Subject: Does Satan Really Exist? |
Bible Note: This is really what I'm talking about - you have read the name Satan in Job and assumed, without assessing external evidence (at least in this answer), that this refers to a fallen angel/evil supernatural being. Of course Job says none of these things. The word Satan in and of itself does not mean "fallen angel" or "evil supernatural badguy", it means quite simply "adversary". I am certain that there was an adversary in Job, and I am certain that he was a person, but I find it impossible to conclude that he was an evil angel. What you need to be able to connect the word Satan with a fallen angel, is a passage of scripture that says "Satan is a fallen angel". This passage is not in The Bible. We are given the stories of many righteous men - Noah, Abraham, David, Jesus, Paul etc. and even the stories of many wicked men in the Bible - Cain, Pharaoh, Saul, Nebuchadnezzar etc. But we are not given such a story about a fallen angel Satan (unless we pervert chapters such as Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, which are clearly prophesies regarding earthly kings which came to pass). Also, I do not understand the idea that the fallen angel Satan cannot do anything except with Divine permission. This conveys the idea to me that Satan is not a fallen angel, but an obedient one, carrying out tasks according to Divine permission. It also begs the question - why did God give Divine permission for Satan to attempt to overthrow him? Finally, it's interesting to point out that the Apostle James (quite possibly the brother of Jesus) does not believe in Satan: James 1:14,15 "But 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." That is the sum of temptation - we are drawn away by our own lusts and enticed into sin. We have no-one else to blame but ourselves. |