Christians - 2 questions - can I please get REAL answers?

Question

ONLY humans are capable of sin, correct?
1) In the bible, in the story of Adam and Eve there was a serpent (snake). The serpent temptes Eve and was punished for that sin by being made to slither/crawl on it's belly and all. Why was the serpent punished for this 'sin' if only humans can sin?

2) Also, when I asked this before one person said that it the Serpent was really Satan. That was one answer I got to this question. Okay then...so I'm sure God knew it was Satan so again - why punish the serpent?

Answer 1

Great question. First, the assumption that only humans can sin is not a valid one. To sin is to act contrary to the will of God. Any creature with free will sins.

Now, on to the nature of this "serpent". The Hebrew word translated as "serpent" or "snake" does not denote any particular species of creature. In early Hebrew folklore, the serpent (sometimes called Leviathan) represents chaos and evil, as opposed to the order and good that God wills. This particular serpent is a representation of an idea. It may have physically existed or it may not have; we do not have empirical evidence one way or the other. To quote German theologian Karl Barth, when he was asked on the way out of church by a woman if he believed that the serpent in the garden really had the power of human speech, "Madam, it is of no importance whether or not the serpent spoke, what is important is what he said." The stories in the Bible, even the ones archaeologically proved to be historical, are all symbolic. This one is no exception. The biblical creation stories (yes, Genesis carries two creation stories) are chock full of symbolism. The fact that science agrees for the most part with Chapter 1 does not take away its spiritual significance. I must agree with Barth in that it is not as important whether the historical or scientific validity of the events can be ascertained as what the story teaches.

Answer 2

The serpent was punished because the serpent being spoken about was Satan. We are not sure if the serpent was ever not moving on it's belly. I believe that the curse was aimed at Satan and God called Satan the serpent. Satan took the form of a Serpent in this scenario. Again, we do not know if the serpent or snake looked different before this incident or not.

Answer 3

Many aspects of the Adam and Eve story are symbolic, including the representation of Satan as a snake. The serpent was already a serpent ie designed/evolved to slither on it's belly. God's curse on Satan (to be made the crawl on his belly) had nothing to do with the snake crawling on its belly, except to describe the similarities between them.

The scripture also says that the seed of the woman was given power to bruise the serpents head. This is referring to the power of Jesus Christ (ie not just any "seed" or child of the woman, but one in particular - the Messiah). While Satan will, metaphorically, always crawl on his belly (ie have no honor) and he will have venomous power to harm the children of men, there will come a time when he will be crushed (killed, overpowered) by Jesus Christ... and he will have no more power to hurt us.

This is what the analogy of the snake is referring to. Real snakes (ie animals) are not punished for being on their bellies. That is just the way they are.

God bless.

Answer 4

The Bible is a book of faith not a history book. The serpent may have been Eve being tempted by her conscience. Likely a metaphor for punishment for your sins. Not being a Bible scholar I cannot be perfect but these are real answers. One who takes the Bible as written is not looking at the whole book. One of the biggest problems religion has are those who use one passage to justify there point. When this is done one should be skeptical. Peace

Answer 5

Again, the allegory has snared you. The story of Adam And Eve is important only in that it shows man's rejection of Utopia for his own pride.

The serpent at the time this story as written down was a dangerous creature to farmers and their livestock. To get across the idea that Satan was truly evil, the storyteller uses the easy device of the snake, hated to this day in many parts of the world, to capture his audience's attention.

If the inspiration were to come to write the tale today, I'm sure the serpent's part would be written as a corporate lawyer.

Answer 6

I think there is an assumption that the serpent was a snake because the punishment was to slither on its belly..like a snake. The Hebrew word rendered "serpent" in the KJV and other versions of the Bible is "nachash" which roughly means "shining one" was actually Satan (which is reasonable as we understand Lucifer was the most beautiful angel of all in Heaven) who beguiled Eve into conversation.

Revelation 12:9:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The casting out of Satan (Lucifer) with the Sin of Man was parallel to his own fall from Heaven as well as prophetic of the forthcoming 'enmity' between he and Eve's seed (Jesus)

Answer 7

1) The serpent is Satan, also he is called the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

2) Eve is called the mother of all living because it was God's plan that through Eve would eventually come Christ. Satan was trying to corrupt the linage. This is linage is the key of David. You will note Cain is not in Adam's genealogy.

Answer 8

Satan did not have the authority on the earth to be able to approach Adam or Eve. So, he possessed the serpent because the serpent was stupid enough to let him do so.

After Adam sinned, there was a new boss and a new sheriff in town. Animals began to eat other animals and an animal had to be killed in order to clothe Adam and Eve.

Did the serpent sin? I dunno as the bible does not specifically say so. Yet, as a result of sin, animal behaviors have changed. Is a lion chasing a gazelle sinning? Or is it acting on its nature-the one that was changed as a result of sin in the world.

The bible teaches that when Jesus returns during the millennial reign, that Lions and Sheep will lie down together - meaning Lions will not kill to eat or eat meat.

Sin has its effects on animals and it had its effect on the serpent too.

Answer 9

1.) I guess it is obvious that more then just humans can sin. I must be true that the devil can sin as well. rebellion against God is a sin. That is what I have been taught.
* who said only humans can sin ?*

2.) The serpent/devil(X-angel) was punished because he sinned. The are other accounts in the bible where people are punished for their sins. So the devil will be punished. God does punish people for their sins.

Answer 10

Stories like this one were intended to work on more than one level. It was, for example, to explain why snakes crawl on their bellies. Of course, it is entirely unclear what snakes were using before that, but the story doesn't say. Second, it is a later Christian interpretation which equates the Adversary with the snake. *I* certainly would not presume that the first people to hear this story made that assumption.

In general, the OT seems to presuppose that sin is a human condition, since it is only to humans that the law is given, and sin *is* contravention of divine law. I say "seems to" since this story is unique, and the writer of this part of the OT is not available to ask.

HTH

Charles