Holiness Church: Biblical Interpretation

The introduction deals with the ideas of authority and perspective, and how they function properly in the process of Biblical interpretation. A key idea is that reading is a dialogue between the text and the reader. Both sides have a role to play. If we acknowledge this, then we must also acknowledge that the perspective of the reader has some significance in how the Bible is interpreted and exercises authority. This dialogical reading transcends the categories of ‘objective’ and ‘subjective’, and

However, evil soon entered the garden in the form of a serpent. One day when Eve was walking in the garden she encountered the evil serpent who encouraged her to take a fruit from one of God’s forbidden fruit trees. The serpent succeeded in deceiving Eve to take a fruit; she then ate the fruit and shared it with Adam. Then God became angry with Adam and Eve for betraying Him. To punish Adam and Eve, he ejected them from the garden and subjecting them to mortality, painful childbirth, sin and shame.

If ten bystanders were to witness the same crime, how many different interpretations of the scene would there be? All the opinions and viewpoints that arise from one scenario are very dependant on different variables. The same can be applied when analyzing the book of Genesis. One controversial topic is whether to take it literally or figuratively. Some of the different arguments supporting and opposing either side include; the original beliefs of the interpreter, the historical time frame, the different genres of writing in the book, and more. There are many perceptions of the book of Genesis being literal or figurative.

The serpent eventually persuades Eve to eat from the “Tree of Knowledge”. After she eats from it, she has Adam eat from it. Shortly after, they finally notice they are naked and become self conscious and cover up. God then asks about what they have done and Eve blames Adam, while Adam blames the Serpent. God curses them, and makes Eve suffer through labor and banishes both of them from the Garden of Eden.

Another symbol that is seen throughout the story are snakes. Snakes play a major role in the story and reveal information on the nature of Delia's and Sykes' relationship. In a "traditional myth and folklore and in the Bible, the snake represents evil" and are an allusion to the good and evil in the bible and are a symbol of original sin (Champion). Snakes can also indicate the coming

Genesis 3 exposes the serpent, also known as the devil. The serpent asks Eve to

In the biblical book of Genesis, Eve is tempted by a serpent to commit an ungodly act of eating a forbidden fruit. As a result of the snake's temptation, Eve eats the fruit, resulting in the presence of worldwide sin and the downfall of perfection. From this story of Adam and Eve, the figure of the snake has become generally associated with temptation, evil, and cynicism. William Shakespeare employs this symbolic imagery of snakes in Macbeth, to enhance the story of the rise and fall of Macbeth's power. For poetic and playwright purposes, Shakespeare uses serpentine imagery to reveal the malevolence of characters, and portray the threatening position of the throne, all while provoking a heightened emotion of fear and tragedy from the

Serpents also play a big role in both the epic and in Genesis. It says in Genesis 3:1-5, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” The serpent in

This association with serpents is also significant as the serpent was the first deceiver (7), establishing the deception and terror connected with these monsters which adds to the uncertain and disordered atmosphere in Inferno.

As Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they became naked and god cursed them by banishing them from the Garden of Eden and placing a guard around the Tree of Life. The serpent is pre-existent evil and is considered a proto, a type of Satan (devil).

Before one can actually break down the prejudices that surround snake handlers, one must learn the importance of snakes in the bible. Serpent handling churches tend to be built off one verse in the New Testament, but what about the Old Testament? People of the Holiness Pentecostal Church- the most common sect for serpent handlers- are known for heeding to the literal word of the bible more than other denominations of Christianity. The actual word serpent is used 31 times in the Old Testament (Joines, 3-4), and it takes several different symbols throughout the book. From Genesis’ serpent of original sin, to the Egyptian ideas of serpents being of new life, and rejuvenation, serpents have played several roles in shaping the actual words of the bible.

Both characters share a manipulative and disguising nature. Satan, also known as the serpent, was manipulative in tricking Eve in the Garden of Eden as well as disguising in hiding as a serpent. In second Corinthians the author writes about Satan’s evils, “But I am afraid that... Eve was [tricked] by the serpent’s cunning” (New International Version, 2 Corin. 11:3).

Ancient civilizations around the world, particularly in Africa, Australia, Greece, India and Egypt, all share something in common. Each of their mythology uses the symbolism of snakes or serpents. These creatures are seen as a prime force in the creation of the world, guarding great treasures and embodying chaotic power. However, serpents are not always wicked. They can be seen representing both good and evil.

So what is a sea serpent really? A sea serpent is just a large marine animal that lives in the sea and resembles a serpent-like creature. They often can bear resemblance to a colossal snake. The theory that giant creatures live in the ocean was extensive in ancient times. Seen in the Old Testament, there were many references to an ancient battle where God was fighting against a sea monster whose name was Leviathan. Even though Leviathan is often thought to be a dragon-like animal, allusions have been made to suggest that Leviathan was just a sea monster. Also, a piece of literature in Babylonia documents a combat, which was between a serpent with many heads, Tiamat, and a god, Marduk. Like this story, in a Hittite tale, the god of weather conquers a dragon named Illuyankas. Comparably, a

Throughout the scripture kingdom is identical with ruling, militant and conquering. And, the Church develops an idea of growing and worshipping. To substitute the word ‘Church’ with ‘Kingdom’ are not identical though they are closely related. After careful study of the Scripture the Kingdom of God and the Church of God raise many questions i.e. the relationship between both, the differences between two, is Kingdom going to be political earthly Kingdom during the Millennium or is the Church an ecclesiastical mystery given by God during the age of Grace as a substitute for His original plan, Or The Kingdom of God and the Church two are very interchanged phase of God’s dealing with man with role of Divine government?