After some time away from blogging and online discussions, I’ve noticed ongoing issues with the teachings of Shepherd's Chapel, particularly their promotion of the serpent-seed doctrine. Following Arnold Murray's passing in February 2014, Dennis Murray has taken over as the primary teacher, continuing to propagate the same theological errors. Notably, Shepherd's Chapel’s website does not acknowledge Arnold Murray’s death, and many of its followers seem reluctant to discuss it. This article addresses the serpent-seed doctrine, a teaching that misinterprets Scripture to claim that Satan and Eve produced literal offspring, known as the "Kenites," who are falsely identified as Jews today. This doctrine is a heresy, and the following analysis demonstrates its biblical inaccuracies.
The Serpent-Seed Doctrine and Genesis 3:15
The serpent-seed doctrine hinges on a misinterpretation of Genesis 3:15, which proponents use to argue that Satan produced literal offspring through Eve. The verse, quoted from the King James Version (KJV) as preferred by Shepherd's Chapel, states:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15, KJV)
This verse, often called the Protoevangelium or the first announcement of the gospel, is a prophecy about the conflict between Christ and Satan. The "seed of the woman" refers to Jesus Christ, who, through His death and resurrection, defeated Satan, the "serpent." The "seed of the serpent" does not refer to literal descendants of Satan, such as the so-called Kenites, but to those who oppose Christ spiritually—unbelievers who align with Satan’s rebellion. The idea that Eve had a sexual union with Satan to produce Cain is unbiblical and contradicts clear scriptural evidence.
Genesis 4:1 explicitly clarifies the parentage of Cain:
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (Genesis 4:1, KJV)
The term "knew" in the KJV is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, plainly stating that Adam, not Satan, was Cain’s father. This verse alone dismantles the serpent-seed doctrine’s claim that Cain was Satan’s literal offspring.
Misuse of the Parable of the Tares
Proponents of the serpent-seed doctrine also misinterpret New Testament passages, such as the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13:36–43, to support their claims. The relevant text reads:
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 13:36–38, KJV)
Shepherd's Chapel teaches that the "children of the wicked one" are literal descendants of Satan. However, the parable’s context clarifies that it describes a spiritual distinction, not a physical lineage. The "good seed" represents believers ("children of the kingdom"), while the "tares" or "children of the wicked one" are unbelievers who follow Satan’s influence. This is not about biological offspring but about spiritual allegiance. The parable concludes with the final judgment, where unbelievers are cast into the fire, and believers remain in God’s kingdom (Matthew 13:40–43). This interpretation aligns with 1 John 3:9, where "seed" refers to spiritual character, not physical descent.
Some proponents claim Matthew 13:35, which mentions a "mystery" hidden since the world’s foundation, supports the serpent-seed doctrine. However, this mystery refers to the gospel of Christ, which was not fully understood by many Jews at the time, not a hidden teaching about Satan’s offspring.
Misinterpreting John 8:44
Another passage often cited by serpent-seed advocates is John 8:44, where Jesus says to certain Jews:
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44, KJV)
Shepherd's Chapel interprets this to mean these Jews were literal descendants of Satan. However, the context of John 8 refutes this. In John 8:37, Jesus acknowledges their physical lineage:
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (John 8:37, KJV)
Later, in John 8:56, Jesus reaffirms their connection to Abraham:
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56, KJV)
Jesus clearly identifies these Jews as Abraham’s physical descendants but describes the devil as their spiritual father due to their rejection of Him and their sinful actions. The "father" imagery in John 8:44 is metaphorical, referring to spiritual influence, not biological parentage.
The Misuse of 2 Corinthians 11:3
Finally, serpent-seed proponents misinterpret 2 Corinthians 11:3 to suggest a sexual union between Satan and Eve:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3, KJV)
They claim the Greek word for "beguiled," exapataō, implies sexual seduction. However, this interpretation is flawed. The same word appears in other passages without any sexual connotation. For example:
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. (1 Corinthians 3:18, KJV)
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:18, KJV)
In both verses, exapataō (translated as "deceive") refers to intellectual or spiritual deception, not sexual activity. Applying a sexual meaning to exapataō in 2 Corinthians 11:3 is inconsistent with its usage elsewhere and distorts the passage’s clear meaning: Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, leading to her disobedience, not a sexual act.
Conclusion
The serpent-seed doctrine taught by Shepherd's Chapel is a misinterpretation of Scripture that contradicts clear biblical texts. Genesis 4:1 confirms Adam as Cain’s father, and New Testament passages like the Parable of the Tares and John 8:44 use "seed" and "father" metaphorically to describe spiritual allegiance, not physical lineage. The misuse of terms like exapataō further exposes the doctrine’s lack of biblical support. This teaching not only distorts Scripture but also promotes harmful ideas, such as falsely identifying Jews as Satan’s offspring. I pray that those who hold to this doctrine will examine the Scriptures carefully and turn to the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria!