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Help Desk (Q&A)
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Help Desk (Q&A)
Who is Satan?
I. Name: Satan is a Hebrew word meaning adversary or accuser, to indicate his opposition to God and to all things pertaining to God, especially God's people. The New Testament equivalent is Diabolos (devil) which also means accuser.
He is an angelic being, and "the Prince of devils" (leader of the fallen angels).
"depart from me ...into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" Mt 25:41
"...God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell" 2Pe 2:4
"angels that abandoned their first estate" Jude 6
The implication is that the angels had a probationary period similar to Man in Eden, where some angels passed and some failed.
As the "god of this world" 2Co 4:4, and the "spirit that works in the children of this world", he holds mastery over the fallen human race as well. Paul describes such people as those who must "escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will". Jesus told the Pharisees "you belong to your father the Devil"
II. Old Testament references: Satan is specifically referenced in only three places in the Old Testament:1Ch 21:1, Zech 3:1-2, Job 1 & 2.
1. 1Ch 21:1 As a tempter: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census." Here we see Satan involved in his primary activity, tempting man to sin. He is equated with the serpent of Gen 3 in Rev 12:9, who first tempted man to sin, and is referred to as "the tempter" in Matt 4:3, 1Th 3:5. The Biblical idea of tempting is putting to the test, either for the benevolent purpose of proving and improving one's quality 1Pe 1:6-7, Ja 1:12, or for the malicious purpose of exposing one's weakness. Satan tests God's people only with evil intent, by manipulating circumstances (always within the limits that God allows Jb 1:12, 1Co 10:13), and prompting them to abandon or violate God's will.
2. Zech 3:1-2 As an accuser: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him." Here we see Satan in his role as accuser. In this passage the implication is that he is accusing Joshua of being unworthy to stand before God because of his
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He is an angelic being, and "the Prince of devils" (leader of the fallen angels).
"depart from me ...into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" Mt 25:41
"...God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell" 2Pe 2:4
"angels that abandoned their first estate" Jude 6
The implication is that the angels had a probationary period similar to Man in Eden, where some angels passed and some failed.
As the "god of this world" 2Co 4:4, and the "spirit that works in the children of this world", he holds mastery over the fallen human race as well. Paul describes such people as those who must "escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will". Jesus told the Pharisees "you belong to your father the Devil"
II. Old Testament references: Satan is specifically referenced in only three places in the Old Testament:1Ch 21:1, Zech 3:1-2, Job 1 & 2.
1. 1Ch 21:1 As a tempter: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census." Here we see Satan involved in his primary activity, tempting man to sin. He is equated with the serpent of Gen 3 in Rev 12:9, who first tempted man to sin, and is referred to as "the tempter" in Matt 4:3, 1Th 3:5. The Biblical idea of tempting is putting to the test, either for the benevolent purpose of proving and improving one's quality 1Pe 1:6-7, Ja 1:12, or for the malicious purpose of exposing one's weakness. Satan tests God's people only with evil intent, by manipulating circumstances (always within the limits that God allows Jb 1:12, 1Co 10:13), and prompting them to abandon or violate God's will.
2. Zech 3:1-2 As an accuser: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him." Here we see Satan in his role as accuser. In this passage the implication is that he is accusing Joshua of being unworthy to stand before God because of his
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