Do you believe in the devil?
Today most people no longer think the devil is a creature with hooves, horns and a forked tail. But many people believe that the devil exists, wielding immense power for evil. Some think he is a fallen angel, constantly trying to destroy the work of God amongst men and women.
There are real difficulties in accepting this idea. If the devil was a real angel to begin with, how did he come to revolt against God? Also, why does God allow a supernatural being to destroy his work, and where is the devil now?
One thing is clear: this is a religious question, so the place to go for answers is the Bible. What does the Bible say about the devil?
The Bible contains a number of references to the devil and Satan. When we read the Bible, it is easy to put the meaning we prefer against those references, but what does the Bible actually say?
In 1 John 3:8 we read “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (ESV). Similarly in the letter to the Hebrews “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14 ESV).
Jesus’ mission is imperfectly understood when the nature of the Bible devil is not comprehended. The devil is not a supernatural person, but a personification of sin in its various forms – individual, social and political.
For example: “Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” (John 6:70 ESV). See also John 8:44, Acts 10:38, 1Peter 5:8, Revelation 2:10.
The Bible also uses the term Satan, which simply means “adversary”.
“But he (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:23 ESV
Peter hadn’t suddenly turned into something else. He was opposing Jesus, i.e. he was being an adversary.
Later the term Satan came to mean much the same as Devil, i.e. a personification of the influence of sin or evil.