The Serpent in Genesis: A Biblical and Philosophical Perspective

 **The Serpent in Genesis: A Biblical and Philosophical Perspective**  

Welcome to Pleroma Pathways apocalyptic and mystic Christianity where we explore esoteric and apocalyptic texts.  

The serpent in Genesis 3 has long been a subject of interpretation, particularly concerning its role in human temptation and the fall from divine favor. Rather than viewing the serpent as an independent malevolent being, ancient Jewish and early Christian perspectives often saw it as a symbol of internal human struggles. This interpretation finds resonance in Philo of Alexandria’s writings, where he identifies the serpent with pleasure (*hedonē*), which binds together the mind (*nous*) and the senses. This aligns with a biblical understanding that emphasizes personal responsibility and moral choice rather than external supernatural forces.  

### **The Serpent as a Symbol of Pleasure**  

Genesis 3:1 states:  

*"Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the beasts which are upon the earth, which the Lord God made."*  

Philo, in *On the Creation* XVIII (71-74), interprets this passage allegorically. He argues that two faculties exist within a person—the mind and the outward senses. These faculties require a third element to bind them together, and this is pleasure. The serpent, then, represents this unifying force, which, when uncontrolled, leads to moral failure. Philo notes:  

> "And pleasure has been represented under the form of the serpent, for this reason, as the motion of the serpent is full of many windings and varied, so also is the motion of pleasure." (*On the Creation* XVIII.74)  

This understanding shifts the focus from an external tempter to an internal struggle within humanity. The mind, represented by Adam, and the senses, represented by Eve, are drawn together through the seduction of pleasure, leading to disobedience. This perspective aligns with biblical teachings that emphasize self-control and moral discipline over external blame.  

### **The Consequences of Giving in to the Serpent**  

The biblical narrative describes how the serpent’s words lead Eve to eat from the tree, symbolizing the misuse of human faculties in pursuit of unrestrained pleasure. This theme is reinforced in Numbers 21:6, where serpents afflict the Israelites as a punishment for their complaints. Philo connects these serpents with the destruction caused by indulgence:  

> "For in real truth there is nothing which so much bringeth death upon the soul as an immoderate indulgence in pleasures." (*On the Creation* XIX.77)  

Here, "death" does not refer to the end of biological life but to the corruption of moral integrity. The true danger is not physical death but the destruction of one's character through vice. This view corresponds to scriptural teachings that associate sin with self-inflicted consequences (James 1:14-15).  

### **The Bronze Serpent: A Remedy Through Temperance**  

In contrast to the deadly serpents of Numbers 21, Moses is commanded to make a bronze serpent and lift it up as a sign of healing:  

> "Make thyself a serpent, and set it up for a sign." (*On the Creation* XX.79)  

Philo interprets this act as a representation of temperance (*sōphrosynē*), the virtue opposed to unrestrained pleasure. The serpent on the pole symbolizes the disciplined life, in which pleasure is subordinated to wisdom. He writes:  

> "If the mind that has been bitten by pleasure… shall have strength to behold the beauty of temperance… it shall live." (*On the Creation* XX.81)  

This aligns with the biblical principle that moral transformation comes through repentance and renewal (John 3:14-15). The uplifted serpent prefigures Jesus, who offers redemption to those who look to Him in faith.  

### **Moses and the Serpent: Overcoming the Struggle**  

The episode in Exodus 4:3, where Moses’ staff turns into a serpent, further illustrates this theme. Philo explains that when divine instruction (the rod) is cast away, it becomes a serpent—symbolizing uncontrolled passion. But when Moses grasps it again, it returns to a rod, demonstrating the power of wisdom to subdue pleasure:  

> "For truly the actions of the virtuous man are supported by education as by a rod, tranquillizing the disturbances and agitations of the mind." (*On the Creation* XXIII.90)  

This aligns with biblical wisdom literature, which teaches that discipline and instruction lead to righteousness (Proverbs 3:11-12). The struggle against pleasure is not won through mere avoidance but through the active pursuit of wisdom and self-control.  

### **Conclusion: The Serpent as an Internal Struggle**  

Rather than viewing the serpent as a literal supernatural tempter, this interpretation sees it as an allegory for the internal human battle between virtue and indulgence. The biblical and philosophical perspectives converge on the idea that temptation is an internal force, requiring moral effort to overcome. The true "enemy" is not an external being but the inclination toward excess and self-centered desire.  

Through this understanding, the biblical narrative calls believers to resist the deceitfulness of pleasure and embrace temperance, wisdom, and divine guidance. The story of the serpent, then, is not merely an ancient myth but an enduring lesson in human moral struggle.