Reference: Devil
American
A fallen angel; and particularly the chief of them, the devil, or Satan. He is the great principle of evil in the world; and it is his grand object to counteract the good that God desires to do. He exerts himself, especially with his angels, to draw away the souls of men from embracing salvation through Jesus Christ.
His name signifies the calumniator, or false accuser; as the Hebrew Satan means the adversary. But the Scriptures give him various other appellations descriptive of his character. He is called, "The prince of this world," Joh 12:31; "The prince of the power of the air," Eph 2:2; "The god of this world," 2Co 4:4; "The dragon, that old serpent, the devil," Re 20:2; "That wicked one," 1Jo 5:18; "A roaring lion," 1Pe 5:8; "A murderer," "a liar," Joh 8:44; "Beelzebub," Mt 12:24; "Belial," 2Co 6:15; "The accuser of the brethren," Re 12:10. He is everywhere shown to be full of malignity, cruelty, and deceit, hating God and man. He is ceaselessly active in his efforts to destroy souls, and uses innumerable devices and wiles to adapt his temptations to the varying characters and conditions of men, enticing wicked men, and even good men at times, as well as his own angels, to aid in his work. Almost the whole world has been under his sway. But he is a doomed foe. Christ shall bruise the serpent's head; shall dispossess him for the world, as he has done from individuals, and at length confine him for ever in the place prepared for him and his angels, Mt 25:41.
The word "devils" occurs frequently in the gospels; but it is the translation of a different Greek word from that used to denote the devil, and might be rendered "demons." The Bible applies the other word only to Satan-"the devil, and his angels, who are like their leader in nature and in actions. There are many examples in the New Testament of persons possessed by demons. These are often called demoniacs. Some have argued that these were afflicted by natural diseases, such as epilepsy, insanity, etc., and were not possessed by evil spirits. But our Savior speaks to and commands the demons who actuated the possessed, which demons answered and obeyed, and gave proofs of their presence by tormenting those whom they were obliged to quit. Christ alleges, as proof of his mission, that the demons are cast out; he promises his apostles the same power that he himself exercised against those wicked spirits. Campbell says, "When I find mention made of the number of demons in particular possessions, their actions so particularly distinguished from the actions of the man possessed, conversations held by the former in regard to the disposal of them after their expulsion, and accounts given how they were actually disposed of-when I find desires and passions ascribed particularly to them, and similitudes taken from the conduct which they usually observe, it is impossible for me to deny their existence."
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which the pharisees hearing, said, "He only casts out demons by the help of Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath a believer with an infidel?
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
We know that whosoever is born of God, doth not practise sin: but keepeth himself from it, and the wicked one doth not touch him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Easton
(Gr. diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man's spiritual interest (Job 1:6; Re 2:10; Zec 3:1). He is called also "the accuser of the brethen" (Re 12:10).
In Le 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning a "goat" or "satyr" (Isa 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the objects of idolatrous worship among the heathen.
In Deut. 32:17 and Ps 106:37 it is the translation of Hebrew shed, meaning lord, and idol, regarded by the Jews as a "demon," as the word is rendered in the Revised Version.
In the narratives of the Gospels regarding the "casting out of devils" a different Greek word (daimon) is used. In the time of our Lord there were frequent cases of demoniacal possession (Mt 12:25-30; Mr 5:1-20; Lu 4:35; 10:18, etc.).
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But Jesus, who well knew their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and no city, or family, divided against itself can stand: if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? read more. And if I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, by whom do your own people cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges: but if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then certainly the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or, how can any one enter into the house of a strong man, and take away his goods, unless he first overpower the strong man? and then indeed he may strip his house. He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him from the tombs, read more. a man with an impure spirit, who kept among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains: for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been pulled asunder by him, and the fetters broken; and no man could tame him: and he was always night and day upon the hills and among the sepulchres bawling, and gashing himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, and crying out with a loud voice said, Jesus thou Son of the most high God, what have I to do with thee? I adjure thee by God, that thou wouldst not torment me: (for He said to him, Thou impure spirit, come out of the man.) And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he earnestly intreated Him, that He would not send them out of that country. Now there was a great herd of swine feeding upon the mountains: and all the demons intreated Him, saying, Send us to the swine, that we may enter into them. And immediately Jesus permitted them: and the impure spirits went out of the man, and entered into the swine; and the herd (which were about two thousand,) ran violently down a precipice into the sea, and were suffocated. And they that were feeding the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what was done: and they come to Jesus, and see the demoniac, who had been possessed by the legion, sitting and clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And when those that saw it told them what had happened to the demoniac, and concerning the swine, they intreated Him to depart from their borders. And as He went into the ship, the demoniac intreated Him that he might be with Him: but Jesus did not permit him; but saith to him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee: and he departed, and published in Decapolis, how great things Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.
but Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him. And the demon threw him down in the midst of the assembly, and came out of him, having done him no hurt.
And He said unto them, I beheld Satan, as lightning, falling from heaven.
Fear none of the things which thou wilt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall suffer affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
Fausets
(Greek) "the accuser" or "the slanderer" (Job 1:6-11; 2:1-7; Re 12:10). In Hebrew Satan means "adversary." The two-fold designation marks the two-fold objects of his malice - the Gentiles and the Jews. There is one one Devil, many "demons" as KJV ought to translate the plural. Devil is also used as an adjective. 1Ti 3:11, "slanderers"; 2Ti 3:3, "false accusers." Peter when tempting Jesus to shun the cross did Satan's work, and therefore received Satan's name (Mt 16:23); so Judas is called a "devil" when acting the Devil's part (Joh 6:70). Satan's characteristic sins are lying (Joh 8:44; Ge 3:4-5); malice and murder (1Jo 3:12; Genesis 4); pride, "the condemnation of the Devil," by which he "lost his first estate" (1Ti 3:6; Job 38:15; Isa 14:12-15; Joh 12:31; 16:11; 2Pe 2:4; Jg 1:6).
He slanders God to man, and man to God (Genesis 3; Zechariah 3). His misrepresentation of God as one arbitrary, selfish, and envious of His creature's happiness, a God to be slavishly-feared lest He should hurt, rather than filially loved, runs through all pagan idolatries. This calumny is refuted by God's not sparing His only begotten Son to save us. His slander of good men, as if serving God only for self's sake, is refuted by the case of "those who lose (in will or deed) their life for Christ's sake." Demons, "knowing ones," from a root daemi, to know, are spirits who tremble before, but love not, God (Jas 2:19), incite men to rebellion against Him (Re 16:14). "Evil spirits" (Ac 19:13,15) recognize Christ the Son of God (Mt 8:29; Lu 4:41) as absolute Lord over them, and their future Judge; and even flee before exorcism in His name (Mr 9:38).
As "unclean" they can tempt man with unclean thoughts. They and their master Satan are at times allowed by God to afflict with bodily disease (Lu 13:16): "Satan hath bound this woman these eighteen years" with "a spirit of infirmity," so that she was "bowed together." Scripture teaches that in idolatry the demons are the real workers behind the idol, which is a mere "nothing." Compare 1Co 10:19-21; 1Ti 4:1; Re 9:20. Compare De 32:17, Hebrew sheedim, "lords" (1Co 8:5); Ac 16:16, "a spirit of divination" (Greek of Python, an idol); Ac 17:18, "a setter forth of strange gods" (Greek: demons); 2Ch 11:15; Ps 106:37; Le 17:7. Idolatry is part of the prince of this world's engines for holding dominion.
Our word "panic," from the idol Pan, represented as Satan is, with horns and cloven hoofs, shows the close connection there is between the idolater's slavish terror and Satan his master. The mixture of some elements of primitive truth in paganism accords with Satan's practice of foiling the kingdom of light by transforming himself at times into an "angel of light." Error would not succeed if there were not some elements of truth mixed with it to recommend it. Corrupting the truth more effectually mars it than opposing it. Satan as Beelzebub (Mt 12:24-30) is at the head of an organized kingdom of darkness, with its "principalities and powers" to be "wrestled" against by the children of light. For any subordinate agent of this kingdom, man or demon, to oppose another agent would be, reasons Christ, a division of Satan against Satan (involving the fall of his kingdom), which division Satan would never sanction (Eph 6:12-13).
Demons are "his angels" (Mt 25:41; Re 12:7,9). Natural science can give no light when we come to the boundary line which divides mind from matter. The Bible-asserted existence of evil among angels affords no greater difficulty than its manifest existence among men. As surely as Scripture is true, personality is as much attributed to them as it is to men or to God. Possession with or by a demon or demons is distinctly asserted by Luke (Lu 6:17-18), who as a "physician" was able to distinguish between the phenomena of disease and those of demoniac possession. The Spirit of God in the evangelists would never have sanctioned such distinction, or left people under a superstitious error, not merely connived at but endorsed, if the belief were really false. There is nothing wrong in our using the word "lunacy" for madness; but if we described its cure as the moon's ceasing to afflict, or if the doctor addressed the moon commanding it to leave the patient alone, it would be a lie (Trench, Miracles, 153).
In Mt 4:24, "those possessed with demons" are distinguished from "those lunatic" (probably the epileptic, but even this caused by a demon: Mr 9:14, etc.). Demons spoke with superhuman knowledge (Ac 16:16); recognized Jesus, not merely as son of David (which they would have done had their voice been merely that of the existing Jewish superstition), but as "Son of God" (Mt 8:29). Our Lord speaks of the disciples' casting out of demons as an installment or earnest of the final "fall" of Satan before the kingdom of Christ (Lu 10:18). People might imagine the existence of demons; but swine could only be acted on by an external real personal agent; the entrance of the demons into the swine of Gadara, and their consequent drowning, prove demons to be objective realities.
Seeing that physical disease itself is connected with the introduction of evil into the world, the tracing of insanity to physical disorganization only partially explains the phenomena; mental disease often betrays symptoms of a hostile spiritual power at work. At our Lord's advent as Prince of Light, Satan as prince of darkness, whose ordinary operation is on men's minds by invisible temptation, rushed into open conflict with His kingdom and took possession of men's bodies also. The possessed man lost the power of individual will and reason, his personal consciousness becoming strangely confused with that of the demon in him, so as to produce a twofold will, such as we have in some dreams. Sensual habits predisposed to demoniac possession. In pagan countries instances occur wherein Satan seemingly exercises a more direct influence than in Christian lands. Demoniac possession gradually died away as Christ's kingdom progressed in the first centuries of the church. There are four gradations in Satan's ever-deepening fall.
(1) He is deprived of his heavenly excellency, though still having access to heaven as man's accuser (Job 1-2), up to Christ's ascension. All we know of his original state as an archangel of light is that he lost it through pride and restless ambition, and that he had some special connection, possibly as God's vicegerent over this earth and the animal kingdom; thereby we can understand his connection and that of his subordinate fallen angels with this earth throughout Scripture, commencing with his temptation of man to his characteristic sin, ambition to be "as gods knowing good and evil;" only his ambition seems to have been that of power, man's that of knowledge. His assuming an animal form, that of a serpent, and the fact of death existing in the pre-Adamite world, imply that evil probably was introduced by him in some way unknown to us, affecting the lower creation before man's creation. As before Christ's ascension heaven was not yet fully open to man (Joh 3:13), so it was not yet shut against Satan. The old dispensation could not overcome him (compare Zechariah 3).
(2) From Christ to the millennium he is judicially cast out as "accuser" of the elect; for Christ appearing before God as our Advocate (Heb 9:24), Satan the accusing adversary could no longer appear against us (Ro 8:33-34). He and his angels range through the air and the earth during this period (Eph 2:2; 6:12). "Knowing that he hath but a short time" (Revelation 12), in "great wrath" he concentrates his power on the earth, especially toward the end, when he is to lose his standing against Israel and expulsion shall be executed on him and his by Michael (Re 12:7-9; Da 12:1; Zechariah 3, where Joshua the high priest represents "Jerusalem," whose "choice" by the Lord is the ground of the Lord's rebuke to Satan).
(3) He is bound at the eve of the millennium (Re 20:1-3). Having failed to defeat God's purpose of making this earth the kingdom of Christ and His transfigured saints, by means of the beast, the harlot, and finally Antichrist, who is destroyed instantly by Christ's manifestation in glory, S
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And his fame spread abroad into all Syria; and they brought unto Him all their sick, that laboured under various diseases and torments; even those who were possessed with devils, and lunatics, and paralytics; and he healed them:
And his fame spread abroad into all Syria; and they brought unto Him all their sick, that laboured under various diseases and torments; even those who were possessed with devils, and lunatics, and paralytics; and he healed them:
and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
and they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?
which the pharisees hearing, said, "He only casts out demons by the help of Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
which the pharisees hearing, said, "He only casts out demons by the help of Beelzebub the prince of the devils." But Jesus, who well knew their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and no city, or family, divided against itself can stand:
But Jesus, who well knew their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and no city, or family, divided against itself can stand: if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, by whom do your own people cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges:
And if I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, by whom do your own people cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges: but if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then certainly the kingdom of God is come unto you.
but if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then certainly the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or, how can any one enter into the house of a strong man, and take away his goods, unless he first overpower the strong man? and then indeed he may strip his house.
Or, how can any one enter into the house of a strong man, and take away his goods, unless he first overpower the strong man? and then indeed he may strip his house. He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.
But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence to me; for thou regardest not the things of God, but those that be of men.
But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence to me; for thou regardest not the things of God, but those that be of men.
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
And when He came to the other disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes disputing with them.
And when He came to the other disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes disputing with them.
But John answered Him and said, Master, we saw one casting out demons in thy name, who doth not follow us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.
But John answered Him and said, Master, we saw one casting out demons in thy name, who doth not follow us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.
And demons also came out from many, crying out, Thou art the Messiah the Son of God. And He rebuked them, and suffered them not to say, that they knew Him to be the Christ.
And demons also came out from many, crying out, Thou art the Messiah the Son of God. And He rebuked them, and suffered them not to say, that they knew Him to be the Christ.
and He came down the hill with them, and stood in the plain; with the rest of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all the parts of Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases,
and He came down the hill with them, and stood in the plain; with the rest of his disciples, and a great multitude of people from all the parts of Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, even those that were tormented by impure spirits: and they were healed.
even those that were tormented by impure spirits: and they were healed.
And He said unto them, I beheld Satan, as lightning, falling from heaven.
And He said unto them, I beheld Satan, as lightning, falling from heaven.
And might not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day?
And might not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day?
For no one hath ascended up into heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.
For no one hath ascended up into heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
and of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.
and of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.
Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him; and some said, What would this babler say? and others, He seemeth to be a proclaimer of foreign deities: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him; and some said, What would this babler say? and others, He seemeth to be a proclaimer of foreign deities: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
Then some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those that had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth."
Then some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those that had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth."
But the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?
But the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?
Who shall lay any accusation against the elect of God? will God, who justifieth us?
Who shall lay any accusation against the elect of God? will God, who justifieth us? Who is he that condemneth? Is it Christ, that died for us? yea rather, that is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, and who maketh intercession for us?
Who is he that condemneth? Is it Christ, that died for us? yea rather, that is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, and who maketh intercession for us?
For though there be some that are called Gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are among the heathen gods many,
For though there be some that are called Gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (as there are among the heathen gods many,
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that what is sacrificed to an idol is in itself any thing to stumble at?
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that what is sacrificed to an idol is in itself any thing to stumble at? No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.
No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. And I would not have you partakers with demons. Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
And I would not have you partakers with demons. Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.
For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.
For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.
For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places. Take therefore the complete armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
Take therefore the complete armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.
without natural affection, perfidious, false accusers, intemperate, savage, enemies to the good, traitors,
without natural affection, perfidious, false accusers, intemperate, savage, enemies to the good, traitors,
For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement; and if He spared not the old world,
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement; and if He spared not the old world,
and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:
And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon fought, and his angels;
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon fought, and his angels;
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon fought, and his angels;
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon: and the dragon fought, and his angels; but these prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
but these prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
for they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to bring them together to the battle of that great day of God almighty.
for they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to bring them together to the battle of that great day of God almighty.
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, who had the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand.
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, who had the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he might deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years be finished: and then he must be loosed for a little time.
and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he might deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years be finished: and then he must be loosed for a little time.
And when the thousand years are ended,
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan shall be loosed from his confinement, and shall go forth to deceive the nations, that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
Satan shall be loosed from his confinement, and shall go forth to deceive the nations, that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war, whose number is as the sand of the sea. And they overspread the surface of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: but fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And they overspread the surface of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: but fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Hastings
The word came into English from Greek either directly or through its Latin transliteration. Used with the definite article, its original meaning was that of the accuser or traducer of men (see Satan), whence it soon came to denote the supreme spirit of evil, the personal tempter of man and enemy of God. With the indefinite article it stands for a malignant being of superhuman nature and powers, and represents the conception expressed by the Greeks in the original of our term 'demon.' At first the idea of malignancy was not necessarily associated with these beings, some being regarded as harmless and others as wielding even benign influence; but gradually they were considered as operating exclusively in the sphere of mischief, and as needing to be guarded against by magic rites or religious observances.
1. Earlier conceptions.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then was Jesus led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil:
And the tempter came to Him and said, If thou art the Son of God, command these stones to become bread:
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen."
And when He was come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demoniacs coming out from the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no one could pass by that way:
and He said unto them, Go: and they came out and went away into the herd of swine; and lo, all the herd of swine ran furiously down a precipice into the sea,
but the pharisees said, he casts out devils by the prince of the devils.
which the pharisees hearing, said, "He only casts out demons by the help of Beelzebub the prince of the devils." But Jesus, who well knew their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and no city, or family, divided against itself can stand: read more. if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, by whom do your own people cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges:
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the gospel-kingdom, and regardeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and snatcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he who received the seed as by the way-side.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence to me; for thou regardest not the things of God, but those that be of men.
Bring him here to me. And when Jesus rebuked him, the demon departed out of him, and the child was cured from that time.
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He is in league with Beelzebub, and casts out demons by the help of the prince of demons.
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I tell thee, that to day, even in this very night, before the cock crow twice thou wilt deny me thrice.
and He did eat nothing in all those days: and when they were ended, at last He was hungry.
and those by the way-side, are such as hear indeed; but then the devil cometh and taketh away the word from their hearts, least they should believe and be saved.
And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? and he said, Legion: because many demons were entred into him.
And He said unto them, I beheld Satan, as lightning, falling from heaven. Behold I give you power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the might of the enemy; and nothing shall at all hurt you.
And He was casting out a demon, and it was dumb: and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spake; and the people wondered.
but when a stronger than he cometh upon him and conquers him, he taketh away his armour, wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
The people answered and said, Thou art possessed by a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
but now ye seek to kill me, who have told you the truth which I have heard from God: Abraham did not thus.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your father, ye would love me: for I came forth, and do come, from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me.
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; nor shall any one force them out of my hand.
Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
supper being prepared, (the devil having put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him) Jesus,
supper being prepared, (the devil having put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him) Jesus,
And after the sop Satan entred into him. Then Jesus saith unto him, What thou dost, do quickly.
and of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.
I do not pray that Thou wouldest take them out of the world, but that thou wouldest keep them from the evil.
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought, that I might not have been delivered to the Jews: but my kingdom is not from hence.
how God anointed Him with the holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil: for God was with Him.
said, O thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, who art full of all deceit and craft, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for to that all have sinned:
And the God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
And the God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Do not withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency.
No: but this I say, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.
The last enemy that is destroyed is death:
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath a believer with an infidel?
But I fear least as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the purity that is in Christ.
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
and give not the devil room to ensnare you.
and give not the devil room to ensnare you.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.
over all taking the shield of faith, whereby ye will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one:
who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son:
who comes, through the efficacy of Satan, with all kind of lying power, and signs,
not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Now the Spirit expressly saith, that in latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, attending to seducing spirits,
Seeing then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself in like manner partook of them; that by death He might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is, the devil:
Seeing then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself in like manner partook of them; that by death He might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is, the devil:
Seeing then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself in like manner partook of them; that by death He might destroy him that had the empire of death, that is, the devil:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit yourselves therefore to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement; and if He spared not the old world,
he, that makes a practise of sin, is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. And for this the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
he, that makes a practise of sin, is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. And for this the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not practise righteousness, and he who loveth not his brother, is not of God:
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not practise righteousness, and he who loveth not his brother, is not of God:
and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
We know that whosoever is born of God, doth not practise sin: but keepeth himself from it, and the wicked one doth not touch him.
and the angels that kept not their primitive state, but left their proper abode, hath He reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, to the judgement of the great day:
Whereas Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, did not presume to bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee."
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass; I know thy works,
And they had a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue Apollyon.
And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them: but wo to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea; for the devil is come down to you, in great rage, knowing that he hath but a short time.
for they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to bring them together to the battle of that great day of God almighty.
And he cried with vehemence, and with a loud voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, a den of impure spirits, and a cage for every unclean and hateful bird.
And when the thousand years are ended,
And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Smith
(slanderer). The name describes Satan as slandering God to man and man to God. The former work is of course, a part of his great work of temptation to evil and is not only exemplified but illustrated as to its general nature and tendency by the narrative of Gen. 3. The other work, the slandering or accusing men before God, is the imputation of selfish motives,
and its refutation is placed in the self-sacrifice of those "who loved not their own lives unto death." [SATAN; DEMON]
See Satan
See Demon
Watsons
DEVIL, Diabolus, an evil angel. The word is formed from the French diable, of the Latin diabolus, which comes from the Greek ????????, which, in its ordinary acceptation, signifies calumniator, traducer, or false accuser, from the verb ??????????, to calumniate, &c; or from the ancient British diafol. Dr. Campbell observes, that, though the word is sometimes, both in the Old Testament and the New, applied to men and women, as traducers, it is, by way of eminence, employed to denote that apostate angel, who is exhibited to us, particularly in the New Testament, as the great enemy of God and man. In the two first chapters of Job, it is the word in the Septuagint by which the Hebrew ???, Satan, or adversary, is translated. Indeed, the Hebrew word in this application, as well as the Greek, has been naturalized in most modern languages. Thus we say, indifferently, the devil, or Satan; only the latter has more the appearance of a proper name, as it is not attended with the article. There is, however, this difference between the import of such terms, as occurring in their native tongues, and as modernized in translations. In the former, they always retain somewhat of their primitive meaning, and, beside indicating a particular being, or class of beings, they are of the nature of appellatives, and make a special character or note of distinction in such beings. Whereas, when thus Latinized or Englished, they answer solely the first of these uses, as they come nearer the nature of proper names. ???????? is sometimes applied to human beings; but nothing is more easy than to distinguish this application from the more frequent application to the arch-
apostate. One mark of distinction is, that, in this last use of the term, it is never found in the plural. When the plural is used, the context always shows that it refers to human beings, and not to fallen angels. It occurs in the plural only thrice, and that only in the epistles of St. Paul, 1Ti 3:11; 2Ti 3:3; Tit 2:3. Another criterion whereby the application of this word to the prince of darkness may be discovered, is its being attended with the article. The term almost invariably is ? ????????. The excepted instances occur in the address of Paul to Elymas the sorcerer, Ac 13:10; and that of our Lord to the Pharisees, Joh 8:44. The more doubtful cases are those in 1Pe 5:8, and Re 20:2. These are all the examples in which the word, though used indefinitely or without the article, evidently denotes our spiritual and ancient enemy; and the examples in which it occurs in this sense with the article, are too numerous to be recited.
2. That there are angels and spirits, good and bad, says an eminent writer; that at the head of these last, there is one more considerable and malignant than the rest, who, in the form, or under the name, of a serpent, was deeply, concerned in the fall of man, and whose head, in the language of prophecy, the Son of Man was one day to bruise; that this evil spirit, though that prophecy be in part fulfilled, has not yet received his death's wound, but is still permitted, for ends to us unsearchable, and in ways which we cannot particularly explain, to have a certain degree of power in this world hostile to its virtue and happiness,
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Then will He say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Ye are of your father the devil, and are bent upon doing the lusts of your father: he was a murderer from the beginning, and continued not in the truth: for there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh like himself, for he is a liar, and the father of such.
Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
said, O thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, who art full of all deceit and craft, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
among whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, doth not shine unto them:
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transformed into apostles of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience:
in which ye formerly walked after the manner of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that still operates in the children of disobedience: among whom also we were all conversant heretofore in our carnal desires, indulging the appetites of the flesh and of our imaginations; and were by nature children of wrath, even as others.
who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son:
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.
the aged women likewise in behaviour as becometh saints, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
For we also were formerly foolish, disobedient, going astray, enslaved to various disorderly appetites and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should declare the glories of Him, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth under the wicked one.
and the angels that kept not their primitive state, but left their proper abode, hath He reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, to the judgement of the great day:
And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and satan, and bound him a thousand years,