Some challenges facing Christians are the battles against temptation, sin and evil. The question is, do we have answers for what the Bible teaches about ethical dualism, the relationship between God and Satan, whether they are two eternal and equal forces that have struggled and will struggle for eternity, what the Bible teaches in the passages of Isaiah 14:12 – 17 and Ezekiel 28, what some of the common objections to my interpretation of these two passages are, and how the origin of Satan explains that God didn’t create evil. Then from a biblical point of view prove what Satan’s limitations are, how they prove that he’s not God’s equal but is in fact subservient to Him. And lastly, whether Satan can be blamed when a person yields to temptation and commits a sin? Let’s see what we can do to help explain the Christian view of these topics.
Ethical dualism is an interpretation that, “asserts that there are two mutually hostile forces or beings in the world, the one being the source of all good, and the other the source of all evil,”1 and the idea that God and Satan are two eternal and equal forces that will struggle for eternity. This idea began around the third century. Some religions attempted to solve the problem of evil and held to the idea of dualism, which caused faulty teachings to arise.
The Bible teaches that the origin and destiny of Satan contradicts ethical dualism. It says in Genesis that God created everything from nothing, so therefore Satan was created by God. Satan is subservient to God and can only do what God allows him to do. It becomes apparent in the book of Job where God told Satan he could inflict Job’s family and livelihood, but could not lay a hand on his person. The story goes on but each time S...
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...” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
J.P. Asmussen, “Manichaeism” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
W. S. Bainbridge, “Satanism” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
H. Bietenhard et al., “Satan” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
M.D. Lambert, “Cathari” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
H.D. Lewis “Dualism” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter E. Elwell, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
Towns, Elmer L., “Satanology” in Theology for Today, Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning, 2008
It is perhaps the most difficult intellectual challenge to a Christian how God and evil can both exist. Many of the greatest minds of the Christian church and intellects such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas spent their entire lives trying to solve this problem, and were unsuccessful (Erickson, 2009, p.439). However, this dilemma is not only an intellectual challenge, but it is emotional. Man feels it, lives it. Failing to identify the religious form of the problem of evil will appear insensitive; failure to address the theological form will seem intellectually insulting. This conundrum will never be completely met during our earthly life, but there are many biblical and philosophical resources that help mitigate it.
Victor, Jeffrey S. Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend. Chicago: Open Court, 1993.
A Delusion of Satan was written in 1995 by Frances Hill, and published by Da Capo Press. Frances Hill, an accomplished writer and journalist from London, has been writing for a decent period of time. Aside from publishing two novels, Hill has written fiction reviews for The Time (London) and has worked as a reporter in in both New York and London. With such an accomplished journalist, reporter, and writer, we are due to receive a good read in A Delusion of Satan.
· Lewis, CS. Mere Christianity. New York: Doubleday, 1982. · McBride, David. The Story of the Church.
At times he becomes torn with conflicting emotions. His inner debates and self-criticism reveal him as a dynamic being. Satan flows through his heroic story, allowing himself to be the anti-hero the story. The authors believes that Satan is created as “an example of the self deception and the deception of others which are incident to the surrender of reason to passion.”
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
Pink, Arthur W. Studies in the Scriptures, 1947. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1982. Print.
Rourke, Nancy. “Christianity Notes.” Religion 101 Notes Christianity. Entry posted April 14, 2011. https ://angel.canisius.edu/section/default.asp?id=43760%5FSpring2011 (accessed April 18, 2011).
...s distributed in Theology 101 at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle on 22 April 2008.
Typically, when someone thinks of religion, they think about worship of a higher power, compassion for all living things, and a general love of the world. Satanism, while a religion, does not fit these conventions. The faith holds no belief in a higher power, is rather selfish in nature, and paints a bleak picture of the world and its workings. In addition, Satanism has controversy riddled history dating back to the seventeenth century. Due to the religion’s unconventional nature, it is often looked down upon and its principles and values are ridiculed. To better understand a faith like Satanism, it helps to look at it alongside a more familiar and commonly understood religion like Christianity.
Boyd, Gregory A., and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
Kerr, H. (1990). Readings in christian thought (2nd ed.). H. T. Kerr (Ed.). Nashville: Abingdon Press.
It is important to know the changes Satan progressed throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, Satan’s speeches were mostly self glorification. Satan saw himself as the most dangerous position and severely reprimanded by God. Satan saw himself as daring and smart, which was demonstrated in Book three when he fooled Uriel while disguised as a lower ranking angel. His speeches were mostly self glorification, but as the story progressed Satan’s characterization changed. He had all the emotions of a human; he had fear, anger, sadness and resentment. Satan also had the charismatic charm of a politician. For example, in book two Satan emphasized the power all the angels are capable of and how God is the enemy. As he spoke, one can see that Satan was very persuasive and knew how to obta...
“ Meyer. 916-17 Emanuel, James A. “Hughes’s Attitudes toward Religion.” Meyer. 914-15. The. Hughes, a.k.a.
...e lead to ingratitude towards God" from the beginning of the epic (Weber 25). Although Satan is a great warrior and can give wonderful speeches, he seems to be hypocritical of what he tells his followers he believes and what he really does. An example of this is when we are first introduced to Satan. Satan and the other fallen angels are in hell and Satan tells the others to not be frightened, when he is frightened as well.