Was Satan the snake in Genesis?

[Anto9us]

The donkey 'used it's own intelligence' even before it talked, by its actions -- turning aside into the field, crushing Balaam's foot against a wall, falling down under Balaam -- the beast kept getting beaten and God opened it's mouth so it could plead with Balaam not to beat her anymore.

As far as the serpent, we don't know if it actually WAS Satan, or was just posseessed by Satan; whether it always went on it's belly even before the curse -- or just ate dust after the curse and had always gone on its stomach. This serpent could not just talk but LISTEN as well --conversed with Eve.

We also have inanimate objects talking -- the heavens declaring the glory of God. It is not always obvious what is literal and what is figurative.

 

[disciple Clint]

It seems that the author of Genesis is saying that there was a talking snake - it talked not because it was possessed, but because "the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made". Also Matthew 10:16 says "...be as wise as snakes..." So the intelligence seems to come from the animal rather than from the devil using it like a puppet.

2 Corinthians 11:3 says "...Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning...". 2 Corinthians mentions Satan 3 times (2:11, 11:14, 12:7) - if the serpent was Satan it should have said so.

1 Timothy 2:14 says that the woman was deceived - it doesn't mention by who, though 1 Timothy mentions Satan in other places (1:20, 5:15).

Also the animal is punished: "Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life".

BTW serpents aren't always bad - Numbers 21:9:
"...Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

John 3:14 even says that Jesus is like that snake:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up"

I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation which calls Satan the "ancient serpent".

Some Christians say that the curse of the snake contains the gospel message but I'm not sure that has direct Biblical support.

I think it is very common for Christians to believe that Satan was the serpent - after all it might sound a bit ridiculous for there to be an intelligent talking snake.

The Protoevangelium (Gen 3:15) along with Gen 3:14 makes it clear that The serpent is satan and that he will strike the heal of Jesus while Jesus will crush his head. Thus God reveals His plan for salvation. God also clearly indicates that there will be enmity between man and satan.

 

[JohnClay]

...God also clearly indicates that there will be enmity between man and satan.

Genesis talks about an enmity between men and snakes and that is true. I'm not sure this can be said of men and Satan... a book about Predestination I read says something like that people are unable to choose God - he must choose them. It seems that there is more of an enmity between men and God (not fully mutual) than men and Satan. There is an enmity between Satan and Christian men though. So I don't think the curse of the snake fully fits with the gospel message.

 

[Anto9us]

Gen 3:14
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15
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.

 

[Not David]

How the Serpent Became Satan - Biblical Archaeology Society
says:
"In 1 Enoch, the “angel” who “led Eve astray” and “showed the weapons of death to the children of men” was called Gadreel (not Satan)."

Is that wrong?

Satan is also referred as Beelzebub so it doesn't matter.

 

[Not David]

Genesis talks about an enmity between men and snakes and that is true. I'm not sure this can be said of men and Satan... a book about Predestination I read says something like that people are unable to choose God - he must choose them. It seems that there is more of an enmity between men and God (not fully mutual) than men and Satan. There is an enmity between Satan and Christian men though. So I don't think the curse of the snake fully fits with the gospel message.

The early Church believed in it.

 

[JohnClay]

Satan is also referred as Beelzebub so it doesn't matter.

Ok BTW I see:
Gadreel - Wikipedia
"......Gadreel was mentioned as the third of five "satans"..."

Though it also says:
"In the television series Supernatural (9th season), Gadreel (Tahmoh Penikett) possesses Sam Winchester and takes the identity of the angel Ezekiel to try to redeem himself for having let the Serpent into the Garden of Eden."

So in that show, Gadreel is distinct from the serpent.

 

[Not David]

First Book of Adam and Eve Chapter 17:
"No sooner had Adam said this, than an angel from God appeared to him in the cave, who said to him, "O Adam, fear not. This is Satan and his hosts; he wishes to deceive you as he deceived you at first. For the first time, he was hidden in the serpent; but this time he is come to you in the likeness of an angel of light; in order that, when you worshipped him, he might enslave you, in the very presence of God."

 

[ewq1938]

Yes I said "I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation". That is talking about the author of Revelation's view. If it was Satan's fault, not an animal, I wonder why the animal is punished rather than Satan. The punishment should be being sent to the lake of fire or whatever Satan's punishment is.

Revelations "view" is God's view.

Snakes weren't punished only Satan was. The language in Gen is figurative.

 

[JohnClay]

Snakes weren't punished only Satan was. The language in Gen is figurative.

"Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."

I think all of that applies to snakes -

they apparently used to have legs, so that explains the change to crawling on their bellies:
The Legless Snakes

This talks about snakes eating dust:
Snakes do eat dust! - creation.com

I don't see the problem in believing that snakes originally didn't eat dust.

Humans and snakes seem to hate each other - they attack and kill each other.

If you're saying none of this applies to snakes and it just involves Satan then how does "You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life" apply to Satan?

 

[ewq1938]

If you're saying none of this applies to snakes and it just involves Satan then how does "You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life" apply to Satan?

Already explained in post 6.

 

[JohnClay]

Already explained in post 6.

"....Eating dust was the punishment and it's symbolic of being a lowly, hated created."

I thought Satan was the ruler of the earth (in some sense)?

 

[mark kennedy]

I wonder why...

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

It's more of a proper name then anything else.

 

[Bubblewrap]

It seems that the author of Genesis is saying that there was a talking snake - it talked not because it was possessed, but because "the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made". Also Matthew 10:16 says "...be as wise as snakes..." So the intelligence seems to come from the animal rather than from the devil using it like a puppet.

2 Corinthians 11:3 says "...Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning...". 2 Corinthians mentions Satan 3 times (2:11, 11:14, 12:7) - if the serpent was Satan it should have said so.

1 Timothy 2:14 says that the woman was deceived - it doesn't mention by who, though 1 Timothy mentions Satan in other places (1:20, 5:15).

Also the animal is punished: "Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life".

BTW serpents aren't always bad - Numbers 21:9:
"...Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

John 3:14 even says that Jesus is like that snake:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up"

I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation which calls Satan the "ancient serpent".

Some Christians say that the curse of the snake contains the gospel message but I'm not sure that has direct Biblical support.

I think it is very common for Christians to believe that Satan was the serpent - after all it might sound a bit ridiculous for there to be an intelligent talking snake.

During the story of god making the world the snake represents a form of satan but satan can take many forms but just because of one snake can’t confirm as all snakes in the Bible satan

 

[Erik Nelson]

Balaam's donkey talked, and did not get accused of being Satan

yes, because the Angel "spooked" the donkey on behalf of Israel, God's chosen vehicle for the salvation of humanity from the deception and oppression of The Adversary

 

[ewq1938]

"....Eating dust was the punishment and it's symbolic of being a lowly, hated created."

I thought Satan was the ruler of the earth (in some sense)?

Not until Christ ascended.

 

[ewq1938]

It's more of a proper name then anything else.

Actually all his "names" are descriptions. He has no personal name anymore.

 

[JohnClay]

"I thought Satan was the ruler of the earth (in some sense)?"

Not until Christ ascended.

What about Matthew 4:
"the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

It looks like the devil rules the kingdoms of the world - Jesus didn't disagree with the devil on that.

 

[Anto9us]

Jesus did not dispute that the kingdoms of the world were the Devil's to give

 

[ewq1938]

"I thought Satan was the ruler of the earth (in some sense)?"

What about Matthew 4:
"the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

It looks like the devil rules the kingdoms of the world - Jesus didn't disagree with the devil on that.

lol, I think he disagreed a lot.