Was the serpent in Genesis Satan or just some mischievous animal?

[mikekle]

Revelation:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

But it goes on to say satan must be released again for a short time…why must he be released again…its because he serves a purpose to God, he is ‘that other choice’, he provides the temptation so people can make/ have a choice in the first place.

 

[Nelka]

But it goes on to say satan must be released again for a short time…why must he be released again…its because he serves a purpose to God, he is ‘that other choice’, he provides the temptation so people can make/ have a choice in the first place.

Good point!

 

[Todd977]

God created man for incorruption,
and made him in the image of his own eternity,
but through the devil’s envy death entered the world (Wisdom 2:23-24a)

 

[The_Serpent]

To understand the Serpent better, remove him from the story. Adam and Eve don’t sin then? The Serpent is a catalyst in this story, that causes a major change. A change for the worse. Perhaps the Serpent should be viewed as a instrument of Freewill. The Visionary Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich held the “serpent” was an embodiment of their will (Adam & Eve). And also claimed the serpent was entangled in their nature. So perhaps the serpent represents the changeable nature, our animal nature and passions. Satan entered into the serpent and tempted them in this way, through their animal passions.

 

[psalm90]

Was the serpent in Genesis Satan or just some mischievous animal? I’m probably going overboard with this creature, but these are my notes:

1. Gen 3:1 mentions the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals Christ has made, and Satan is not an animal but spirit. I believe earlier theology saw this as a creature rather than Satan. Later theology thought of it as Satan because it mentions Eve’s offspring (Christ) will crush his head (Gen 3:15). Serpent’s offspring and hers (Gen 3:15) – does Satan have offspring? Thus it might not be referring to Eve’s offspring: Jesus Christ, but that men have dominance over serpents. “He will strike at your head” – He – Either Jesus or man. If Jesus, it’s God’s first promise of a redeemer for mankind.
   a. Online Views
   i. The serpent lived ‘up’ in the branches of the tree. Where man reached up for food. The serpent no longer lives up in the branches of the tree but lives down on the ground.
   ii. Dragon depiction; So he lost the legs and the wings, so has to crawl on the ground. Side note: If so, this might demonstrate how creation and evolution are both done, 1) creation by God first, then 2) natural selection after, rather than either-or debates.

The Bible is not a science book or a history book. The “story” is told with imagery that is intended to have an effect. Not many people like snakes, and here’s a special one who causes Adam and Eve to sin. It’s the moral of the story that is important.

It is curious how interpretations of that story have been written over the years. There are squabbles about which fruit (if any) the story was referring to.

Short answer: Look for God’s message in the story, as we have received it. don’t worry aobut the Gilgamesh story that is vaguely similar – that was not inspired, but the Genesis account is considered to have been inspired. There’s all the unsettled issues about Genesis which miss its point.

The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day were not arguing about snakes. It seems to be a morality story wrapped up in a warning about snake safety, rolled into one. The snake may have been the most feared animal in the area, so became the villain of the “fall.”

Although it is common among Protestants, I don’t think many Catholic use Strong’s concordance, to look up all the citations about snakes in the Bible. Of course, Strong’s is referenced to the King James Version, but it is still helpful as far as it goes, to do that sort of search. Look up ALL the references to serpents and snakes and see what the collective message is.