The Greek word diabolos (from which “devil” is derived), meaning “slanderer,” comes from a verb that means “to hurl” (i.e., accusations).ĭiabolos was typically used as the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew śāṭān (in the Septuagint version of Job, for example), though it was not uncommon to simply transliterate the word into the Greek satanas (1 Kings 11:14). It is at this time that the impersonal and lofty Accuser began to acquire the various names and titles that have filled the writings of western civilization for 2,000 years. If there was an army of evil spiritual forces making war on the righteous, they had to have a commander. There are likely several factors that inspired these developments, including the influence of Persian, as well as Hellenistic, religions. This can be seen within the New Testament and other extra-Biblical writings such as those found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is perfectly clear, however, that by the first century C.E., Judaism developed a belief in the divine forces of darkness doing battle against the forces of light. Though if 1 Chronicles 21:1 is any indication, 2 they began to believe the Accuser wasn’t above getting his hands dirty. 1 However, even within books written well after the return from foreign lands, the Accuser is still a self-righteous lawyer. It is certainly easy to make the connection between Israel’s time in exile and the likely influence of the cosmic dualism of Persian religion. It is difficult to determine at which point in Israel’s history the Accuser began to take on a much more sinister role in the Israelite/Jewish belief structure, or how heaven’s great prosecutor became the prince of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). With this bit of knowledge in mind, it isn’t difficult to envision the various “outcries against sin,” such as that against Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20–21), as the voice of the Accuser. The Accuser is essentially the prosecuting attorney of the divine court of YHWH, and part of his job includes collecting evidence to prove his cases. From the Accuser’s appearances in the Books of Job and Zechariah, it seems that the job entails calling attention to the unworthiness of mankind. He is ha-satan- the Accuser-and it is a job description rather than a proper name. When referring to the celestial adversary, the word is typically accompanied by the definite article. The Hebrew word śāṭān, meaning “accuser” or “adversary,” occurs several times throughout the Hebrew Bible and refers to enemies both human and celestial alike. It is within this divine court of justice and retribution that Satan has his origins. He is behind the good and the bad, behind the blessings and the curses. Other than human beings, YHWH has no nemesis, nor are there malevolent spiritual forces not under his authority. It isn’t the devil that spreads evil across the face of creation-it is mankind. In the Hebrew Bible, YHWH’s greatest enemies are not fallen angels commanding armies of demons, nor even the gods of other nations, but, rather, human beings. But does our modern conception of Satan have any resemblance to the devil in the Bible? Just who is Satan? Is this horned, red-skinned monster with a pitchfork ruling hell truly the great enemy of God envisioned by the writers of the Biblical texts? 1915.Wood engraving by Gustave Doré depicting Dante’s Inferno, Canto XXXIV, in which Dante and Virgil encounter Satan in the Ninth Circle of Hell.įrom the most comical of cartoons to the most grotesque of gargoyles, the majority of the population today can immediately recognize an image of the devil. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Justin, Apol., i.61.) But this probably would go too far the most that can be said is that he means the state of mind of a full Christian and not that of a catechumen (compare also Baruch 4:2 the King James Version Sirach 25:11). (In the early church baptism is frequently described as "illumination," e.g. The verb, indeed, is used in such a technical way that Syriac versions render by "baptized," and it is not perhaps impossible that the author of He had baptism definitely in mind. Hebrews 10:32 the King James Version, only, "the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated (the Revised Version (British and American) "enlightened"), ye endured a great fight of afflictions." The verb is photizo, rendered in 6:4 by "enlightened" and in both passages (and not elsewhere in the New Testament) being used to describe complete conversion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |