Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Satan (the devil)

The chief of the fallen angels — 'the accuser', 'the tempter', 'a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies' — who opposes God and afflicts humanity, yet acts only by God's permission and is already judged.

Hebrew ha-satan, 'the adversary / accuser' (a court-prosecutor role in Job 1–2 and Zechariah 3), which becomes a proper name; Greek Satanas and diabolos ('slanderer', hence 'devil').

Genesis 3:1–15 (the serpent, so identified in Rev 12:9); Job 1–2; Zechariah 3:1–2; Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 10:18; 22:31; John 8:44; 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:14; Ephesians 2:2; 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12; 20:1–3, 10.

The trajectory from role ('the satan') to personal name is real and often read as progressive revelation. The historic doctrine: a fallen angel, made good, who rebelled by his own choice (Lateran IV). His titles ('god of this world', 'ruler of this world') are real but bounded — 'on a leash' (Job), defeated at the cross (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14), and destined for the lake of fire.

'Resist the devil, and he will flee' (Jas 4:7); the Christian's stance is confident resistance under Christ's victory, never fear as though the outcome were in doubt.

Whether Isaiah 14 / Ezekiel 28 describe his fall; the timing of the angelic fall; how much attention the demonic warrants in Christian life.

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