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1 Satan as a spiritual being

 

2 The term "Satan" in connection with people

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3 Demons as a spiritual being

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1 - Satan as spiritual being

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Genesis 3,1-6

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1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD GOD had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath GOD said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, GOD hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 for GOD doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be like GOD, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

Some claim that the serpent was an intelligent animal capable of speech, unintentionally leading people astray from GOD. However, there is no plausible basis for such an assumption; for 1. animals are not created in GOD's image, and 2. unlike humans and angels, animals possess neither wisdom nor the ability to communicate verbally. If the serpent had simply been an intelligent animal without evil intentions, GOD would have warned it not to eat the forbidden fruit and pointed out the consequences. In truth, Satan briefly possessed the body of a serpent and spoke to Eve through its form. Furthermore, the word subtil (Hebrew: 'ā·rūm) does not simply mean that someone has knowledge or is intelligent, but also implies that a person acts with deceptive intent. The serpent has neither misheard nor merely questioned; rather, it contradicts GOD or claims the opposite of what GOD has said (you will certainly not die, for GOD knows (...) you will be like GOD). In doing so, the serpent deliberately distorts GOD's words (Genesis 2,17) in order to cast doubt on His credibility and to confuse people. This is precisely Satan's goal. For this reason, Satan is also called the devil (Old Greek: diabolos), meaning one who deceives, because he twists the truth and turns it into a lie in order to deceive people (Isaiah 5,20). Furthermore, the serpent is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture in connection with the Fall as an "intelligent animal", but only in connection with the Devil as a person who fights against GOD and the truth (Revelation 12,7-17 / Revelation 20,1-3).

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Genesis 3,13-15

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13 And the LORD GOD said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the LORD GOD said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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The serpent's punishment is more severe than that of humans. Unlike Adam and his wife, GOD pronounces a curse upon the serpent. In Adam's case, only the ground is cursed. Cain is the first human to be cursed for murdering his brother Abel. Had the serpent acted out of ignorance, GOD would not have punished it at all, or at least not severely. While verse 14 refers to the serpent as an animal, in verse 15 GOD addresses the devil, who disguised himself as a serpent to deceive humanity. Furthermore, if the serpent were merely an animal in a neutral role, Scripture would not describe it as an enemy of humankind. For an enemy is not a neutral person, but one who harbors evil intentions. To crush someone's head means to disempower, destroy, or incapacitate a person. Satan has rebelled against his Creator and now claims dominion for himself. Therefore, GOD promises mankind a Savior from the offspring of the woman, who will defeat Satan and destroy his dominion over the world. This offspring is Jesus Christ. A neutral person, on the other hand, does not need to be fought and defeated. This future downfall of the devil is symbolized by the curse of the snake (crawling on its belly = incapacity / eating dust = death).

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1st Timothy 2,14

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14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

 

In this verse, Paul makes direct reference to the events in the Garden of Eden. The Greek word apataō, which Paul uses, means to deceive, seduce, mislead. Because of the devil's lie, the woman hoped to gain an advantage if she ate the forbidden fruit. The serpent's (Satan's) action was therefore by no means an accident, but a conscious, planned, and deliberate act motivated by selfish desires, with the aim of harming humanity. Anyone who denies this fact trivializes the devil and downplays his guilt.

 

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Revelation 12,1-17

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1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto GOD, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of GOD, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our GOD, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our GOD day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of GOD, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

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There is a clear and undeniable connection to the Fall of Man, where the serpent tempted Adam and Eve. The dragon and the serpent are unambiguously identified as the Devil and Satan. Satan (Old Greek: satanas) means enemy or adversary, while devil (Old Greek: diabolos) means accuser or slanderer. These two words appear a total of 27 times in the Old Testament; significantly more often in the New Testament. Wherever the terms Satan or devil appear 1. with the definite article ho / ha and 2. without direct reference to humans, they are proper names for a supernatural spiritual being that appears in the Bible as an enemy of GOD. There are a total of four such passages in the Old Testament (Job 1,6-12 / Job 2,1-7 / Zechariah 3,1-7 / 1st Chronicles 21,1). There are dozens of references to the devil in the New Testament (Matthew 4,10 / Mark 8,33 / Luke 10,18 / John 13,27 / Acts 26,18 / Romans 16,20 / 1st Corinthians 5,5 / Revelation 2,9, and many more). In addition, there are several nonspecific names for the devil as a person, such as Beelzebul (Matthew 10,25), the enemy (Luke 10,19), the evil one (Matthew 13,19), Belial (2nd Corinthians 6,15), the accuser (Revelation 12,10), and the tempter (Matthew 4,3).

 

Verses 3 + 4 explain in figurative language how the devil tempted a third of all heavenly angels (stars) to turn away from GOD. This is confirmed in verse 9. Verses 7 + 8 clarify that both Michael and his angels, as well as the devil and his angels, are 1. specific individuals (not anonymous powers) and 2. heavenly beings / angels (not humans). For apart from Jesus, there is no human who commands angels. Only angelic princes like Michael and Satan come into question. Furthermore, the battle described here does not take place on earth, but in heaven, which, unlike angels, is generally inaccessible to humans and to which Satan and his angels also had access for a limited time (Job 1 + 2 / Zechariah 3,1 f. / Luke 18,10). Verses 9 + 10 confirm that the serpent (= Satan) has evil intentions, tempting people in order to later accuse them before GOD (Zechariah 3,1 f.), just as in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Only a real person is capable of accusing someone and feeling anger. Verses 12-17 emphasize the serpent's (= Satan's) hostile attitude toward all who belong to GOD and obey His commandments.

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Job 1,6-12

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6 Now there was a day when the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear GOD for nought? 10 Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

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This refers to a meeting in heaven, a conversation between GOD and another person. Therefore, the term sons of GOD (Old Greek: bēn 'ĕlôhîym) refers to heavenly beings, in this case (fallen) angels, and not to humans, since mortal humans usually have neither access to GOD's throne in heaven nor are capable of afflicting other people with disease (Job 2,7) However, just as in Genesis 3, the devil does not merely question Job. His intention is to bring Job down and simultaneously dishonor GOD. This is also illustrated by the devil's aggressive and slanderous language, with which he directly challenges GOD. No human being in Scripture speaks to GOD in this way. GOD, however, who sees through Satan's true intentions, allows him to test Job (Job 2,3). Verse 8 suggests that this is GOD's plan. Because GOD is all-knowing and knows the outcome of the test, He allows the devil free rein (Luke 22,31). At the same time, He sets a limit that Satan may not cross. This illustrates that all power and control over the situation and Satan's actions rests with GOD. GOD uses the devil for His purposes. GOD and Satan neither work together, nor does the devil act as GOD's advocate, as some believe. Rather, GOD uses Satan's wickedness to 1. glorify Himself, 2. teach Job knowledge and strengthen his faith, 3. expose Satan's evil nature, and 4. refute the devil's claims and thus humiliate him. Even though Job, who knows nothing of the heavenly conversation, believes that his plagues come from GOD, they in truth come from Satan. After Job proves himself, he is rewarded by GOD and blessed even more than before (Job 42,12-17). For the devil, however, Job's faithfulness to GOD represents a bitter defeat.

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2nd Samuel 24,1

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1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

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1st Chronicles 21,1

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1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

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Although 2nd Samuel 24,1 might suggest otherwise, it is not GOD who actively incited David against Israel. This is a Semitic idiom expressing permission. It is generally accepted among scholars that in Semitic languages, the active verb can also be used passively or permissively. In this way, it appears as if evil deeds are being attributed to GOD, even though GOD merely makes use of the wickedness of others. Passages such as Matthew 6,13, Isaiah 45,5-7, Amos 3,6, and similar texts must also be understood in this sense. It may have been Israel's rebellions against David, perpetrated by Absalom and Sheba, that opened the door to Yahweh's wrath and Satan's attack. GOD was so angry with Israel that He could not protect them as He wished. Therefore, He allowed Satan to bring disaster upon Israel. Similarly, Achan, contrary to GOD's command, violated the forbidden things, so GOD withdrew His help from Israel until evil was removed from their midst (Joshua 7). That GOD allows evil does not mean that GOD is evil. Unlike other passages concerning Satan, the Hebrew text here does not contain the definite article the (Old Greek: ha). Therefore, Satan here could refer to the devil as a person or to an adversary in general.

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Matthew 4,1-11

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1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of GOD, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of GOD, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy GOD. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy GOD, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

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There is nothing to suggest that this is a purely symbolic narrative or parable, as some claim. Rather, Matthew 4 is embedded in a series of reports related to Jesus' mission, beginning with his baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3. Here too, Satan acts as a person, as indicated by the words approach (Old Greek: proserchomai) (verse 3), take (Old Greek: paralambanō) (verses 5 + 8), show (Old Greek: deiknuō) (verse 8), and forsake (Old Greek: aphiēmi) (verse 11). Although proserchomai can also be used in connection with abstract concepts, Matthew uses it exclusively for persons in his Gospel. The word Satan as a proper name refers to a very specific person, namely the leader of the fallen angels (Matthew 25,41 / Mark 3,22 / Revelation 12,3 f. + 7-9). When the Bible speaks of people, they are generally either described as human beings or named, which is not the case here. Equally absurd is the claim that Jesus is tempted by his own thoughts. This would be expressed in the text through corresponding phrases (e.g., "he thought to himself" / "he spoke in his heart" etc.). Jesus' resolute response to the temptation, invoking GOD's word, also argues against such an assumption. In this case, the temptation clearly comes from outside. The tempter is none other than Satan, the one who causes confusion. The words answer (Old Greek: apokrinomai) and speak (Old Greek: epo) (verses 3 + 6 + 9) also make it clear that this is a conversation between two people. Verses 7 + 10 explicitly state that Jesus spoke to him (and not to himself). Furthermore, only a real person could have offered Jesus riches. Here too, no one but Satan comes into question, who is described in the Bible as "God" / ruler of this world (John 14,30 / John 16,11 / 2 Corinthians 4,4). Verses 9-11 also only make sense if the tempter is a living being.

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Matthew 13,36-39

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36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

 

In this text, Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples (Matthew 13,3-9). In it, the Son of Man, who sows the good seed, and the devil, who sows the weeds, are contrasted as persons. Here, too, Jesus uses the terms enemy (Old Greek: echthros) and devil (Old Greek: diabolos) as proper names. Otherwise, Jesus would explain in more detail to whom these terms refer. Instead, it is assumed that the listeners understand who is meant. The vast majority of Jewish scribes considered the devil to be a person. There are only a few contemporary writings that reveal a different understanding.

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Matthew 25,41

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41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (...).

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Here, Jesus again addresses the devil and his angels as individuals. In Revelation 12,7-9, he speaks of Michael and his angels, as well as the dragon and his angels. From Daniel 10,13 + 21 and Jude 1,19, it is clear that Michael, the archangel, is not a human being, but a heavenly being to whom GOD's angels are subordinate. The context makes it clear that these angels mentioned here are also heavenly beings and not human messengers. The same can be assumed in connection with Satan and his angels, since exactly the same words are used. Furthermore, Jesus makes it clear that the devil and his angels are also under the curse of death, just like everyone who transgresses GOD's commandments. However, unlike humans, for whom there is a resurrection from the first death, fallen angels are destined for eternal damnation from the beginning (Hebrews 2,16 / Revelation 20,10). The reason for this is that people were seduced, while Satan and his angels rebelled against GOD without any external cause.

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Luke 22,31 f.

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31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

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1st Peter 5,8 f.

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8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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James 4,7

 

7 Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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As the Book of Job and other biblical passages show, the devil and his angels continually test people so that they sin and are lost, as the Greek word for devour (Old Greek: katapinō) clearly indicates. For this reason, Satan is described as the enemy of GOD and all people, who must be resisted. Jesus Christ, who is the example for every believer, demonstrates this (Matthew 4,1-11 / Hebrews 4,15). The Greek words seek (Old Greek: zēteō), walk (peripateō), desire (Old Greek: exaiteomai), and flee (Old Greek: pheuxetai) clearly indicate that Satan is a person. This is further supported by the fact that the Greek word adversary (Old Greek: antidikos) is used in the singular rather than the plural ("the adversaries"), as is the case in many other passages. This underlines that the word Satan usually describes a specific being and is not a universally valid term for any group of people.

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