Kind
Formula
Interpretive layers
Biblical typology
Psychological interpretation

Neville says he does not crawl on his belly and no little serpent spoke to him, yet what Genesis means is true in metaphor. The serpent is called the most subtle of all the creatures and represents the wisdom of man, who takes all his arts and religions for his own glamour and dedicates them to the creator. Then comes one who never went to any school and shows them reality - and those who thought themselves so wise are figuratively crawling on their bellies in his presence.

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Lectures
Own wordings
The serpent was called the most subtle of all the creatures and it represents the wisdom of man

Occurrences

The Supreme Ideal ¶43
LectureThe Supreme Ideal
in the 3rd chapter of Genesis and the wisest creature which is God himself clothed in that of a serpent
Span from: 548
to: 651
Passage revision:
627929
North of the Strip ¶28
LectureNorth of the Strip
The serpent was called the most subtle of all the creatures and it represents the wisdom of man, who takes all his arts and religions for his own glamour and dedicates them to the creator.
Span from: 296
to: 484
Passage revision:
592536
The Serpent ¶4
LectureThe Serpent
Span from: -1
to: -1
Passage revision:
689809
Advent ¶38
LectureAdvent
Span from: -1
to: -1
Passage revision:
620640
Is Causation Imaginal ¶41
LectureIs Causation Imaginal
a snake, a serpent, is always a symbol of Christ, and Christ is only the personification of God’s activity — it is the power and the wisdom of God.
Span from: 393
to: 540
Passage revision:
608800
The Return of Jesus ¶48
LectureThe Return of Jesus
Span from: -1
to: -1
Passage revision:
613279
God's Promise to Man ¶25
LectureGod's Promise to Man
this winged seraphim, whose body is one of light; face human, yes, hands human, feet human, but the body – no.
Span from: 353
to: 463
Passage revision:
614769
A Summing Up ¶24
LectureA Summing Up
“Then I beheld, and, lo, a form that had the appearance of a man; below what appeared to be his loins it was fire.” I’ve seen it - it is a fire - a glorious burning, liquid, golden light.
Span from: 63
to: 250
Passage revision:
615134