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  • WELCOME
    • About Us >
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Satan, the Accuser, the Devil: Who is this Biblical Character?

4/8/2019

12 Comments

 
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Dante Alighieri provides a clear image of who Satan is in the first part of the poem, The Divine Comedy, in the Inferno.  The devil is depicted in the 9th circle of hell, frozen in ice up to the chest, and freezing the surrounding areas with bat-link wings that continuously flap.  In the midst of Job, we read about Satan or, if you have read the notes at the bottom, the accuser.[i] This heavenly being is authorized by God and given authority by God to inflict suffering and pain on poor Job.  Is this character in Job the same one referenced throughout the Old Testament? What about in the New Testament?  So much of our understanding of Satan comes from thoughts and ideas outside of the Bible.  Let’s take a brief look at Satan as we are reading about him/it in the Bible this year.
 
In Job, the Hebrew word, a noun, literally means “the accuser” or “the adversary.”  In Job, the Hebrew text always has the definite article “the” prior to the noun which indicates that it is not a proper noun.[ii]  While we often see Satan capitalized in Job, there is not indication that this should be the case.  The adversary here appears to be an angel or someone else within the heavenly realm and not necessarily against God.  This adversary acts within God’s limits except for one indication that illustrates he may have gone too far. Look in Job 2:3:[iii]
 
The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.”
 
“The adversary” is also referenced in other OT locations such as in Numbers 22 when the adversary is an angel of the Lord blocking the path of Balaam, but that is on God’s bequest because Balaam is not in line with God.  Look also in Zechariah 3:2:
 
And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!
 
The “accuser” or “adversary” stands at the right side of Joshua here in the vision and the Lord once again steps in as this divine being has gone too far because Joshua is at this point forgiven.  The particular Old Testament reference to Satan, however, does not use the definite article and may indicate a specific person, but it is clear that there is more to the Satan of the New Testament than in this particular reference.[iv]
 
In the Gospels and in the Book of Acts, the original language is Greek and we see new names for Satan including the Devil, Beelzebul, the accuser, the ruler of the demons, and others.  One of the most famous accounts when we recall Satan in the New Testament is when Jesus is in the dessert and tempted by Satan while surrounded by wild beasts (Mark 1, Matthew 4, Luke 4).  It is not entirely clear in these accounts if this Satan is acting on his own accord or if he acts on behalf of God.[v] We also see Satan in the Gospels as the cause of those who have demonic possession, the one who snatches the seed from the soil, or when Jesus calls Peter “Satan!” 
 
The letters, especially those of Paul, recount similar personified images of “the adversary” found in the Old Testament, sometimes blocking the correct path (see 1 Thessalonians 2).  We also begin to find the account of Satan as the fallen angel.  Look at 2 Corinthians 11:14:
 
And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
 
Or 2 Thessalonians 2:9-13
 
The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,  so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
 
Even here, we see some component of permissiveness on God’s account, but only in the individual’s absence or lack of acceptance of God’s love.  Satan here is also depicted as deceptive and not flat out representative of evil in looks, appearance, or action.  We do not have a red devil with a trident here but evil disguised as good in the absence of God’s love.  The letters continue to echo the Old Testament “adversary” that blocks the way of the righteous but we also see the personification of evil in some instances. 
 
Satan is certainly personified in the last book of the Bible, Revelation.  In it we see the Satan figure testing faith against false teachings of God.  This figure is, in the end of Revelation, bound by an angel of the Lord and cast into an abyss (Revelation 20).[vi]
 
What happened between the Old and New Testament with Satan?  Did Satan become more of a figure upon Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension?  One reason there is a larger difference between the Old Testament with a simple adversary and the New Testament, which begins to more than personify Satan but provides and actual evil force, is the influence of outside literature.  There are many non-biblical and extracanonical sources which may have influenced the image of Satan in the New Testament, including the one of Satan as a fallen angel.[vii]  Yes, outside literature enters into the narratives of our Biblical accounts. 
 
So who or what is Satan?  The Bible does not give us a clear-cut answer about this Adversary or Accuser, but provides us an idea of what inhibits us or blocks us from God’s love.  Evil and the source of that which is evil is the absence of God’s love and giving into temptation, sin, is “the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.”[viii]  Anything that blocks our path with God and that draws us from the love of God is not of the work of God.  Is this the particular work of a singular devil?  We do not have that direct answer but there are forces of evil that work in our world that actively try to draw us from God and they are often deceptive as we see in the letters of the New Testament.  However we name what draws us from the love of God, we should be mindful of its power and appeal, for it tempts us daily.  We ask God “lead us not into temptation,” so that we may not even enter into a situation where a decision can lead us astray and block our path.  “Don’t let us encounter the tempter, the adversary, the accuser,” we ask God. 
 
I typically like to end these posts on a high note, but I want to end on some words from the first letter of Peter:
 
Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. - 1 Peter 5:8-9
 


[i] David J.A. Clines, “Job,” in The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version: Michael Coogan, Marc Brettler, Carol Newsom, Pheme Perkins, Fully Revised 5th (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018).

[ii] “Satan,” in The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009), 112.

[iii] “Satan,” 112.

[iv] “Satan.”

[v] “Satan.”

[vi] “Satan.”

[vii] “Satan,” 113–14.

[viii] Episcopal Church et al., eds., The Book of Common Prayer: And Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Cermonies of the Church; Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David (New York: Church Publishing, 2002), 848.
12 Comments
Kimberly Barry
8/24/2020 02:49:36 pm

I will NEVER BELIEVE that the DEVIL is God's brother.

Reply
Russ
9/3/2020 11:43:22 am

thank you Kimberly! They are not and never have been, despite Mormon theology! The devil is a created being, created by Christ. The devil rebelled and was cast from heaven. Christ (who is God) is the creator and not created. In Mormonism, Christ is created. Bad theology.

Reply
Berkley link
10/3/2020 06:11:37 am

Same thing with the Jehovah's Witnesses....believing that Jesus is the first created being. Both (Mormonism and Witness's) work towards undermining the profound importance of Jesus within the Godhead

Debbie Benefield
9/27/2020 09:12:14 pm

Kimberly Barry, Good because it is not Biblical. Satan is not the Brother of Christ Jesus. Angel's are lower then man Satan was a top Angel so much so he thought he could overcome God. Christ is discussed as eternal only God is eternal. In John chapter 1 verses 1 through 4 and verse 14 we find the Word is also meaning existing before time.

Reply
Russ
9/28/2020 06:08:54 am

Amen!

Great preacher
3/17/2021 02:53:47 pm

Jesus Christ is the son of God,Jesus is not created,God is three is one,God our father,Christ the son and God the Holy Spirit.Christ did not created by anyone cause he is God.the Bible said In the beginning was the word the word was God and the words was with God.Christ is God in flesh he was sent to died for us he trade place with us if someone eoen says that Jesus was created that’s a false things do not let man deceive you but read your Bible

Linda Marshall
1/9/2021 09:51:43 am

God is Holy and Satan opposed God because Satan loved darkness. There is no darkness in God because He is the light of the world. There is One God under heaven. GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. THREE IN ONE. Period! Remember Satan's home is hell where he belong. The LORD said to Satan "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Zechariah 3:2

Reply
James Quillen link
1/29/2021 09:20:30 am

For centuries Christians have seen“ the accuser “ as a noun . All of a sudden it is a foreign concept in the Old Testament . This is a lie and the people that believe it are liars. This is an argument that is pushed by tulmud reading rabbi’s who hold on to tradition more than the word of god . Judaism Traditional commentary is not the word of god and god is against it (Jeremiah 8:8). (Genesis:3)First in the garden of eden was the serpent . According to the New Testament this was the devil “ a noun. “ . Although they scripture call him the serpent and said he was a beast of the field because “the serpent could talk” . The serpent talked because it was the devil that was talking through the creature tempting eve. That is the first instance of the accuser, serpent, or devil.
The story of balam (numbers:22)has nothing to do with satan. The word satan is used as accuser and adversary in scripture. They trick you by throwing that word out as if it can’t be used in multiple instances to reference different things. However, the devil is used as a noun and the devil is spoken of indirectly as a serpent , a king , and an angel . Let’s go to Isaiah (14:12-15 )god told Isaiah to speak these words. Indeed god words were meant for someone and it wasn’t just the king of tyre.
The oldest text of scripture is job and in the beginning (job:1)we see the adversary going up to heaven with a host of other angels and engaging with god about “his “activities on earth. Hence , “he “ is engaging and talking about “ his” activities on earth. again the devil alias the accuser is a noun. Furthermore, let’s look deeper into scripture. The devil has always tried to hide himself. He always tries to make us question the word of god. He twist the word of god as well. Let us reason , the word accuser meaning“and if we look through the Bible that is not the only word we use to describe satan . He is also called a serpent and he is also talked about indirectly ( reference job:1). As children of god we must read in context, line upon line , precept upon precepts. We must be vigilant because there are men who claim to be godly but are devils and they do the devils work by trying to hide him .The serpent is a “noun”The angels that come down and have sex with females are a “ noun”. If we take the devil out as a noun . We must assert that everything we learnt in genesis about original sin is a fairy tale. We also must assert that there is no tempter pushing us to sin. In conclusion if there is no original sin and no tempter we are solely responsible for our salvation because we choose it freely
Of Our own volition . If we do, then indeed none of us are worthy and indeed none of us are worthy but with gods mercy and grace our sin are white as snow and because of Christ redemptive blood we are worthy . In other words if we freely choose to be disobedient to god because we simply can and there is no outside entity that influence us to do it.If we assume there is no personal tempter than Jesus death and resurrection was in vain. Jesus came to free us from the influence of the devil by rejecting all manner of sin . The devil leads us into sin so that he might accuse us like he did job like he did Eve so that god curse may fall upon us. We all sin and if we have no mediation but ourselves we are hell bound because the accuser aka the adversary can accuses us before the father of being full of sin. Man can not free himself from sin even the Jews needed a sacrifice of blood to be forgiven of sin ( a mediator that was acceptable to god) . Even scripture tells us that all men are full off sin. Indeed if there is no devil to accuse us of sin than Jesus death was void and everyone who sin has a right to stand before god and make a plea on behalf of his own blood. If this be the case no man can stand before god in righteousness. Be careful of the doctrine and interpretation these so called men of god are given you. Be vigilant and give due diligence to scripture. May the living lord and savior Jesus be with you.

Reply
Steve Brudney
8/27/2021 09:17:27 am

James, like so many Christians, you are caught up in imposing the Christian concept of Satan upon and into the Hebrew Scriptures. It is only the Revelation of John which identifies the serpent with Satan. Let him. The question is, what does the Hebrew of Genesis 2-3 say and what it does not say. It does not say the serpent is evil or causes evil; it says he was clever. It does not say he lied to Eve or to Adam. He told them if they ate of the fruit, they would be like god, knowing good and evil. God confirms that is exactly what happened. So the serpent told the truth. Did God expel them from Eden because of it? No, he cursed them. Later he becomes concerned they might also eat from the tree of life and THAT is when he expels them.

The rabbis and their Talmud you refer to have nothing to do with the Jewish version of Satan being different from the New Testament's. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the satan is always that and not a proper noun. The scriptures speak for themselves. It you want to go with later ideas and use "Satan" as a proper name, it is you who need to justify it. It is not up to Jews to defend why they use "ha satan" instead of Satan. Unfortunately, even Jewish Bibles have fallen under the Christian way of understanding and they capitalize satan as if it were a proper name.

Reply
Evan Corrigan
4/20/2022 10:12:40 am

I am not what you might call a "learned" man. I have had no form of "higher" education. Point of fact, I didn't even graduate high school. I was raised in a God fearing manner within a devout family that has had nothing to do with me since my late teens because of the ideas I developed in my own personal spiritual quest. I use the word "ideas" because experiences have taught me that beliefs are inherently dangerous and destructive. Ideas are much safer, as they are flexible to the possibility of change upon the discovery of more evidence, whether supportive or contrary A belief is set in stone and is difficult and often impossible to change. Countless wars have been waged and countless lives have been taken because of differences in people's beliefs. And this knowledge eventually lead me to 2 questions and 1 idea, that I will now share with whoever stumbles across this humble man's quest for truth.

Questions:
1) If God exists, does He ever get disgusted with the things that get carried out in His name?

2) If the devil exists, does he ever get disgusted with the things he gets blamed for?

Idea:
The devil is described to be the adversary of God, but how can this be? God is the creator of all things in the heavens and the earth. He is the Alpha and Omega, omnipotent and all powerful. Surely such a being could never have any sort of adversary, as no other being could possibly rise to the position of being equal to God.

Reply
Run Lundy
11/30/2022 11:32:28 am

Free will--it is indigenous and cannot be physically taken, but can be given freely, by deception or coercion. As it is indigenous to all humans, it can also be taken back--by the power of man's own will...

Stephen M. Brudney
11/30/2022 12:52:49 pm

Evan Corrigan, I think that in ancient Judaism, "adversary of God" doesn't mean adversarial behavior directly, face to face, with God. It means messing with the outcomes God had hoped for. For example, tempting humans to go in a different direction or lose their way. "The adversary" is not always Satan. I think in the story involving Balaam, the adversary is someone else. In Job, the adversary, the satan ("the adversary, not Satan). He is a resident of Heaven and has an understanding with God. The name is almost always capitalized even though it is more a title than a name. In job it is not Satan alone who goes to earth to plague Job but God himself gives Satan the go-ahead to do so.



You are approaching the idea of Satan from a very Christian point of view. In the Hebrew Scriptures, "the adversary" is not conceived as the figure of evil and deception as he h is conceived of in Christianity. Remember too that in the episode in which Jacob wrestles with God, God tells him afterwards that he has contended with God and prevailed; therefore I will call you YisRaEl (Israel) meaning wrestles or struggles with God. In




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    The Rev. William L. Packard

    I am excited to read the Bible with you, not only for the knowledge and ability to say, "I've read the whole thing," but for the wonderful things that occur when Scripture is read intentionally each day. 

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