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NASB | Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, "Can it really be that God has said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" [Rev 12:9-11] |
Bible Question:
Although this discussion is now quite old, with only a couple of additional repsonses in the last several years, I would like to propose a different point of view for your response. I do not think that this concept is "mine" (unique to my way of thinking), but I did not see it in this discussion and I think it would be worthy of consideration. I do believe that angelic beings and human beings are to be considered as distinct from the rest of the animated beings that God has created. Angelic beings and human beings do have at least one characteristic that makes them different than the animals, but it is not their "rationality." I think it is their "will" (the ability to make choices of right and wrong). It is this unique God-given ability that makes humans and angels morally accountable and which keeps the rest of the animal kingdom outside of that accountability. It is this unique God-given ability that makes humans and angels fall into the category of "persons" and which disqualifies the rest of the animal kingdom from being thought of this way. It is this unique God-given ability that makes humans (and angels?) to be uniquely created "in the image of God." Does this point of view not fit better with both the larger picture presented in Scripture and with the reality of the world in which we live? |
Bible Answer: Rom 1:21 24 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.... Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Luke 12:47 "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, Luke 12:48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. RWC, I'm glad to see that my posts are still getting some circulation! But you're right! No one so far has proposed the will as that which distinguishes men and angels from the rest of creation. And I'm surprised that no one of the "free will" persuasion ever brought up your observation. But I will have to respectfully disagree. The uniqueness of men and angels is not their volition, their ability to choose; and the image of God in man is not the will. As the above quoted passages demonstrate, knowledge, not will, is the basis of responsibility. "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin," James says. (James 4:17) Knowledge requires rationality, understanding. This, animals do not have. Ps 32:9 says, "Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding." So, the image of God is not the will, but rationality. |