Interesting article from the CNN Belief Blog on phrases that sound biblical but aren’t eg ‘This, too, shall pass’, have a biblical basis, but are altered eg ‘Pride goes before a fall’, and also extra biblical speculation which sometimes are based on biblical accounts eg ‘three wise men’ and other times are just sheer fantasy eg ‘men have one less rib than women.’
The answer: read and learn the Bible.
As a bonus, here’s a post from Trevin Wax on ‘Urban Legends: The Preacher’s Edition.’
via CNN Belief Blog
mgpcpastor's blog 
The “Genesis story” may not place Satan in the Garden on Eden, but the *Bible* certainly does. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…” (Revelation 12:9)
I was going to post a comment at the original post, but then I saw there already were 3,800 comments there.
Yeah, that point was picked up pretty early in the comments.
(Who comments on a post when the comment thread has reached 4,100, BTW)
It’s interesting if folk who observe that ‘Satan tempted Eve’ actually know that they are correct, not because of Genesis, but Revelation.
As far as Genesis goes, I’m in the habit of observing that Adam may well have been standing alongside Eve while the temptation was taking place. Someone came to me after the last time I mentioned this and mentioned the further idea that Adam ate the fruit because he loved Eve and wanted to share the punishment due for eating the fruit.
The conclusion of the article amused me a bit, as well.
As though trusting academic biblical scholars was a sure fire way to be taught the right thing.
The trajectory of our denomination was that the Gospel was preserved by the normal folks, while the trained guys ship-wrecked faith in the Bible.
the further idea that Adam ate the fruit because he loved Eve and wanted to share the punishment due for eating the fruit.
That is straight out of Milton.
Thanks.
My lack of literary background is showing.