Bible Study Questions...

[goldielocs]

Hello all,

Since I've taken more time to read the Bible from cover to cover, I've had a couple of questions that have come up. I was thinking that we could use this thread to post questions and have others on the forum point the poster in the right direction using scripture.

Please realize that these questions are not intended to shake up anyone's faith. I just want to understand. I genuinely want to become stronger in the Lord and in His Word.

So here's my first question...

I was talking to a friend about evolution v. creationism and the discussion veered to Genesis 3:1 where the serpent tempts Eve. The question came up about the wording of the scripture.

It reads, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made."

The question came up whether this was a serpent or Satan? Or was the serpent possessed by Satan? The question came up because the scripture describes the sepent as a wild animal and not a fallen angel. We looked for scripture to answer the question, but only found the references in Rev. 12:7-12 and Is. 14:12. Is there any scripture talking about the form Satan took or is he able to take any form?

Your help is appreciated and I look forward to your responces.Take care and be blessed.

 

[PinkPebbles]

Excellent Question.... And I like the idea of this thread!

 

[Crown]

So here's my first question...

I was talking to a friend about evolution v. creationism and the discussion veered to Genesis 3:1 where the serpent tempts Eve. The question came up about the wording of the scripture.

It reads, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made."

The question came up whether this was a serpent or Satan? Or was the serpent possessed by Satan? The question came up because the scripture describes the sepent as a wild animal and not a fallen angel. We looked for scripture to answer the question, but only found the references in Rev. 12:7-12 and Is. 14:12. Is there any scripture talking about the form Satan took or is he able to take any form?

Your help is appreciated and I look forward to your responces.Take care and be blessed.

You begin by a big one :
Very interesting and disturbing question!

My position is very different and unpopular than the consensual one about this subject. I don't want to elaborate on this. But, when I want to understand some basic human beliefs, I look at through the Jewish theology. Maybe, Almaz could help.


Here, some articles :
http://www.geocities.com/~Alyza/Jewish/satan.html
http://www.jewsmuse.com/2009/03/does-satan-exist-jewish-perspective.html
http://www.beingjewish.com/basics/satan.html


...

 

[topsyturvy86]

My personal thought on this is that Satan spoke through the serpent or possessed the serpant, perhaps for a brief moment to achieve a certain purpose. I think Satan can take any form/speak through anyone for a particular purpose. An example is in Mark 8:31- 33 when Jesus was predicting His death and suffering and Peter rebuked Him for it. Jesus said to him "Get behind me, Satan! ... " Jesus recognized the voice of Satan speaking through His desciple.

 

[goldielocs]

My personal thought on this is that Satan spoke through the serpent or possessed the serpant, perhaps for a brief moment to achieve a certain purpose. I think Satan can take any form/speak through anyone for a particular purpose. An example is in Mark 8:31- 33 when Jesus was predicting His death and suffering and Peter rebuked Him for it. Jesus said to him "Get behind me, Satan! ... " Jesus recognized the voice of Satan speaking through His desciple.

I see where you are coming from with this, but this is my question: if the snake was being possessed, why was it punished instead of the spirit rebuked? With the situation with Peter, Jesus rebukes Satan by name. He did the same thing when he rebuked the Legion of demons in Matthew. What do you think about that?

Thanks for responding.

 

[goldielocs]

You begin by a big one :
Very interesting and disturbing question!

My position is very different and unpopular than the consensual one about this subject. I don't want to elaborate on this. But, when I want to understand some basic human beliefs, I look at through the Jewish theology. Maybe, Almaz could help.


Here, some articles :
http://www.geocities.com/~Alyza/Jewish/satan.html
http://www.jewsmuse.com/2009/03/does-satan-exist-jewish-perspective.html
http://www.beingjewish.com/basics/satan.html


...

Hi Crown,

Thanks for responding.

I appreciate the links and the last one does the best at explaining it. I find that view interesting, but I don't agree. There's a verse about god not being a tempter of persons that keeps popping in my head. I'm gonna look it up and reread it 'cause I could be wrong. Either way, I appreciate your views and have no problem with you sharing them with us. As far as I'm concerned, you're good in my book.

Take care and be blessed.

 

[Crown]

...
I find that view interesting, but I don't agree. There's a verse about god not being a tempter of persons that keeps popping in my head. I'm gonna look it up and reread it 'cause I could be wrong. Either way, I appreciate your views and have no problem with you sharing them with us. As far as I'm concerned, you're good in my book....

Thank you!
I understand. I did not post those links to convince, just to think a little outside the box, the common view.
Tempter : I know what you mean.
Jc. 1.13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

I am explaining what I deleted in my first post! Temptation is a human thing, it comes from inside and produces sin. God can not sin, so God can not be tempted by evil, so He is not a tempter.
Jc. 1.14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 1.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Mc. 7.18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 7.19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 7.20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 7.21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 7.22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 7.23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.


We can think of temptation as sin (the end, and it is human), we can think of temptation as test/trial (the beginning, and it comes from God for our improvement)
What does the Prayer say ?
Mat. 6.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Our Father)
Jc. 1.2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 1.3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Consider these two reports about the same event :
2Sam 24.1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
1Chr. 21 : 21.1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Don’t forget, God is Sovereign. The common Christian’s view is balancing God with satan. God can not be balanced. What is in balance is good and evil, and God said He is the source of the two :
Is. 45.5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 45.6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 45.7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Adam and Eve had the choice between life and knowledge. The right choice was life. They failed! They have chosen the knowledge of good and evil. So, from their sin (bad choice), the free will is to choice between good and evil.
Salvation (life in Jesus-Christ) is not free will, it is a gift of God.
But, humans are not robot, we have free will to choose between good and evil, the right choice is good :
Gen. 4.6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 4.7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

 

[Crown]

Hi Crown,

Thanks for responding.

I appreciate the links and the last one does the best at explaining it. ...

I prefer the first link : simple and easy to understand (I got it from Almaz answering to a question that I asked her, beautiful woman)!
http://www.geocities.com/~Alyza/Jewish/satan.html
Another links :
Jewish again (I don’t like the last pic, but...) :
http://www.outreachjudaism.org/satan.html
The lasts are from a Christian denomination. I don’t believe in all their doctrines but I think that they explain this subject very well.
http://www.christadelphia.org/pamphlet/devil.htm
http://www.truthseekers.ca/bible-truths/the-devil-as-a-roaring-lion.htm
http://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/media/Demons_-_A_Biblical_And_Historical_Study.pdf
http://www.thisisyourbible.com/media.asp?id=31

Some Christians don’t adopt the common view about this subject. I have another non denominational Christian links, but in French.

I greatly appreciate your threads. I think I said all I have to say about this question.
May the Holy Spirit guide you!

 

[goldielocs]

Thanks for the information and references, Crown. I copy/pasted it to a word doc so I can study later.

Take care.