now turn from the Lord to His disciples. Just as is done in the
account of the transaction itself, Paul, in 2 Cor. [Pg 20] xi. 3
([Greek: hos ho ophis Euan exepatesen en te panourgia autou]), places
the invisible cause of the temptation in the background, and speaks of
the visible one only. But that behind the serpent he beholds Satan,
appears immediately from ver. 14 and 15: [Greek: Kai ou thaumaston.
autos gar ho Satanas metaschematizetai eis angelon photos. Ou mega oun
ei kai hoi diakonoi autou metaschematizontai hos diakonoi dikaiosunes],
where the [Greek: metaschematizetai] is explained by _Bengel_:
"_Transformat se: Praesens, i.e., solet se transformare. Fecit id jam in
Paradiso._" The Apostle alludes to an event narrated in Scripture,
where Satan shows himself in this character. But such an occurrence is
not found anywhere else than in Gen. iii. 4, 5, the only passage where
Satan represents himself as the friend and saviour of men. We have here
the explanation of the [Greek: exepatesen] in ver. 3.--In Rom. xvi. 20,
the words, [Greek: hO de Theos tes eirenes suntripsei ton Satanan hupo
tous podas humon], contain an allusion to Gen. iii. 15, too plain to be
mistaken. The Apostle recognises, in the promise of the victory over
the serpent given there, a pledge of the victory over Satan. The words
of Paul to Elymas in Acts xiii. 10, "O thou child of the devil,"
likewise contain a distinct reference to that which, in the history of
man's fall, is written concerning the serpent. In the charge of
subtlety, mischief, and enmity to all righteousness which he brings
against him, there is an evident allusion to Genesis.

In 1 John iii. 8, [Greek: hO poion ten hamartian, ek tou diabolou
estin. hoti ap' arches ho diabolos hamartanei], allusion is made to a
most heinous sin committed by Satan at the first beginnings of the
human race. But of such a sin there is no account, unless Satan be
concealed behind the serpent.--In Rev. xii. 9 (comp. xx. 2), Satan is
called the great dragon, and the _old serpent_; the last of which
designations refers to the passage now under consideration.

The agency of Satan in the fall of man has been controverted, on the
plea that, had such been in operation, it ought to have been mentioned.
But the absence of any such mention may be explained on the ground that
it is not the intention of the holy writers to give any information
respecting the existence of the devil, but rather to give an account o