聖經詮釋的多樣性──以創世記第三章的蛇為例

The Diversity of Biblical Interpretation through the Example of the Serpent in the Third Chapter of Genesis

本文乃是藉由聖經創世記第三章夏娃與蛇對話的著名故事，探究歷代不同團體對那一條蛇所作出的不同解釋，藉此明白經典詮釋的多樣性。第二段描述這個聖經故事，並區分其他經文說到的蛇。第三段說明猶太教對那條蛇的解釋，包括拉比、米德拉示、猶太神秘主義和斐羅的解釋。第四段探討諾斯底教派如何解釋那條蛇，說明諾斯底教派信仰中的惡蛇，和他們對那條蛇的解釋。第五段則討論基督宗教的解釋，新約聖經對蛇的看法，保羅書信、啟示錄以及近代對那條蛇的說法。從古到今不同信仰團體或個人對於那條蛇的解釋，形成了高達美所說的「歷史視域」，觀照歷史中的各種詮釋，讓我們明白詮釋可以是多樣化的，沒有所謂的「絕對正確」。尊重其他宗教團體的解釋，不把異於自己宗教傳統的解釋判為「異端」，是一個現代宗教信仰者應有的器度。在近代的思潮下，那條蛇必然還會以新的面貌出現！

By analyzing the famous story of “the dialogue of Eve with a serpent” in Genesis 3, this article attempts to research on the various interpretations of this serpent in history, thus disclosing the plurality of biblical interpretation. Paragraph 2 recounts this biblical story and mentions different serpents in other texts. Paragraph 3 explains how Judaism (including Rabbis, Midrash, Philo and Jewish mysticism) interpreted this serpent. Paragraph 4 investigates the idea of “evil serpent” in Gnosticism and its interpretation of this serpent. Finally paragraph 5 discusses the interpretations in Christianity, including the New Testament (the letters of Paul and the Book of Revelation) and some recent interpretations. In Gadamer’s language, the many interpretations of the serpent in different traditions actually form a “historical horizon.” Putting all the interpretations together, we might conclude that there is no such thing as “the absolute, correct interpretation.” The practical implication for believers across all kinds of faith is that “heresy” should not be a convenient label for interpretations that are different from their own traditions. As time goes by and novel interpretations arise, the “serpent” is surely to meet us with new faces.