Then for the hundredth time, why does it say the serpent is the most cunning of the wild creatures?
I don't think I'd be going too far out on the limb to say that this is most likely a metaphor simply meaning that the serpent will spend its existence crawling on the ground.
Sure he would. Where do you think many people are bitten?
They apparently didn't need wisdom or knowledge to choose to eat from the tree and decide what was right for them. This is the main problem with this story I've pointed out before; they had to commit sin to be aware of sin. So being aware of sin had no effect on our propensity to sin.
What's the difference between Adam listening to his wife's voice over God's and Eve listening to the serpent's voice over God's?
No difference in 'listening to the voice' if the shoe was on the other foot, but the difference was that Adam did Not have to go along with Eve.
Most cunning or most cautious would be its characteristic such as with Jesus words of Matthew [10v16] where Jesus says to prove to be cautious as serpents..... Be cautious in conduct among wolf-like opposers.
Those opposers often proved to be the Pharisees who Jesus likened to serpents and even offspring of vipers at Matthew 23v33; John 8v44.
Besides cunning and cautious at Job [26v13] also mentions the serpent's movement or motion. It's bite at Ecc [10v8] and its hiding place in stone walls at Amos [5v19].
Genesis [3v15] does Not say bitten but would bruise.
Bruise in the heel, or a heel wound that does Not have to be life threatening. Whereas a bruise to the head could be a fatal wound, or as Romans [16v20] ties in that Satan will be crushed under Jesus feet.
Crushed in that Jesus will destroy Satan.-Hebrews 2v14 B.
Why would A&E have to commit sin to know sin.
'Do not eat or you will die' was simple. Eat = die.
You eat you sinned.
You eat you disobeyed.
You eat you are a law breaker.
If Adam's eating had no effect on us we would have a sinless nature.
If Adam's eating had no effect on us would would not die.
Adam's eating was followed up by their trying to cover with fig leaves,
and hiding themselves is also evidence of alienation from God.
Something had already taken place deep inside of them affecting their hearts and minds right away, or some sort of internal upheaval in their consciences, working like a revealing built-in lie detector.
In this case their consciences were 'accusing' them of wrongdoing,
thus making it impossible for them to hide or conceal their criminal act.
We all follow after their damaged or then imperfect fleshly line.
So, the 'law of heredity' [Adamic sin] is passed down to all of us.
Meaning we all have an inborn leaning or inclination toward wrong doing.
A king gives orders. Sin still reigns as King.- Romans 5v21,12.
If we could stop sinning we would not die.
We can not resurrect oneself or another.
That is why we need someone who can do that for us.
Jesus can and he will.
