Thanks for giving me the freewill choice to answer the way I choose to answer!
Τhe same slander is imρlied rather than expessed in the temptations of our Lord, and is oνercome bγ the faith which trusts in Gods love even where its sign may be hidden from the eye (comρ. the unmasking of a similar slander by Peter in Acts 5, 4).
People are the enemies of the cross, who disguise oneself as a false show or pretence claiming to be preachers of light, and to mask themselves hiding the real Jesus.
Matthew 13:28 (YLT) And he saith to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then, that having gone away we may gather them up?
Rom. 9:22, where "fitted" is in the middle voice, indicating that the vessels of wrath fitted themselves for "destruction", of the adversaries of the Lord's people, Phil. 1:28 ("perdition"); of professing Christians, really enemies of the cross of Christ, Phil. 3:19
The present participle of the verb with the article, which is equivalent to a noun, signifies "an adversary," e.g., Luke 13:17; 21:15; 1 Cor. 16:9; Phil. 1:28; 1 Tim. 5:14. This construction is used of the Man of Sin, in 2 Thess. 2:4, and is translated "He that opposeth," where, adopting the noun form, we might render by "the opponent and self-exalter against...."
In Gal. 5:17 it is used of the antagonism between the Holy Spirit and the flesh in the believer; in 1 Tim. 1:10, of anything, in addition to persons, that is opposed to the doctrine of Christ. In these two places the word is rendered "contrary to.
In the Sept. it is used of [an opponent 7854] Satan, Zech. 3:1, 4 and of men, Job 13:24; Isa. 66:6.
Heb. 10:27, "adversaries." In each place a more violent form of opposition is suggested than in the case of enantios.
DEVIL, DEVILISH (διαβολος, 1228), "an accuser, a slanderer" (from diaballo, "to accuse, to malign"). The noun is applied to slanderers, false accusers, 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3.
Where then came the false belief of demons, devils, evil spirits?
As in after-ages, the heathens believed, that the world was governed by genii, hero-spirits, or daemons, by the appointment of the Deity; so in these earlier, and first ages of idolatry, they worshipped only the lights of Heaven, and the elements; allowing indeed a supreme Deity, but thinking these all had intelligence, and were appointed by him to govern the world.
Their kings and learned men did indeed know God, but they did not retain him so strictly in their knowledge as they ought to have done, but set up other deities besides, and instead of him. They thought that the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Elements, were appointed to govern the world'
THE CREATIONAND FALL OF M A N. By Samuel Shuckford D.D. Page 433
