2 Corinthians 11:3-15

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KJV

³ 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. ⁴ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

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¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

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It is sometimes claimed that Paul's reference to Genesis in the words ...as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty... (v. 3) proves that the serpent must have been literal. This is an example of Argument from "Endorsement". The same logic is not applied to Paul's mention of Satan's ministers (v. 15) and Satan himself (v. 14) in the same context, however.

See Questions if Genesis is not Literal no. 7.

This passage was referenced here (5.3.3) in our responses to the AACE discussion questions.