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...
... middle of paper ...
...” 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
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.
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.”
By being one of God’s most illustrious angels, Satan proves his devotion towards God by serving him. He is so zealous that he desires to be God’s only second in command. Similarly, Satan’s dedication to God is like the Grand Inquisitor’s. The Grand Inquisitor served God as a follower and preacher of his word. “It’s long— eight centuries— since we have been on his side and not on Thine” (Dostoevsky, 238) The Grand Inquisitor, like the Church’s predecessors, followed God’s word and Jesus for a long time before they abandoned God an...
This sources provides a well of content and most importantly a look at Satan. This in-depth look lends a great hand in the sorting of details. The timeline given will be a great help.
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
The Power of God, Readings on Omnipotence and Evil, Edited by Linwood Urban and Douglas N. Walton, New York, Oxford University Press, 1978
Walls, Andrew F. 1997. 'Christianity'. In A New Handbook Of Living Religions, 1st ed., 59-92. London: Penguin.
Sakenfeld, Kathaine Doob, ed. The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible: D-H: Volume 2. Vol. 2. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007.
Bromiley, Geoffrey William, Fredrich, Gerhard, Kittel, Gerhard. “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.” Struttgart, Germany. W. Kohlhammer Verlag. 1995. Print.
Futterman, Ellen. (1989, February 5). Hints of Darkness: Satanism Reports Stir Worry. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, pp 1A+.
Ask anyone to draw Satan and you 'll get a red snake-like figure with horns and a pitchfork. Satan, as introduced in the Hebrew bible is an unworthy adversary of God. His longing to be like God is quickly recognized and dealt with. God banishes him from Heaven and sends him to Hell. That 's the last we see of him until he talks with God about his faithful servant Job. In each interaction we see Satan in, we get only a glimpse of who he really is. Satan 's motive is not developed and we assume he does evil simply because he is evil
Boyd, Gregory A., and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
Unger, Merrill F. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Ed. R. K. Harrison, Howard F. Vos, and Cyril J. Barber. Chicago: Moody, 1988. 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).
Satan frequently characterizes “the tyranny of heaven” and employs negative diction in his depictions of both heaven and God (I.124). His negative portrayals of God and his kingdom highlight his utter dissatisfaction with being subservient to God and, from that, his desire for autonomy. In the exposition of the text, Satan’s emotions toward God make themselves apparent when Satan “throws his baleful eyes / That witnessed huge affliction and dismay / Mixed with obdúrate pride and steadfast hate” (I.56-58). Satan reveals himself to be furious with his continued subjugation to God as well as his inability to truly revenge himself against his subsequent punishment. According to Satan, God’s dissimulation of his power tempted Satan and others to rise