-03-21 15:48:49 · answer #9 · answered by Lynnemarie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2Cr 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan herself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Cr 11:15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if her ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The serpant was a preacher who did not uphold the Laws of Yahweh but taught against them.
Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.
what is righteousness? according the the Holy Scriptures....
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before Yahweh our Father, as he hath commanded us.
Pro 15:4 A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.
Jhn 8:44 Ye are of [your] teacher the devil, and the lusts of your teacher ye will do. She was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in her. When she speaketh a lie, she speaketh of her own: for she is a liar, and the teacher of it.
What is truth?
Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your LAW IS THE TRUTH!!!
Do you know of any preacher who teaches that man must live by every word or Law of the Father whose true name is Yahweh? No. Just like in the garden of Eden you have the serpants teaching you that you don't have to obey the Father anymore.
Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his Laws
(commandments), is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
http://www.yahweh.com/Default.htm
2007-03-21 16:05:09 · answer #10 · answered by YUHATEME 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋