The leader of fallen angels, and arch-enemy, of God, and man. Matt.25:41, “Everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Devil, in French is, diable; in German, teuffel; in Latin, diobolus. It is a modification of the Greek diabolos, which, from diaballein means, calumniate, calumniator, detradtor, false accuser, etc. The Syrian is, achelkartzo, “The devourer of calumny,” a phrase that expresses his delight in blasting the character of good, and holy men.
When diabolos (devils) is in the plural, it never refers to fallen angels, but to man-kind.
1 Tim.3:11, “Their wives be reverent, not slanders (devils.)” Titus 2:3, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior --- not as false accusers (slanders-devil.)”
There is only one Devil, who is also characterized as, “The god and prince of this world; the prince of darkness; the prince of the power of the air; the accuser; Belial; the tempter; an adversary, deceiver; liar; etc.”
Spirit beings separated from God, who in the essence of their own nature work evil. Moral evil was seen by the Jews as being the act of man. Physical evil or adversity on the other hand, was seen as punishment merited through sin, and inflicted by a just and holy God. Therefore, God was conceived as the true source of all calamities. In teh Jewish mind, angels who would reveal God’s purpose, and then execute God’s will, however great; they themselves are never accused of moral evil.
Even in the seduction of Eve, there is nothing to make us believe that Moses regarded the serpent as nothing more than, “The most subtle of all the beasts of the field.”
It is probable that at some early period in Jewish history, their faith had divorced itself from its religious conceptions of the, “One living and true God,” now lapsing into some petty superstitions. The Jews had become familiar with the idea of certain fearful, unearthly beings haunting the wilderness. This being similar to the fauns = (Roman demigod, half goat, and half man,) and the sattrs of Greece. We find traces of this in the Pentateuch.
The Hebrew word “seirim” (devils,) is found in Lev.17:7, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils.”
Devils here meaning , “Hairy ones.” The Egyptians worshipped the (he-goat,) and the Hebrews took part in their idolatry. Moses, in Lev.17, forbids the Jews from committing this sin in the future. He wrote, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices to devils (seirim, the Egyptian he-goats.)”
The development of demonism in the Jewish culture was furthered along after the Babylonian captivity; this coming about because of Medo-Persian influences. In the post-Exile period of the Jews, their conceptions of angels become more definite. Attributed to these creatures were different ranks, names, and offices. They were supposed to be the guardians, and helpers of various peoples, and land; but all were/are in absolute dependence upon God.
As powerful and influential as these malignant demons are, men can resist them, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who attempt to clear themselves of any sin by throwing the blame on the action of the devil, are foolish at best. Are we tempted? Yes! Will he use various deceptive methods by which to seduce us? Yes! But can he force us to sin? No!
James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 Pet.5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in faith --.”
Phil LaSpino from www.seekfirstwisdom.com
Devil, in French is, diable; in German, teuffel; in Latin, diobolus. It is a modification of the Greek diabolos, which, from diaballein means, calumniate, calumniator, detradtor, false accuser, etc. The Syrian is, achelkartzo, “The devourer of calumny,” a phrase that expresses his delight in blasting the character of good, and holy men.
When diabolos (devils) is in the plural, it never refers to fallen angels, but to man-kind.
1 Tim.3:11, “Their wives be reverent, not slanders (devils.)” Titus 2:3, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior --- not as false accusers (slanders-devil.)”
There is only one Devil, who is also characterized as, “The god and prince of this world; the prince of darkness; the prince of the power of the air; the accuser; Belial; the tempter; an adversary, deceiver; liar; etc.”
Spirit beings separated from God, who in the essence of their own nature work evil. Moral evil was seen by the Jews as being the act of man. Physical evil or adversity on the other hand, was seen as punishment merited through sin, and inflicted by a just and holy God. Therefore, God was conceived as the true source of all calamities. In teh Jewish mind, angels who would reveal God’s purpose, and then execute God’s will, however great; they themselves are never accused of moral evil.
Even in the seduction of Eve, there is nothing to make us believe that Moses regarded the serpent as nothing more than, “The most subtle of all the beasts of the field.”
It is probable that at some early period in Jewish history, their faith had divorced itself from its religious conceptions of the, “One living and true God,” now lapsing into some petty superstitions. The Jews had become familiar with the idea of certain fearful, unearthly beings haunting the wilderness. This being similar to the fauns = (Roman demigod, half goat, and half man,) and the sattrs of Greece. We find traces of this in the Pentateuch.
The Hebrew word “seirim” (devils,) is found in Lev.17:7, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils.”
Devils here meaning , “Hairy ones.” The Egyptians worshipped the (he-goat,) and the Hebrews took part in their idolatry. Moses, in Lev.17, forbids the Jews from committing this sin in the future. He wrote, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices to devils (seirim, the Egyptian he-goats.)”
The development of demonism in the Jewish culture was furthered along after the Babylonian captivity; this coming about because of Medo-Persian influences. In the post-Exile period of the Jews, their conceptions of angels become more definite. Attributed to these creatures were different ranks, names, and offices. They were supposed to be the guardians, and helpers of various peoples, and land; but all were/are in absolute dependence upon God.
As powerful and influential as these malignant demons are, men can resist them, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who attempt to clear themselves of any sin by throwing the blame on the action of the devil, are foolish at best. Are we tempted? Yes! Will he use various deceptive methods by which to seduce us? Yes! But can he force us to sin? No!
James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 Pet.5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in faith --.”
Phil LaSpino from www.seekfirstwisdom.com
