Was the Serpent a Literal Snake?

[Beetow]

Valid questions sometimes asked by atheists and agnostics are:

1» If God is so loving; then why didn't He step in and prevent the Serpent from
leading the woman into testing her maker's instructions?

2» If the Serpent is such a malicious creature, then why is your loving God allowing
it to roam free on the earth unrestrained; like a feral pit bull?
_

 

[Downunder]

The serpent in our Judeo-Christian doctrines and iconography represents evil, satan, death, deception, etc.
But in the false religions of the East the serpent is revered and considered wise ... and dragons have always been portrayed as speaking serpents.

Naga serpent goddess (Hindu) Egyptian cobra snake Buddha in coils of cobra

 

[KingJ]

If so, where is he slithering about today?

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.

Or, is there a spiritual understanding?

CF: Revelation 20:2
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

One has to read a number of scriptures to properly grasp who the devil is and the context of 'snake' in Eden.

The scripture that I believe confuses everyone is Gen 3:1. It suggests he was made a snake.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.

But. Then we have scripture that says he ''prowls'' around. 'Not crawls on his belly'.

1 Pet 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Then we have scripture that says he was once in heaven with the angels, walked among the fiery stones of God, cast down to earth and one-day him and ''his''' angels will be sentenced to eternal fire.

Ezekiel 28:14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

Ezekiel 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

Ezekiel 28:17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.

Matt 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels

Pharisees knew the devil as a prince of demons. IE Angel.

Matt 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.

The Devil had a crown of many gems on his head, pointing to having a human like head?

Ezekiel 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created.

Paul always referred to the Devil as an angel

2 Cor 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light

Conclusion:

Animals in Eden must have all spoken. The snake was the ''craftiest'' of all these animals. The devil, tempted Adam and Eve, hence the devil either possessed or took on the form of a snake to tempt Adam and Eve.

The Devil is definitely an angel who is currently roaming the earth.

I also tend to agree with Brad's post # 5. Angels are highly intelligent and someone like the devil had a lot of power given him by God. It is likely they be able to create, transform into and or possess other beings.

 

[Downunder]

Animals in Eden must have all spoken. The snake was the ''craftiest'' of all these animals.

that is drawing a long bow - no the original Hebrew word is complicated and covers various meanings around shining (like brass) or radiant or glistening (scales of a python).
No snake just an angelic being that spoke.

 

[complete]

If so, where is he slithering about today?

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.

Or, is there a spiritual understanding?

CF: Revelation 20:2
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

Hello @Mary Magdalene,

A former member, with the user name of @Amethyst asked this question recently, but her attitude to fellow members resulted in her being banned from the forum.

What is the 'spiritual understanding' that you would place on the serpent of antiquity?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[KingJ]

that is drawing a long bow - no the original Hebrew word is complicated and covers various meanings around shining (like brass) or radiant or glistening (scales of a python).
No snake just an angelic being that spoke.

I wont argue with you. My only support for that line was Gen 3:1.

 

[brighthouse98]

As you read Mary in the Word the snake walked upright before the fall,perhaps even animals spoke? ( Gen 3:1-5) After Eve blamed the serpent, God agreed ( Gen 3:13)On you belly you will go,why would he say this if the snake were acting like a real snake today? Hope you see my point.

 

[Brad Huber]

As you read Mary in the Word the snake walked upright before the fall,perhaps even animals spoke? ( Gen 3:1-5) After Eve blamed the serpent, God agreed ( Gen 3:13)On you belly you will go,why would he say this if the snake were acting like a real snake today? Hope you see my point.

Sort of funny, I was thinking how dragons were originally depicted as being flying and walking creatures, then later on mostly slithering along.

 

[B-A-C]

Again, I don't know if Satan was an actual snake in Genesis, but I have to wonder at the purpose of the question.
There is a danger in trying to abstract the Bible rather than take it literally, here is an example.

Rom 5:16; The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification.
Rom 5:17; For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Rom 5:18; So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind.
Rom 5:19; For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous

This passage is contrasting the one sinful man (Adam) with the one righteous man (Jesus).
There are those who say, it wasn't really Satan, and there wasn't really an Adam, these are just abstracts of society and man's sinful nature at the time.
Well if that's the case, then I'm not saved by one man (Jesus) I'm saved by an abstract of society.