3: SAYING THAT GENESIS IS WRONG 39speaking through the serpent.^11 So Webb’s claim that the crafty serpent
in Genesis 3:1 must be “artistic foreshadowing of events to come” is not
persuasive. It is better to take Genesis 3:1 as historically accurate and
affirm that this particular serpent, under the influence of Satan, was in
fact “crafty” and therefore deceptive and sinful.
Webb also denies the historical accuracy of Genesis 2 in all three of
his explanations of why the narrative indicates male leadership (what he
calls “patriarchy” and “primogeniture”). In reason (1), Webb claims
that “the whispers of patriarchy in the garden may have been placed
there in order to anticipate the curse.”^12 Webb is saying that patriarchy
did not exist in the garden in actual fact, but the author placed hints of
it in the story as a way of anticipating the situation that would come
about after there was sin in the world. This, then, is also a denial of the
historical accuracy of the Genesis 2 account.
In reason (2), Webb says that Moses, in the time he wrote, used
“present categories” such as patriarchy to describe the past, and this was
simply an “accommodation” by God “in order not to confuse the main
point.” That is, patriarchy did not actually exist in the garden of Eden,
but Moses inserted it there in Genesis 2 so as not to confuse his audience
at a later time. Thus, Moses inserted false information into Genesis 2.
This is also a denial of the historical accuracy of the Genesis 2 account.
The same is true of Webb’s reason (3). Webb suggests that primo-
geniture (Adam being created before Eve) occurs in Genesis 2, not
because it reflected the actual situation in the garden of Eden but
because Adam and Eve after they sinned would enter into a situation
where Adam had leadership over his wife. This again is a denial of the
historical accuracy of the headship of Adam and his prior creation in
Genesis 2. It was simply “a practical and gracious anticipation of the
agrarian setting into which Adam and Eve were headed.”^13
It is important to realize how much Webb denies as historical fact
(^11) The serpent, the act of deception, and Satan are connected in some New Testament contexts.
Paul says, “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be
led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3, in a context opposing false
apostles whom he categorizes as servants of Satan who “disguise themselves as servants of righ-
teousness,” v. 15). Revelation 12 describes Satan as “that ancient serpent, who is called the
devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). See also John 8:44 and 1 John
3:8, with reference to the beginning stages of history.
(^12) Webb, Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals, 142-143.
(^13) Ibid., 145 (italics added); repeated 151n55.