Talk:Gen 3:14-21

Verse 15: Enmity

Can anyone help me out on this enmity thing? I am interested in finding other scriptures that suggest how this enmity (our hatred of evil) though helpful to us can and is often used against us to lead us to do evil as well.

--Matthew Faulconer 08:16, 29 Jul 2005 (CEST)

In thinking more about enmity I had a few thoughts about how it could lead us to do evil. First, a hatred of evil(or sin) could easily become hatred of an individual that commits evil acts. This may be why the Savior admonishes us in the Sermon on the Mount to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us. It may be naturally easier to hate the sinner along with the sin. A second possibility is that we may see that others are evil or do evil, while we don't (at least in the same ways or to the same degrees), leading us to feel falsely superior to others. (This makes me think of the Zoramites and the Rameumptom (Alma 31)). In trying to think of scriptural examples I have thought about the cycles in the Book of Mormon. Prior to the destruction and wars of the people is a time of relative peace, properity and righteousness. I wonder if enmity somehow drives the people from righteousness to wickedness? MJ 14:59, 5 Aug 2005 (CEST)

In regard to your question and assumption about Satan's seed: I think we could classify Satan's seed not only as those who followed him pre-mortally but also those who choose to follow him here on earth (e.g. Cain). The righteous become the "children of Christ" because they are changed through him Mosiah 5:7; while others become the children of the devil because they follow him Alma 5:41 (see more generally Alma 5:20-41).

Nice cross-reference. --Matthew Faulconer 16:13, 31 Jul 2005 (CEST)

With regard to enmity, do you have an example in mind where our hatred of evil is used against us? MJ 14:48, 29 Jul 2005 (CEST)

I'd really like to find some examples in the scriptures of this, but none come to mind. My own experience is that this is true. --Matthew Faulconer 16:13, 31 Jul 2005 (CEST)

I added a note about the traditional Christian interpretation of 3:15. I have not found anything about whether any LDS leaders have agreed with that interpretation (or rejected it). Eric 18:15, 29 Jul 2005 (CEST)

Hey Eric, I noticed that the text doesn't say crushed but rather that the woman's seed has power to bruise the serprent's seed's head. Thoughts? I wasn't sure how to rewrite your commentary to accomodate that. --Matthew Faulconer 07:33, 2 Apr 2006 (UTC)