Featured Was the Serpent in Genesis 3 a Literal Snake?

But would you also agree, the changes they endured were not moral punishments brought on by their own sin? In fact, it's likely they were an act of mercy, to help them survive in a cursed world.

The same with the snake's changes. He's a successful predator, most so than most other animals. The changes he endured served to symbolically speak of what Satan would endure, as the next verse, the Protevangelium, further explains. Do you think Gen. 3:15 is about an animal? Or about the devil?

 

It doesn't' have to be possession. Inciting is the correct term, as the case of the Prince of Tyre, David and Peter.

 

But we have enough pieces of the puzzle to make a good inference.

We know the hebrew word for snake is used, and appears elsewhere in the OT.

We know the description of the postlapsarian snake fits the description God gave of him at the time of the Curse.

We also know Satan is identified as the Serpent of old.

We know God sometimes refers to individuals who are not Satan as Satan when Satan incites them.

 

Actually, the curse of death will not be yet lifted in the MK. All the structural changes of all animals will be in place. What will cease is war and predation among animals. Death will only come via old age, for both men and animals. Even the enmity between snakes and men will cease.

You can argue the snakes alterations were more significant than the rest of the animals, which is directly stated by Gen. 3:14. But snakes will have peace in the MK just like other animals. They'll be lead by a child (Is. 11).

This is further evidence that the Curse of the snake in Gen. 3:15 was against the snake inciter, not the species itself.

 

To the devil, the punishments endure. To the snake, it is merely a new design that enables it to thrive in its predation. Do you know anywhere where snakes don't thrive?

Debatable based on what? You're arguing based on a starting premise. There are many changes in the MK stated in Isaiah. There is nothing about animals losing the DAS (defense/attack structures). There is nothing about thorns ceasing, and it wouldn't make sense, especially given the at the end of the MK, the world will fall into rebellion again for a short time.

Again, do you believe Gen. 3:15 is about snakes or the devil?

 

Yes, an expression meaning his mouth would be low to the ground. You can also argue they eat dust literally, with their food, but so do all animals. The symbolism here is directed at Satan.

Interesting. So you actually deny the devil was in mind at all in Gen. 3:14-15. I don't think I've ever met someone with that position. I doubt your seminary taught that. It's truly an island position.

Genesis 3:15 is the first Gospel prophecy. It is a foretelling of Christ (offspring of a woman) who would conquer the devil and his offspring. We are not talking about a war on snakes.

The curse on the snake animal serves as symbolism of the Curse of the devil. The curse remained on the devil so it's natural the snake was not restored with its legs.

The real harm here is taking the devil out of the equation completely. You're denying the first gospel prophecy.

Indeed. Christ ruling is an immense change. Would never deny this.

 

I agree. I will just add, you can't separate verses 14 and 15. Both are dealing with the snake and the devil, one literally, one symbolically.

 

Do we know they have the power to do this on their own?

 

To say this better, both 14 and 15 have a literal aspect addressing the Serpent, and a symbolic aspect addressing the devil.

God literally bringing the serpent low in ver 14, symbolizes the Fall of the devil. The devil was brought low at that point. Likewise, literally bruising a snake's head and while injuring its heel, symbolizes Christ defeating the devil on the Cross.

 

How else could Satan be the snake and still be his old self?
MB

 

'Borrow'? Seems an odd term for the Author of the entire BOOK.

An 'allusion'? Really? That's it?

It's the Holy Spirit providing the key to interpreting this scripture.

“In the Old Testament the New is concealed, in the New the Old is revealed.” Augustine.

"..."And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen. 3:15).....Here we have the beginning and germ of all prophecy." A.W. Pink

Here's the seed of the serpent:

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. Jn 8

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers; Acts 7

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?
34 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth [Revelation 18:24], from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Mt 23

 

Interesting observation.