Preliminary Points on Satan and Devil

1. Wrested scripture on the devil may be categorized into three areas:
   1. Passages which are cited to prove that the devil is a fallen angel. (e.g., Job 1; Rev. 12).
   2. Passages which are quoted to prove that the devil is a personal super-human being. (e.g., Matt. 4).
   3. Passages in which demons are said to "possess" humans. (e.g. Matt. 12:22).

2. The devil and the "pre-existence" of Christ are two areas of discussion which often bog down and sometimes generate more heat than light. A discussion on these two areas, unless strictly regimented, inevitably brings in subsidiary evidence which becomes impossible to clarify because of the number of unproven assertions and counter assertions. It is often advantageous in these two areas to assume the negative and let the non-Christadelphian select the passages which he considers proves the proposition. This is a productive way in which to sift the evidence passage by passage - "Does or does not passage 'x' prove that the devil is a rebel angel?

3. In such discussions it is sometimes advantageous to withhold expositional knowledge. Assuming for example, that it has been shown that Rev. 12 does not prove the proposition that the devil is a rebel angel, it may be far more appropriate either to advance to another passage which the non-Christadelphian considers does prove the proposition, or to expound the Bible's teaching on the devil. To expound the meaning of the woman, man-child, sun, moon, and stars, etc. of Rev. 12 will probably afford too many opportunities for irrelevant considerations.

4. The following are passages which should be a part of every Christadelphian's arsenal:
   1. Origin of sin - James 1:13-15; Mark 7:20-23 cf. Jer. 17:9.
   2. The meaning of satan (adversary) - the following are referred to as "satan" or "adversary":
      1. God - 2 Sam. 24:1 cf. 1 Chron. 21:1.
      2. An obedient divine angel - Num. 22:22.
      3. Hadad the Edomite - 1 Kings 11:14.
      4. Peter - Matt. 16:23.
   3. The meaning of "devil" (accuser; calumniator) - the following are referred to as a "devil" or "slanderer":
      1. Judas - John 6:70.
      2. Women - 1 Timothy 3:11 cf. Titus 2:3.
      3. Men - 2 Timothy 3:3.
      4. "Sin in the flesh" - Heb. 2:14 cf. Heb. 9:26 and Rom. 5:21; 6:23 (to show that "devil" is synonymous with "sin") and then cf. Rom. 7:17, 18.