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The Devil and Satan

Definitions

It is important to remember that the books of the Bible were written mainly in two languages: Old Testament in Hebrew and New Testament in Greek.

Old Testament (OT)

• devil:
  • The word does not appear in the OT.
• devils:
  • On a few occasions a Hebrew word is translated in the Authorised Version from words meaning animals.
  • The context of the use of the word 'devils' relates to the abhorrent practice of animal worship, which was not permitted by God for His people. Does not appear in the NIV.
• satan:
  • The Hebrew word means 'adversary'.

New Testament (NT)

• devil:
  • The Greek word means 'slanderer' or 'false accuser'.
• satan:
  • The Greek word means 'adversary'.

Background – sin and evil:

In order to understand what the Bible is telling us when the words 'devil' and 'satan' are used, we need to stay fully focused on the events in the garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God's instruction not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In a previous article we looked in some detail at what happened there (see Light Volume 30.4 page 8). The serpent was an animal with no conscience but with the ability to speak. The tree itself had no evil power, in the same way that a speed limit sign has no evil power. But we are breaking the law if we exceed the speed limit.

The Genesis account of how sin and death came into the world makes it plain that God cursed them and the earth with decay and death as a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience. We should note here that God Himself allowed the introduction of sin and death into the world as a punishment for disobedience to Him. Under this heading we should also note that there is no mention of a superhuman evil monster or creature taking control and introducing evil into the world.

Look at what the Apostle Paul says about how sin came into the world and why death is something everyone faces (read Romans 5.12). Sin comes from within us and is not initiated by a super human evil being. It's also worth looking at Jeremiah chapter 17.9, which expresses the same truth. The Bible also tells us plainly, in more than one place, how sinful action begins. James likens it to the process of conception, birth and growth to maturity (read James 1.13-15 and Matthew 15.10-20).

What should we understand by the word 'Satan'?

As the above definitions show, the Bible uses the words 'devil' and 'satan' to describe adversarial and sometimes evil behaviour. Closer examination of the places where these words occur in the Bible, demonstrates this point. Here are a few examples.

David had been temporarily outlawed from Israel and lived and worked with the Philistines. What is interesting is that when they went into battle, they wouldn't let David go with them because they didn't want to risk him becoming an 'adversary' to them in the battle. If you look at 1 Samuel 29.4 you will see the point. It is important to note that in this case the translators chose to translate the Hebrew word 'satan' as 'adversary'.

Here is a good example of how important it is to read the Bible carefully to ensure we understand it. No one would suggest that David (who went on to become Israel's famous king) was in fact 'Satan'. The Philistines were worried about David defecting in battle. There are similar examples where the word adversary occurs in 1 Kings 5.4 (the words of King Solomon) and I Kings 11.14 (referring to Hadad the Edomite).

In Numbers 22 verses 21-35 the angel of the LORD who opposed Balaam was referred to as a 'satan'. The word 'satan' has again been translated as 'adversary' in verse 22.

Another good example is in Mark chapter 8.31-33, where Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be crucified, in order to fulfil his mission as prophesied in the Old Testament. Peter challenges him and tells him that he will not allow such a thing to happen. Jesus tells Peter to "get behind me Satan!". In other words, do not challenge the will of God in the course of these events that are about to unfold. Jesus is not telling us that Peter is 'Satan'. The idea is absurd. He is telling Peter that he should keep out of the way, and not be an adversary to Jesus in his mission to carry out the will of God.

What about the word 'devil'?

The word 'devil' is translated from the Greek word 'diabolos' used in the original language of the NT. As noted above under definitions, it means 'false accuser' or 'slanderer'. If you look at a Bible concordance, you can see the theological slant of the translators, as sometimes they translate the Greek word 'diabolos' as 'slanderer' or 'false accuser', where the concept of the devil as an evil spirit clearly does not fit. For example, Paul wrote to Titus about the way the older women were to set an example to the younger women. Similarly he wrote to Timothy about the wives of leaders (see Titus 2.3 and 1 Timothy 3.11).

We note that in both these verses, the theological concept of 'he devil' does not fit. The emphasis is that women should be examples of honest and truthful speaking – there is no hint of them being possessed by an external supernatural influence.

We can also see the idea of a slanderer or false accuser in these words of Jesus:

"Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

• The word here is 'diabolos' - John 6.70

Clearly this is a reference to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and was responsible for the process that led to the arrest, the mockery of a trial, and ultimately the death of Jesus.

What about 'demons'?

In the first century, people believed that they were possessed by evil spirits or demons if they had mental illnesses, and that was the way they described it. When we read in the NT about someone with a disease, such as leprosy or withered limbs, they are not referred to as being possessed by evil spirits. NT passages such as Luke 4.33, John 8.48 and Matthew 9.32 all reflect the beliefs and language of those times in relation to mental illness.

We can consistently see that it was God who brought evil into the world as a result of man's wilful disobedience to Him. There is no precedent in Bible teaching for believing in a superhuman creature known as the 'Devil' or 'Satan', or devils and demons who are responsible for the evil in the world.

True Christians are followers of Christ who recognise that he died and was raised from the dead by God as a means of bringing salvation from sin and death into the world. This process will reach its completion when Jesus Christ returns to the earth at God's appointed time, to reward his faithful followers with the gift of everlasting life. Ultimately sin will be removed and death will be destroyed (see Paul's words in I Corinthians 15.20-28).