BIBLE TOPICS

SATAN

The word 'Satan' is a Hebrew word 'Sathan' - its meaning is 'adversary'. Again this word is often left untranslated in the Scriptures as Satan, though not always so. Fourteen times it is given its translated meaning of 'adversary'. For example 1 Kings 11:23 "And God stirred him up another adversary (satan) Rezon". Rezon was a man who had fled from his Master yet became a satan or adversary to Solomon. The apostle Peter was an 'adversary' to Christ when he tried to persuade him not to be a sacrifice for sin. At this time Jesus called him 'Satan' as we read:

"Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23.

Why did Jesus call Peter satan? It was because plainly because Peter was an adversary that was tempting him to disobey God. Peter then became an adversary to Christ, as a result of having ‘in mind the things of man’ not the things of God. Peter had not fully understood Christ’s mission to be a Saviour, it was this lack of understanding that eventually led Peter to disown Jesus when he was arrested. However in the case of Peter he was repentant of being an ‘adversary or satan afterwards. We read

"Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly." Matthew 26:75

Despite Peter’s denial of Jesus, he forgave Peter, making him three times proclaim his love for Christ and commanding Peter to look after the early disciples:

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17.

Now we read of another example of satan in Numbers 22:22 "the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary (a satan) against him". In this case Balaam was doing what was wrong, his adversary (satan) was an immortal angel of the Lord who had been sent to stop Balaam.

Thus we see from these examples that an adversary [satan] can be good or bad. Further we see that neither of the words convey the idea of an evil being, but do convey the idea of people being false accusers, slanders and adversaries to Divine things.

Now there are many passages in scripture where events or actions are attributed to the devil or satan. However we must remember that all scripture is given by God and one part of scripture cannot contradict another part. All scripture must agree and be in harmony, thus each passage that we read must be taken in the context of the rest of scripture and in context of the overall teaching of God’s word. The ‘satan’ that occurs in Job is a good example of this. He was an adversary, but cannot have been a literal ‘evil’ being for we read in scripture God will not look upon evil, let alone either create or allow such an evil creature to exist.