What is the Serpent Seed doctrine?

Answer

The serpent seed doctrine is a belief based on flawed biblical interpretation and superstition. It serves as a key doctrinal foundation for individuals seeking to use Scriptures to rationalize racial prejudice. This doctrine is closely associated with other incorrect beliefs like the Christian Identity Movement and the Kenite doctrine. Similar to many erroneous beliefs, it includes a self-defense mechanism; whereby anyone who opposes it is labeled as a descendant of the serpent. One of the significant issues with the serpent seed doctrine is its heavy reliance on bias and distorted biblical interpretation, making rational discussion challenging.

In essence, the serpent seed doctrine suggests that Eve’s sin was not merely disobedience but involved a sexual encounter with the serpent, resulting in Cain being the son of Eve and the devil. According to this concept, Cain’s offspring are considered the descendants of Satan, encompassing any race or group disliked by believers in the serpent seed theory. This notion is rooted in superstition and is notably favored by white supremacists and anti-Semites; it is also endorsed by the Unification Church. Prominent false prophets and teachers such as Arnold Murray of Shepherd’s Chapel and William Branham have promoted this idea. While an idea should not be condemned solely based on misapplication, it is justified to denounce an idea that logically leads to sin. A doctrine that proclaims certain races or individuals as universally satanic, like the serpent seed doctrine, falls into this category.

Supporters of serpent seed concepts often reference various Bible passages to validate their beliefs. However, these “evidences” typically necessitate interpretations that are entirely out of context with the passage. For instance, Genesis 3:13 is frequently cited, asserting that the term “beguiled” in the King James Version signifies…Really meant “seduced.” Context and scholarship would disagree. Proverbs 30:20 metaphorically compares eating and sexual immorality; this is greatly overstated by the serpent-seed believer as proof that the Fall was sexual. Another passage is the parable of the tares in Matthew chapter 13. Those who believe in the serpent seed doctrine teach that Jesus’ description of the “children of the devil” in this parable is true in a biological sense. Again, only one who is trying to force this belief into the Bible will see it this way; it is not naturally read out of Scripture.

There are literally dozens of places in the Bible where this false idea has been wedged in, yet every single one requires a person to believe in the serpent-seed idea beforehand. Only by reading a passage and saying, “If you assume that the serpent seed doctrine is true, then this means…” can a person support this false philosophy. For this reason, arguing against the serpent seed doctrine can be difficult. Those who believe it interpret Scripture through a sort of “serpent-seed lens,” and are not likely to accept other interpretations, no matter how well supported by context and scholarship.

There are some basic questions and contradictions inherent to the serpent seed doctrine that can be used to demonstrate its lack of truth. For example, Galatians 3:28 clearly states that race and gender have no impact on our standing with God. Second Peter 3:9 says that God wants everyone to be saved, not “everyone but the children of Cain.” Nowhere in Scripture is anyone condemned based on being from Cain’s lineage. Never are we warned about such people by the New Testament writers. Also, there is the question of how or why such persons survived the flood. The doctrine supposes that original sin was sexual, but cannot explain why the whole remainder of the Bible lays out a worldview where the original sin was disobedience, not sexuality.

This philosophy is most unfortunate in that it leads directly and logically to two main problems. Raci

SM is undoubtedly the most harmful; holding the belief that specific races are beyond redemption serves no beneficial purpose. The sole result of such a perspective is prejudice and intolerance. Additionally, there is a tendency to label critics of the serpent seed doctrine as the very “Kenites” the ideology mentions. Arnold Murray is especially culpable of this behavior. Thankfully, for believers, God has provided us with a tool in Scripture that can reveal the truth to us. We simply need to read it with impartial and receptive eyes to discover genuine wisdom.