The Devil 1 - Who is he? It is of great importance to understand this question, because the Son of God was manifested expressly for the purpose of destroying the devil and his works (I John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14). The mission of Christ is, therefore, imperfectly understood when the nature of the Bible devil is not comprehended. It will be found upon examination that the devil is not (as commonly supposed) a personal, supernatural agent of evil, and that in fact, there is no such BEING in existence. The devil is a scriptural personification of sin in the flesh, 2 in its several phases of manifestation - subjective, individual, aggregate, social and political, in history, current experience, and prophecy; after the style of metaphor which speaks of wisdom as a woman, riches as MAMMON and the god of this world, sin as master, etc.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Christ) also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (diabolos) (Hebrews 2:14).
For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26).

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4).

The devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2).

The betrayal of Christ was the result of Judas' thievish propensities; therefore, says Jesus, "it were good for that man that he had not been born." Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you (Judas) is a devil? (John 6:70).

Why hath Satan 3 filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? (Acts 5:3-9).

Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14,15).

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).

Give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. (1 Timothy 5:14,15).

Whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20).

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 4:8).

Satan hindered us (1 Thessalonians 2:18).

To the angel of the church (ecclesia) in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:12,13).

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).

The devil shall cast some of you into prison 4 (Revelation 2:10).

The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. (Romans 16:20).

I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15).

But God shall wound the head of His enemies (Psalm 68:21).

Thou (Israel) art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms (Jeremiah 51:20).

There appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads...And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:3, 17).

He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years (Revelation 20:2).

{The symbolism of the verses immediately foregoing is explained in the following}
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalm 110:6).

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom... it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44).

1 The original word translated "devil" is diabolos. The literal meaning of this is slanderer or false accuser, as illustrated in the following passages, where the word has been translated, instead of being, as in most cases, transferred to the English in a modified form without translation: - "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers (diaboloi), sober, faithful in all things." (1 Timothy 3:11). The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers (diaboloi), not given to much wine, teachers of good things" (Titus 2:3). "Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers (diaboloi), incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good" (2 Timothy 3:3). Sin is the great accuser both of God and man. It slanders the former in virtually denying His supremacy and goodness, and accuses the latter unto death. The personification of this principle is natural and effective.

2 The following table of parallel passages presents this fact to the mind more strikingly than any line of reasoning: -

3 This, like the word "devil." is an untranslated word. Originally Hebrew. it was adopted into the Greek language and finally transferred to the English, as the traditional symbol of the great pagan myth of an INFERNAL GOD, whose business is represented as to thwart God and damn mankind. Its simple meaning is adversary. This will be apparent from the following passages: - "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary (sathan) against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him."(Numbers 22:22). Make this fellow return, lest in the battle he be an adversary (sathan) to us (1 Samuel 29:3-4). OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS: 1 Kings 11:14; Psalm 109:20; Job 1:6-9; Ezra 4:1. If this, the simple meaning of the word, be kept in view, the Bible doctrine of satanism will be understood. Sin is the great adversary personified. See the texts quoted above.

4 Sin, incorporated in the authorities of the Roman state, incarcerated the believers of the gospel. This was the adversary, careering through the earth in search of prey "seeking whom he might devour."