Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | NazMan | 22524 | ||
You asked: "Have we not a snake, but a glorious shining being, apparently an angel, to whom Eve paid such great deference, acknowledging him as one who seemed to possess superior knowledge(Eze 28:12), and who was evidently a being of a superior (not of an inferior) order?" - No, because it is deliberately described as a beast of the field You said: "possessing superior and supernatural knowledge" - what knowledge are you referring to? The serpent simply repeated and distorted what God had said. I don't disagree with your conclusions, but one word can not bear the weight of an entire theological construct. The fact remains that the serpent is described as a beast of the field. Allow the text in question, Gen 2-3 to speak for itself before using other scripture to add to its interpretation. We know from the N.T. that the serpent is satan, the deceiver. But in the context of Gen 2-3, the serpent is in the garden, even if its a shining one; only by using outside texts can you even associate the shining one with satan. Satan is not mentioned specifically in Genesis 2-3. |
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2 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | casiv | 23379 | ||
Hello, You said,"No, because it is deliberately described as a beast of the field." Nowhere does it describe the serpent as a beast of the field. It is written," Now the serpent was more subtil(wise) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.(Gen 3:1; which is the first mention of the "serpent"). It is speculation to say the serpent was of the field without scriptural documentation. We must allow scripture to define scripture! If we only read Gen 2and3 and not the rest of the Bible we are certain to be deceived. Jesus proved this when being tempted of satan in Matt 4:4 Jesus says "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." This I believe is the whole letter of the Bible, all books together, written to understand the Fathers will and His Son and how the enemy operates. The Bible flows from the beggining to the middle to the end and does this because the Father is perfect and so is His Word. In regards to "Possessing superior knowledge and supernatural knowledge", the serpent did not simply repeat scripture, in "Gen 3:5 - For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good from evil.", God did not say this, the serpent did and it is my belief that these words may have been interpreted by Eve to think that the serpent had some sort of superior knowledge and supernatural knowledge, we can "be as gods". What do you think? I do humbly disagree with your conclusions, I do not see the other books of the Bible as "outside texts", I see the Bible as one Authorship with men as writers and suggest you consider the same. The Bible does say the serpent was the devil and I am not sure I understand the point you are making? The way of studying you are presenting here may lead to confusion. You have omitted the text and are trying to understand with only a portion of the Word, which is exactly what the serpent wants and how he beguiled Adam and Eve in the garden. When satan is spoken of as a "serpent" , it is the figure Hypocatastasis or Implication; it no more means a snake than it does when Dan is so called in Gen 49:17 or an animal when Nero is called a "lion"(2Tim4:17), or when Herod is called a "fox"(Luke 13:32); or when Judah is called "a lions whelp". It is the same figure when "doctrine" is called "leaven" (Matt 16:6). It shows that something much more real and truer to truth is intended. If a Figure of speech is thus employed, it is for the purpose of expressing the truth more impressively; and is intended to be a figure of something much more real than the letter of the word. I hope this helps! Peace in Faith and Hope, Casiv |
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3 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | NazMan | 23557 | ||
"You have omitted the text and are trying to understand with only a portion of the Word, which is exactly what the serpent wants and how he beguiled Adam and Eve in the garden." Firstly, I do not appreciate being equated with the serpent/satan. In Gen. 3:1, why would the serpent be compared to the beasts of the field if it was not a beast of the field? I believe this verse equates the serpent to a beast of the field. It would be ludicrous to equate a angel/demon/satan to an animal. I understand your point of scripture interpreting scripture and I agree. But I believe we begin our interpretation of any passage in its immediate context, then move to other scripture. What I meant by outside text (which was probably a poor choice of words) is that the first readers of Genesis did not have the whole Bible as we do. I am asking the question, how did Moses and his readers/hearers understand this piece of scripture? As for the serpent's knowledge, I just do not see that knowledge as supernatural. The serpent distorted to God's words and added to what God had told Adam. I will concede that point as a matter of interpretation. You asked, "The Bible does say the serpent was the devil and I am not sure I understand the point you are making?" -- The point I am making is this: Yes the Bible says the Serpent is Satan, but it does not say it specifically in Genesis 3, not because it is trying to fool us, but so that we understand man's sin/our sin as our responsibility and guilt, and not try to shift blame as Adam did. I do not deny that the serpent is satan. I think it is significant that the serpent is not specifically named as satan in Gen. 3. |
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4 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | casiv | 23578 | ||
Hi there, Sorry if you felt I was equating you with the serpent, this was not my intentions. But to say that the serpent is a beast of the field is your interpretation and not what is said in Gen 3:1. In Gen 3:1 it says he is more wise than any beast of the field, not that he is a beast of the field. I truly feel blessed that I have been born when the Bible is complete and it appears so do you, so that we can read the whole Book anad know how the story unfolds and ends. One can only wander what Moses and everyone else before Jesus felt?. I do humbly disagree with you regarding man being totally responsible for "man's sin/our sin", because of Romans 11 where it says God hath given the gentiles the spirit of slumber. But I do believe that we are to make a choice of right or wrong on a daily basis. I appreciate you thinking that it is significant that the serpent is not specifically named as satan in Gen 3, and I agree it is, but not entireley as you see it. Peace, Casiv |
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5 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | LisaMarie | 23581 | ||
Wise? What version are you reading? NIV says "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made." DR says "Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth which the LORD God had made." NASB says "was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made." NLT says "was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made." KJV says "was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made." YLT says "hath been subtile above every beast of the field which Jehovah God hath made," I can't find a version that says 'wisest.' If he's not a beast of the field then what kind of critter is he? Not human... curiouser and curiouser, Lisa |
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6 | The Serpent's Class | Gen 3:1 | casiv | 23620 | ||
Hi Lisa, I read many Bibles but the one I read the most is the KJV or AV as it is also called. I like to study into the original language for the true word meanings. I use the Massorah in the Old Testament. The word "subtil" equals wise in the Massorah. In Hebrew it is arum, a Homonym. Same as Gen 2:25(Naked); here it equals wise (as Job 5:12; 15:5, Prov 12:16,23; 13:16; 14:8,15,18; 22:3; 27:12). Compare Eze 28:12,13,17. If the Ellipsis be supplied from the preceding context, 3:1 will then read on from 2:25, thus: " they were both naked(arum), the man and his wife, and (knowing only good, 2:17) were not ashamed (before God). But the Nachash(Heb. for serpent meaning shining one) was more wise(arum) than any living being of the field which Jehovah Elohim had made, and (knowing evil, and not ashamed (2:25) to question the truth of God's word) he said unto the woman," I believe the "critter" was a shining one perhaps a type of fallen angel(satan) not of the field(the field explained as the world in Matt 13). I hope this helps! Peace in Faith and Hope, Casiv |
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