Devil in Scripture

satanbiography.com (Draft, 8 Feb. 2016) Changes in tables in red

Satan: A Biography, by Henry Ansgar Kelly (UCLA)

Cambridge University Press, 2006 (Amazon: paperback, $27.83)

A supernatural satan (Hebrew for “adversary”) appears only three times in the Old Testament, serving God in dealing with human beings: first in Numbers, to prevent Balaam from helping the Moabites; second, in Job, to text Job’s virtue; and third in Zechariah, to prosecute the wrongdoings of the high priests Joshua.

When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated in Greek in the Septuagint (LXX), around 200 BC, the satans of Job and Zechariah were interpreted as the same person with the proper name of “Satan,” rendered into Greek as Diabolos, “Devil.”

Kelly shows that Satan/Devil in the New Testament carries over the same functions as in the Old Testament: he is, in effect, God’s Attorney General, in charge of law enforcement, investigations, and prosecutions against humans. He is a highly unpopular celestial bureaucrat feared by all, and his methods and motives are constantly called into question, much as was the case with J. Edgar Hoover as director of the FBI, or like Senator Joseph McCarthy in his efforts to expose subversives. He is suspicious of everyone, on guard against hypocrisy, and he often resorts to entrapment in his efforts to uncover vice lurking beneath virtue, as he attempted unsuccessfully to do in the case of Job; and he is even more unsuccessful in his repeated tests (temptations) of Jesus.

The above is the original, or authentic, biography of Satan, as it can be gleaned from the Bible. But it was soon distorted by novel interpretations of Church Fathers and later Christian writers, to produce a very unbiblical “new biography.” A first significant step in this direction was to identify Satan with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, perhaps the invention of Justin Martyr (ca. AD 160). More important was the invention by Origen of Alexandria (ca. AD 230) of Satan as “Lucifer,” the angel who rebelled against God and became his enemy. Unlike the original Satan, this Satan is motivated by hatred and revenge. Rather than seeking to expose vice masquerading as virtue, he tries to entice good persons to commit sin and thereby deprive themselves of heaven. The concept of the rebellious Satan was read back into the Scriptures, and it has dominated our views of Satan ever since.

A major new development was fostered by St. Augustine (ca. AD 420). His idea was that, by making Adam and Eve sin, Satan acquired possession of the whole of humanity, who had to be bought back (“redeemed”) by God’s Son. In Augustine’s time, the “home” of Satan and his fellow fallen angels was the smoggy atmosphere above the earth, but eventually, their destination immediately after their fall was believed to be hell. Moreover, the great battle between Michael and the Dragon-Devil of Revelation 12, which will take place in the future, was interpreted as having taken place before the beginning of time. As in Milton’s Paradise Lost.

Kelly urges readers of the Bible to strip away all the presuppositions of the inauthentic “new” biography of Satan and return to the portrayal that is actually contained in the Scriptures. It will have the effect of making Christianity a much less dualistic religion than it became under the influence of misguided post-biblical distortions.

Henry Ansgar Kelly received his biblical training as a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). A Harvard Ph.D., he was a Junior Fellow in Harvard’s Society of Fellows before joining UCLA’s Department of English. He served as Director of UCLA’s Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and is presently holds the title of Distinguished Research Professor. Among his many books and articles are The Devil, Demonology, and Witchcraft (Wipf and Stock, 2004, Amazon paperback, $15.87) and the Devil at Baptism (Wipf and Stock, 2004, Amazon paperback, $27.52), and, most recently, “Adam Citings before the Intrusion of Satan: Recontextualizing Paul’s Theology of Sin and Death,” Biblical Theology Bulletin 44 (2014) 13-28.

Satan/Devil in Scripture

and treatment in Satan: A Biography

Bible

Passage

Approx.

Date

Description

Satan:

A Biography

OLD TESTAMENT

Numbers 22.22-35

Job 1-2

Zechariah 3

1 Chronicles 21

560 BC

550 BC

(200 BC)

520 BC

(200 BC)

500 BC

(200 BC)

The Angel of Yahweh comes as a satan against Balaam and his ass (inserted by the “Deuteronimistic Historian, who also speaks of humans satans in 1 Samuel 29.4; 2 Samuel 19.22; 1 Kings 5.4; 11.14-25).

One of the Sons of God, acting as a satan, with the permission of Yahweh, tests Job.

LXX (Greek Translation) Devil (proper name) tests Job.

A satan accuses the high priest Joshua, who is defended by the Angel of Yahweh

LXX: Devil (proper name) accuses the high priest Jesus

Satan (or a satan) tempts David (ca. 500), re-telling

2 Samuel 24 (where the tempter is "the anger of Yahweh”).

LXX: a diabolos (an adversary, a slanderer) does the tempting.

pp. 13-18

pp. 21- 30

pp. 25-28

p. 20

NB: Non-appearances of Satan/Devil in the Old Testament

Psalms 109.6

Genesis 3-15

Wisdom 2.24

500 BC

300 BC

50 BC

Human satan as accuser in court

Serpent, the smartest animal created by God, is sentenced to crawl on the ground and eat dust; its offspring will encounter the woman’s offspring.

Death entered the world through the envy of a diabolos (adversary). (The diabolos is Cain: see Wisdom10.1-2.)

p. 29

p. 13

pp. 69-78

NEW TESTAMENT

Paul’s Epistles

1 Thessalonians 2.18

1 Thessalonians 3.5

1 Corinthians 5.5

1 Corinthians 7.5

2 Corinthians 2.10-11

2 Corinthians 11.14

2 Corinthians 12.7-9

Romans 16.20

AD 50

AD 54

AD 56

AD 57

We wanted to come to you again, but Satan blocked our way.

I feared that the tester had tested you.

Satan punishes a man's body so that his spirit may be saved.

Spouses should not abstain too much from sex lest Satan tempt them because of their lack of self-control.

What I have forgiven has been for your sake, in the presence of Christ, so as not to be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his thoughts.

Satan as angel of light.

Paul given a thorn in his flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep him from pride.

God of peace will crush Satan under feet of Paul's disciples

(i.e., remove his obstructiveness).

pp. 54-57

p. 57

pp. 58-59

p. 59

pp. 60-61

pp. 61-62

pp. 62-63

pp. 63-64

Mark, Matthew, and Q (source common to Matthew and Luke)

Mark 1.12-13

Q (hypothet.)

Matt. 4.1-11

Luke 4.1-13

Mark 3.19-30,

Matt. 12.22-37

Luke 11.14-23

Q (hypothet.)

Matt. 6.13

Luke 11.2-4

Mark 4.3-20

Matt. 13.18-43,

Luke 8.5-15

Mark 8.33,

Matt. 16.23

Matt. 25.41

AD 70

AD 60

AD 80

AD 85

AD 70

AD 80

AD 85

AD 60

AD 80

AD 85

AD 70

AD 80

AD 85

AD 70

AD 80

Jesus driven by Spirit to wilderness, tested by Satan; with beasts; ministered to by angels.

Three-part test of Jesus by Satan (in form of rabbinic debate).

Beelzebul, head demon, in charge of parasitic filthy spirits, is compared with Satan.

Our Father, do not bring us to the time of trial. Matt: But rescue us from "evil" (harm) or "the evil one" (Satan).

Mark: Satan (Luke: the Devil) is the enemy who takes away the sown word; Matt.: the "evil" (harmful) one, i.e., Devil, snatches away what is sown, and sows weeds, i.e., children of the harmful one.

Jesus rebukes Peter, calling him Satan [Matt.: and a roadblock (scandalon)], for trying to prevent his death in Jerusalem:

“Get behind me” (i.e., “Get out of the way”).

Sinners will go to the fire prepared "for" Devil and his angels.

pp. 80-81

pp. 84-90

pp. 82-83,

pp. 91, 100

pp. 83-84,

90-91, 97

pp. 84, 89-90, 93

pp. 92-93

Luke’s Two Books: Gospel and Acts

Luke 4.1-13

Luke 8.5-25

Luke 10.17-20

Luke 11.2-4

Luke 11.14-23

Luke 13.11-16

Luke 22.3

Luke 22.21-30

Luke 22.31-32

Acts 5.3

Acts 10.38

Acts 13.6-11

Acts 26.18

AD 85

AD 90

Temptation of Jesus (from Q)

Added: 4.5-6: authority over all the kingdoms of the world has been given to Devil, and he gives it to anyone he pleases.

Added: 4.13: after finishing every test, Devil departs from Jesus until an opportune time.

Devil is the enemy of the sower (from Mark).

While disciples cast out demons, Jesus sees Satan fallen, like lightning.

Our Father, deliver us from "evil" (from Q).

Beelzebul and Satan (from Mark).

Woman has a spirit that has crippled her for 18 years; this was Satan's doing.

Satan enters Judas, who sets about betraying Jesus.

The remaining apostles have stood by Jesus in his tests (trials, temptations).

Satan has demanded and obtained permission to sift all of the apostles like wheat, but Jesus has prayed for Peter's faith not to fail; when he turns back, he is to strengthen the others.

Satan fills heart of sinner.

Devil responsible for diseases.

Magician as Devil's son.

Gentiles are to turn from darkness to light and from power of Satan to God.

pp. 94-97

p. 97

pp. 97-100

p. 100

p. 99

p. 100

pp. 100-01

pp. 101-02

p. 102

pp. 103-05

pp. 55, 103,

106

p. 105

pp. 105-06

Gospel of John

John 6.64-71

John 8.44

John 12.31

John 13.2

John 13.27

John 14.30

John16.7-11

AD 95

Jesus knows the unbelievers and his betrayer, who is diabolos.

Judeans opposed to Jesus are children of Devil, who was a sinner, liar, and murderer from the beginning.

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler (archon) of this world will be driven out.

Devil had already put it into the heart for Judas to betray Jesus.

Satan then enters into Judas, and Jesus tells him to act quickly.

The ruler of this world is coming, and in me he has nothing.

The Advocate will prove the world wrong because they do not believe in me, and because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

p. 110

pp. 107-09

p. 112.

p. 109

p. 110

p. 112

pp. 112-13

Deutero-Pauline Epistles

2 Thess. 2.3-12

1 Timothy 1.20

1 Timothy 3.6

1 Timothy 3.7

1 Timothy 5.9-15

2 Timothy 2.25-26

Ephesians 4.26-27

Ephesians 6.11-16

Hebrews 2.14

AD 100

AD 105

AD 110

AD 95

AD 90

The lawless one is coming, as is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing.

Two disciples are turned over to Satan, to learn not to blaspheme.

Conceit may cause a fall into the judgment of Devil.

Good reputation necessary to avoid reproach and the snare of Devil.

Younger widows should remarry and rule households, giving the adversary no cause to reproach us; but some are already following Satan.

Repentance allows escape from the snare and captivity of the Devil.

Do not be angry and sin, making room for Devil.

Arm yourselves against Devil and other heavenly powers.

The Son becomes man so that by dying he may destroy the one who has the power of death, i.e., Devil.

pp. 119-20

pp. 114-15

pp. 116-17

pp. 115-16

pp. 118-19

pp. 123-24

pp. 124-25

pp. 126-28

Ecumenical Epistles

James 4.7-8

1 Peter 5.8-9

1 John 2.13-14

1 John 3.8-12

1 John 5.18-19

Jude 9

AD 80

AD 95

AD 100

AD 95

Resist Devil and he will flee. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

Your adversary, Devil, prowls like a lion seeking prey. Resist him in your faith, knowing that all your brethren are suffering similarly.

You young people have overcome the bad (one?).

Sinners are children of the devil; Cain is from the evil one.

One born of God does not sin, and the bad one does not

touch him.

Archangel Michael's respectful dispute with Devil over the body of Moses.

pp. 137-38

p. 135

p. 161

pp. 108, 160

p. 163

pp. 128-30

Apocalypse of John (Book of Revelation)

Revelation 2.9, 3.9

Revelation 2.10

Revelation 2.13-14

Revelation 2.24-28

Revelation 12.1-18

Revelation 13.1-10

Revelation 16.13-16

Revelation 20.1-3

Revelation 20.7-10

[Revelation 22.16]

AD 95

Alleged Jews are a synagogue of Satan.

Devil will imprison and afflict some of you.

The Angel of Pergamum lives where the throne of Satan is; he held faith even when Antipas was killed where Satan lives. but some have followed Balaam who put a stumbling block to the Israelites.

Jesus as Lucifer (Morning Star) is bestowed on those who have not learned the deep things of Satan.

Great red dragon (Satan) will sweep down a third of the stars; he and his angels will fight Michael and be thrown to earth; and, no longer able to accuse Christians before God, will war against them on earth.

Dragon gives power to beast from sea, and both are worshipped by the whole earth.

Three foul spirits of demons come from the mouths of Dragon and the two beasts.

Angel from heaven with key to the bottomless pit throws Dragon (Satan) into it, to stay for 1000 years.

Satan is to be released, to make war briefly, to be consumed with fire, and Devil is to be thrown into the lake of fire forever.

[I, Jesus, am Lucifer (the bright Morning Star).]

pp.142-43, 146

p. 142

pp. 143-44

pp. 145, 166

pp. 147-56

pp. 156-57

p. 157

p. 158

p. 166

Index to All Scriptural Passages Treated in Satan: A Biography: pp. 329-35

Scriptural Contents of Satan: A Biography

Chapters and Sections

Pages

Chapter 1: The Old Testament

1) The first supernatural satan in the Hebrew Bible: Numbers

2) A Son of Elohim as a satan: Job

3) A celestial satan as accuser: Zechariah

4) Revisions and translations: Septuagint

13-31

13-21

21-23

23-28

28-31

Chapter 3: St. Paul, the first Christian writer

1) 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians

2) 2 Corinthians, Romans

3) Galatians, etc.

4) St. Paul and Wisdom of Solomon

53-79

53-59

59-64

64-68

69-79

Chapter 4: The four Gospels

1) Satan in Mark, the earliest Gospel

2) Satan and Jesus in dialogue: Matthew

3) Luke's two books: Luke and Acts

4) Satan according to John

80-113

80-84

84-93

93-107

107-13

Chapter 5: Later Epistles

1) Pseudo-Paul 1: 1-2 Timothy, 2 Thessalonians

2) Pseudo-Paul 2: Colossians and Ephesians:

3) Hebrews and Jude

4) Non-Diabolical fall Angels in Jude and 2 Peter

5) Ecumenical Epistles: 1 Peter and James

114-40

114-20

120-25

125-30

131-34

134-40

Chapter 6: The Apocalypse of John the Divine

1) Satan and the Angels of the seven churches: Revelation 1-3

2) Dragon-Satan-Devil and his predicted ouster

from Heaven: Revelation 12-20

3) Another John, another Worldview: Epistles of John

4) Excursus: Jesus as the good Lucifer in Revelation and 2 Peter

141-67

141-47

147-59

159-64

164-67

Chapter 7: Putting the New Testament together

1) Gospels and Acts 201

2) The Pauline Epistles

3) The other Epistles and Revelation 204

168-72

168-69

169-71

171-72

The ‘New Biography’ of Satan: Post-Biblical Fantasies

Author and Work	Aprox Date	Fantasy	*Satan: A Biography*
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho	AD 160	Satan was the serpent in Eden	pp. 176-78
Origen of Alexandria, Principles	AD 230	Satan was the rebel Morning Star (Lucifer) of Isaiah 14.12	pp. 191-99
Augustine of Hippo, The Trinity	AD 415	After making Adam & Eve sin, Satan owned all humanity; bought back by Christ’s death	pp. 215-17
Gospel of Nicodemus + Descent into Hell	AD 520	Jesus bound Satan in hell after his crucifixion	pp. 234-36
Cassiodorus, Complexions	AD 570	Battle between Michael and Satan took place before creation of world	p. 207
Genesis B (Anglo-Saxon poem)	AD 900	Satan and his angels fell not to earth’s foggy air but to hell	pp. 239-40
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae	AD 1270	Satan and demons not corporeal; rather pure spirits	pp. 242-46
Dante, Inferno Dante, Purgatorio	AD 1315 AD 1317	Satan mindless and out of action from the time of his fall Satan deceived Eve, and is active in the world	p. 265 pp. 265-66
John Milton, Paradise Lost	AD 1674	Complete New Biography of Satan	pp. 269-77