The Bible portrays Satan (Hebrew: adversary) as a fallen angel and the chief adversary of God and humanity. He tempted Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), tested Job (Job 1-2), tempted Jesus (Matthew 4), and prowls 'as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour' (1 Peter 5:8). His final defeat is certain (Revelation 20:10).
Satan is one of the Bible's most consistent secondary characters — present from Eden to Revelation. Several biblical truths. (1) Satan is a real, personal being. The Bible does not present Satan as a metaphor for evil or a mere literary device. Jesus spoke to him directly (Matthew 4:10) and prayed for Peter against him by name (Luke 22:31). The historic Christian church has always affirmed his real existence. (2) Satan is a created being, not a co-equal opposite of God. He is a fallen angel, originally created good and subsequently rebellious. Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-17 are often read as describing his fall (though the immediate referents are earthly kings). The fall is from pride and ambition: 'I will be like the most High' (Isaiah 14:14). (3) Satan's names reveal his character. Satan ('adversary'), devil ('slanderer'), 'father of lies' (John 8:44), 'the accuser of our brethren' (Revelation 12:10), 'the god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4), 'the prince of the power of the air' (Ephesians 2:2), 'the dragon, that old serpent' (Revelation 20:2). (4) His work is to lie, accuse, tempt, and destroy. John 8:44 — 'he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth... he is a liar, and the father of it.' John 10:10 — 'The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.' 1 Peter 5:8 — 'your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' (5) Satan opposes Christ and his church. He tempted Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He entered Judas (Luke 22:3). Paul calls his work 'wiles' or schemes (Ephesians 6:11). Revelation 12 portrays him at war with the church. (6) Satan's power is limited and God-permitted. Job 1-2 makes clear: Satan acted only as far as God allowed. He had to seek permission. He is not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent — only God is. (7) Satan was defeated at the cross. Colossians 2:15 — Christ 'spoiled principalities and powers... triumphing over them' through the cross. Hebrews 2:14 — Christ 'through death... destroy[ed] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.' Genesis 3:15 — the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head. (8) Satan's final end is certain. Revelation 20:10 — 'the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.' His doom is sealed. How Christians resist Satan. (1) Submit to God. James 4:7 — 'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' (2) Put on the armor of God. Ephesians 6:11-18 — truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer. (3) Stand on Christ's victory. Romans 16:20 — 'the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.' (4) Use the name of Jesus. Acts 16:18 — Paul commanded an evil spirit 'in the name of Jesus Christ.' (5) Rely on Scripture. Jesus repelled every temptation with 'It is written' (Matthew 4). Cautions for Christians. Some treat Satan with too much attention; others with too little. C.S. Lewis (The Screwtape Letters): 'There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.' The biblical balance: real, dangerous, but defeated.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth... he is a liar, and the father of it.”
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
“The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Resist Satan. (1) Submit to God (James 4:7). (2) Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18). (3) Stand on Christ's victory (Romans 16:20). (4) Use the name of Jesus. (5) Rely on Scripture (Matthew 4). Don't fear; don't dismiss; don't obsess. Live in Christ, who has already won. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Satan is a fallen angel and the chief adversary of God and humanity. His name (Hebrew 'satan') means 'adversary' or 'accuser.' He appears in Genesis 3 (tempting Adam and Eve), Job 1-2 (testing Job), Matthew 4 (tempting Jesus), and throughout Scripture as the enemy of God's people. Other names: devil, the old serpent, the dragon, the father of lies, the accuser, the god of this world.
The Bible does not give a full narrative of Satan's fall, but Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-17 are often read (along with their immediate referents to earthly kings) as describing his fall. The cause was pride: 'I will be like the most High' (Isaiah 14:14). 1 Timothy 3:6 cautions against pride 'lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.' Jesus said: 'I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven' (Luke 10:18).
No — only God is omniscient. Satan is a creature with limits. He cannot read thoughts directly, though he can observe behavior, exploit weakness, and suggest temptations. The Bible never describes Satan as all-knowing. 1 Corinthians 2:11 — 'For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?' Only God truly knows the heart (1 Kings 8:39).
James 4:7 — 'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' The biblical strategy: (1) submit to God first, (2) put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word, prayer), (3) stand on Christ's victory (Romans 16:20), (4) use Scripture (Matthew 4 — Jesus repelled every temptation with 'It is written'), (5) call on the name of Jesus.