Study of the Devil

A created but superhuman, personal, evil, world-power, represented in Scripture as the adversary both of God and men.

The word “Satan” is used 24 times in the Old Testament.In addition to these two principal names a number of others deserve specific enumeration. Tempter (Mat_4:5; 1Th_3:5); Beelzebub (Mat_12:24); Enemy (Mat_13:39); Evil One (Mat_13:19, Mat_13:38; 1Jo_2:13, 1Jo_2:14; 1Jo_3:12, and particularly 1Jo_5:18); Belial (2Co_6:15); Adversary (ἀντίδικος, antídikos), (1Pe_5:8); Deceiver (literally “the one who deceives”) (Rev_12:9); Dragon (Great) (Rev_12:3); Father of Lies (Joh_8:44); Murderer (Joh_8:44); Sinner (1Jo_3:8) - these are isolated references occurring from 1 to 3 times each. In the vast majority of passages (70 out of 83) either Satan or Devil is used.

Satan is consistently represented in the New Testament as the enemy both of God and man. The fundamental moral description of Satan is given by our Lord when He describes Satan as the “evil one” (Mat_13:19, Mat_13:38; compare Isaiah's description of Yahweh as the “Holy One,” Isa_1:4 and often); that is, the one whose nature and will are given to evil. Moral evil is his controlling attribute. It is evident that this description could not be applied to Satan as originally created. Ethical evil cannot be concreated. It is the creation of each free will for itself. We are not told in definite terms how Satan became the evil one, but certainly it could be by no other process than a fall, whereby, in the mystery of free personality, an evil will takes the place of a good one.The agent of Satan is always a victim. Nor are we taught anywhere that Satan is able to any extent to introduce disorder into the physical universe or directly operate in the lives of men. It is true that in Luk_13:16 our Lord speaks of the woman who was bowed over as one “whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years,” and that in 2Co_12:7 Paul speaks of his infirmity as a “messenger of Satan sent to buffet him.” Paul also speaks (1Th_2:18) of Satan's hindering him from visiting the church at Thessalonica. A careful study of these related passages (together with the prologue of Job) will reveal the fact that Satan's direct agency in the physical world is very limited. Satan may be said to be implicated in all the disasters and woes of human life, in so far as they are more or less directly contingent upon sin (see particularly Heb_2:14) On the contrary, it is perfectly evident that Satan's power consists principally in his ability to deceive. It is interesting and characteristic that according to the Bible Satan is fundamentally a liar and his kingdom is a kingdom founded upon lies and deceit. The doctrine of Satan therefore corresponds in every important particular to the general Biblical emphasis upon truth. “The truth shall make you free” (Joh_8:32) - this is the way of deliverance from the power of Satan.

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaringlion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Joh 8:44 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.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Gen 50:15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

Gen 50:16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

Gen 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

Gen 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

Gen 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Gen 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

**************************************Exo 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

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Exo 3:21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

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Exo 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.