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In the Beginning: Genesis Chapter Three, An Overview
God Said “Let Us”
Genesis Chapter 3: An Overview
Genesis chapter 3 presents a vivid and dramatic account that invites readers into the narrative as if they are present within the Garden of Eden, witnessing the events unfold. The text provides little explicit insight into the spiritual or unseen realm, instead focusing on the actions and dialogue of the physical characters — Eve, Adam, and the serpent. God addresses them as created beings, without reference to any spiritual entity operating behind the scenes. The serpent is portrayed as cunning (Gen. 3:1), yet ultimately unwise in that he participates in rebellion against God, an act that leads to dire consequences for all involved.
That the serpent speaks is notable, and the text provides no indication that Eve found this unusual. This could suggest that either the animals were capable of speech prior to the Fall, or that Eve accepted the event without question. Elsewhere in Scripture, however, the serpent is associated with Satan. The apostle Paul explicitly links the serpent with the devil in 2 Corinthians 11:3, warning that just as Eve was deceived, so too can believers be led astray by false teachers. In Revelation 12:9 and 12:15, the devil is referred to as “the great dragon… that ancient serpent,” reinforcing the…
