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NASB | 1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. |
Bible Question: Can Satan actually put(insert, plant)thoughts into our minds? or do evil thoughts come from within our own selves? |
Bible Answer: Hi heseeshisson From your question, there are two different ways to answer it. 1.) As it would relate to all humans (mankind) (unsaved). To say that Satan can do the things you ask about, it doesn't specifically say in the Bible. But there are things it does say, so we are able to get a more clear picture, of the full extent of the activities of Satan. In Gen.3 "the temptation of Eve". Satan didn't actually (implant) the thoughts that drove Eve to eating the fruit, but he was most certainly responsible for them. From the narrative, Satan can speak to us, albeit in our hearts, minds. This means he has the ability to influence our thoughts. Just by the act of asking Eve a question, he influenced her to question what God had said. So "NO" he doesn't implant thoughts, he doesn't have to. All he has to do, is lie to us, showing us the options we have, by exerting our free will, exciting our baser nature, making things appear very appealing, seducing, drawing us by our fleshly desires (Temptation). Looking at 2 Tim. 2:26 you will see that we as humans can be "taken captive by him at his will". 2.) Then there is the question of how does Satan influence Christians? The answer to that would be found in 1 Pet. 5:8-10. It says that Satan is a as a lion to all mankind, he will never leave us alone, as long as we are here on the earth. But we, because we are saved, can acquire the knowledge to resist him being sober, vigilant, and steadfast in the faith. Peter then tells us that after we have "suffered a while, God will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" The following is a list of places that Satan is spoken about, thereby giving you more of a picture of his activities. Easton's Bible Dictionary Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with the devil, and is so used more than thirty times. Following are other names for Satan: "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). "the accuser" of the brethern" (Revelation 12:10); "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Revelation 12:9; 20:2); " the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). "Beelzebub, the prince of the devils" (12:24). He is a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Men are said to be "taken captive by him" (2 Timothy 2:26). Christians are warned against his "devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11), and called on to "resist" him (James 4:7). He tempted our Lord in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The distinct personality of Satan and his activity among men are thus obviously recognized. He is "the constant enemy of God, of Christ, of the divine kingdom, of the followers of Christ, and of all truth; full of falsehood and all malice, and exciting and seducing to evil in every possible way." His power is very great in the world. Christ redeems his people from "him that had the power of death." Satan has the "power of death," not as lord, but simply as executioner. Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language The grand adversary of man; the Devil, or Prince of darkness; the chief of the fallen angels; the archfiend. Vintage68 |