Can you explain this?

HisW0rd said:

Why is Devil or Devils is described by extension a deity?

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In Greek mythology the word "daimon" could describe nearly any sort of spirit or supernatural being. The distinction between a god and a daimon in Greek mythology was slight. As such a daimon might be a benevolent nature spirit, or something like a nymph, which while not a god in the greater sense of the word would still be a sort of lesser divine, supernatural creature.

For example one of the primal gods (the gods before Zeus) was Oceanus whose parents were the original primal gods Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth), Oceanus with his consort Tethys were said to have produced the Oceanids--ocean nymphs; and these nymphs were the protector spirits of lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. Such lesser beings could be described as daimons in Greek mythology.

It is a rather specifically Christian use, in the New Testament and later, that identifies the Greek word "daimon" with evil, deceiving spirits or fallen angels loyal to Satan. In Christian usage a daimon is always an evil spirit, and this is the association with the modern word demon. The word "devil" also became associated with daimons/demons; as the word "devil" ultimately is derived from the Greek diabolos--accuser, a translation of the Hebrew ha-shatan (the accuser). And the use of diabolos to describe Satan as "the Devil" or else to describe broadly the fallen angels/evil spirits as "devils". And as such "devil" and "demon" become more-or-less synonymous in Christian usage over the centuries.

But by simple definition, the Pagan Greeks simply understood daimons to be any sort of supernatural or divine entity, a lesser god or goddess of sorts. Such beings could be good, bad, or anywhere in between.

-CryptoLutheran

HisW0rd said:

That is understandable. I figure that in a sense devil/devils would be considered a lesser god because of those who do worship the evil spirit.

I studied Satan/Devil/Serpent/the Dragon and I still do not understand why Lucifer was tied to the Devil. Lucifer is describe as an angel and not once is Satan/Devil/Serpent/the Dragon is described as that.

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The word "lucifer" is Latin, meaning "light-bringer". It was a term for the planet Venus or "morning star". In the book of Isaiah, chapter 14, verse 12 the prophet calls the king of Babylon by the Hebrew word "heylel" which is the Hebrew word for "Venus" or "shining one". It is intended as a mockery, that the king of Babylon who saw himself as high and lofty has in fact fallen, he would consider himself high as the stars but fall.

Lucifer isn't the name for Satan, or an angel, or any of that. It's just an epithet for a human king used in a derisive, mocking way.

In fact in the Latin translation of the Bible, Jesus is called "lucifer" in 2 Peter 1:19

"et habemus firmiorem propheticum sermonem cui bene facitis adtendentes quasi lucernae lucenti in caliginoso loco donec dies inlucescat et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris"

Here it simply means "morning star" as is found in most English translations, original Greek φωσφόρος "phosphoros".

Up until the middle ages the devil--or any angelic being of any sort--was never conceived of as having the name "Lucifer", and instead was more commonly used by Latin-speaking Christians as a reference to Christ, who is called the "morning star" and similar. It was also used as a personal name, two ancient bishops were named Lucifer, such as St. Lucifer of Cagliari, a Sardinian bishop of the late 4th century.

It isn't until the middle ages when the passage in Isaiah 14:12 becomes allegorically interpreted as a reference to Satan (the very clear, literal, reading of the text is that it's against the very human king of Babylon) that "Lucifer" becomes a term identified with the devil, and in English the only reason "Lucifer" is used in this fashion is because early English language translators, such as the King James Version, retained the Vulgate's Latin here rather than translating it directly.

"Lucifer" however is not the name of any angel, devil, or any such thing. So contrary to popular imagination there isn't actually any entity named "Lucifer".

-CryptoLutheran

HisW0rd said:

Thanks, even the bible discuss Lucifer not existing anymore. What about Ezekiel 28, scholars claim it's about Lucifer even though it was addressed to King of Tyrus? If not Lucifer, how did he walked and lived in the garden of Eden?

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It's the same thing as the passage in Isaiah 14. A human ruler is being chastised.

-CryptoLutheran