Snakes
From Urantia Wiki, the encyclopedia of The Urantia Book
The worship of serpents has ancient roots in multiple cultures, including the Hebrews, Hindus, and Chinese. 85:3.3
Indiscriminate kindness may lead to social evils; be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 140:8.13 140:9.3 163:1.3 178:1.7
The snakes became fetish animals, leading to taboos on eating their flesh. 88:1.5
Childless wives were feared to transform into snakes in the spirit world due to the belief that barrenness was solely the wife's fault, causing many unsatisfactory marriages among primitive peoples. 83:7.2
Snakes, descended from nonprogressive reptiles, are one of the surviving branches of the saurian family after the disappearance of the dinosaurs. 61:2.6 65:2.10
The fatality of snake bites was attributed to the sorcerer's belief in the power of magic. 88:4.8
If a child asks for a watersnake, a wise father would give what is needed, not what is foolishly requested. 144:2.4
The Phoenicians and Jews considered the snake to be the mouthpiece of evil spirits, a belief shared by many throughout history. 88:1.5
The religious leaders were condemned as offspring of vipers by John, and now face inevitable judgment. 175:1.21
Snake charming shamans, once venom addicts in love cults, inspire the worship of serpents worldwide. 85:3.3
The wisdom of the serpent, a symbol of Greek medicine, is still employed as an emblem by modern physicians. 85:3.3
Bible parallels
Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.
- Serpent worship 85:3.3 — Ex 4:2-4; Ex 7:9-12; 2 Ki 18:4; Nm 21:8-9; Nm Da 14:23 (Bel 1:23); Jn 3:14.
- Be wise as serpents 140:8.13 — Mt 10:16b.
- No money or extra clothes 140:9.3 — Mt 10:9-10; Mk 6:8-9; Lk 9:3; Lk 10:4.
- Laborer is worthy of hire 140:9.3 — Lk 10:7.
- I send you as sheep amid wolves 140:9.3 — Lk 10:3. *Be wise as serpents*: Mt 10:16. *You'll be brought before councils*: Lk 21:12. *You'll be beaten in synagogues*: Mt 10:17-21; Mk 13:9. *They shall beat you and kill you*: Mt 24:9. *Testimony of spirit within*: Mt 10:19-20; Mk 13:11; Lk 12:11-12; Lk 21:13-15. *Jews first, then gentiles*: Ro 1:16.
- Instructions to seventy 163:1.3 — Lk 10:1b-7.
- Harvest is plenteous, laborers few 163:1.3 — Mt 9:37; Jn 4:35.
- Send out as lambs among wolves 163:1.3 — Mt 7:15; Mt 10:16a.
- Take no purse or clothing 163:1.3 — Mt 10:9-10a; Mk 6:8-9; Lk 9:3.
- Stay in same place 163:1.3 — Mt 10:11-13; Mk 6:10; Lk 9:4.
- Proclaim peace, good will to men 163:1.3 — Lk 2:14b.
- Be wise as serpents, harmless 163:1.3 — Mt 10:16.
- Wise as serpents, etc. 178:1.7 — Mt 10:16.
- Serpent reverence 88:1.5 — Ex 4:2-4; Ex 7:9-12; 2 Ki 18:4; Nm 21:8-9; Nm (Da 14:23-27): Bel 1:23-27; Jn 3:14.
- Snakes: voices of evil spirits 88:1.5 — Gn 3:1-5.
- Appropriate gifts to son 144:2.4 — Mt 7:9-11; Lk 11:11-13.
- Tenth woe 175:1.21 — Mt 23:33.