Satan, sometimes referred to as the Devil, is a character found in each of the Abrahamic religions, and satanology is the study of the person and work of Satan.
In Judaism, Satan is viewed as the adversary, and identified with evil inclination; a term for one who leads man astray, only to then turn around and bring accusation against him. Satan, in Judaism, is completely under G-d’s control, and carries out his mission with divine approval, as best characterized in the Book of Job, where Satan plays the role of an adversary testing Job’s faith.
Judaism does not recognize Satan as a proper name belonging to a particular being who is a rival to G-d. Rather, they view Satan as a noun that can be applied to any adversary who opposes and obstructs, and one that can be applied to human adversaries.
Satan is rarely mentioned in Tannaitic literature, but is found in the Babylonian Aggadah, a compendium of rabbinic texts, some of which holds that Satan is an agent of God whose role is to strengthen man’s moral character by leading man toward temptation.
Modern sects of Judaism have their own interpretations of Satan. Conservative Judaism rejects the idea that Satan is a metaphor for evil, and considers him to be a literal agent for God, while Reform Judaism embraces the Talmudic concept of Satan as a metaphor for evil and a symbolic representation of the baser human characteristics. Orthodox Judaism also accepts the Talmudic teachings of Satan, but involves Satan in religious life more often than other sects.
Christianity views Satan as a synonym for the devil.
Although the specifics vary among Christian denominations and sects, a common belief is that Satan was once Lucifer, the highest of all angels, who rebelled against God, and that the angels who allied themselves with him in rebellion are the fallen angels. Satan is also viewed as the serpent who seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden, leading to the fall of man.
Some Christian theologians and denominations hold that Satan is the personification of evil, but not an actual being. Most religions and cultures, throughout history, have had a belief in an invisible evil power. A recent Barna survey found that nearly six out of ten American Christians believe that Satan is a symbol of evil, but not a living being.
Others insist that the Scriptures teach that Satan is an actual being, one who is mentioned in eight books of the Old Testament and nineteen of the New Testament books.
Satan is known by several names in Christianity. These include Satan, Devil, Evil One, Father of Lies, Ruler of this World and God of this Age, Lucifer, Ruler of the Kingdom of the Air, the Tempter, the Accuser of the Brothers, the Dragon, the Serpent, Beelzebub, and Belial.
The Arabic equivalent of Satan is Shaitan. The term is sometimes translated as devil, and it can be applied to human beings or djinn, although it is also used to refer to Satan in particular.
In the Qur’an, Satan is known as Iblis and, similar to Christian belief, he was said to have been raised in heaven with the angels, but eventually sinned against Allah and was expelled from heaven. His chief purpose is to tempt mankind in order for mankind to become spiritually stronger. Muslims do not regard Satan as the cause of evil but as a tempter.
Another Islamic belief is that Satan is a djinn that was created from smokeless fire, just as all of the djinns were created. Being created with the power of free will, Satan chose to sin. Although the Quran states that Satan was created as an angel, he is also described as being from the djinns. This, along with the fact that he describes himself as having been made from fire, leads to Islamic disagreement over whether Satan is a fallen angel or the leader of a band of evil djinn.
Hasan of Basra, a 7th-century Islamic theologian, wrote that Satan was the origin of the djinn in the same way that Adam was the first human. Other views are that Satan hoped to be an angel, but that his actions made him a djinn, or that angels and djinns are synonymous.
In the Bahá'í faith, Satan is not regarded as an independent evil power, but as a metaphor for the lower nature of human beings. Theistic Satanism views Satan as a deity to be worshipped but atheistic Satanism, as exemplified by LeVeyan Satanism, holds that Satan is merely a symbol. Today, theistic Satanism can be found in loosely affiliated cabals.
More typical today, the Satanic Temple and others based on LaVeyan Satanism view Satan as a symbol. Satan represents, not a conscious entity to be worshipped, but a reservoir of strength or power within each human being that can be tapped.
Much of what people believe about Satan comes, not from theologians or from research, but from popular culture, as represented in art, literature, film, television, and music.
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Recommended Resources
Satan, as he is understood by the United Church of God, is featured in articles written by a variety of authors. Topics that are explored include why we sin, the origin of Satan and demons, the dangerous side of the Spirit World, what Job learned by suffering, why God allows Satan to have influence over mankind, and Satan's role in the End Times, as well as other topics related to Satan. Bible references, and a published booklet entitled, “Is There Really a Devil”, is available on request.
https://www.ucg.org/tags/satan-the-devil
Bible Resources: What the Bible Says about Satan
Also known as Lucifer, Father of Lies, Accuser, Tempter, and Thief, this article, written by Betty Miller, offers an overview of Satan, speaking of his rebellion and fall from heaven, after which he became the chief adversary of God. The cause of Satan's sins were pride and covetousness. The article also speaks of Jesus' defeat of Satan, and the role that he is yet to play in the End Times, as described in Revelation. Links to related topics are also provided.
https://bibleresources.org/satan/
Bible.org offers an introduction to Satanology, which might be a subset of angelology since Satan is a fallen angel. Through scriptural citations, the site presents an introduction to Satan, discusses the reality and existence of Satan, his nature, and personality. Specific names that the Bible applies to Satan are named, again with scriptural citations, and the creation and history of Satan, his original position, sin and subsequent fall are included, as well as his ultimate destiny.
https://bible.org/article/satanology/
Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry: Who is Satan?
In this CARM article, Matt Slick defines Satan as the Adversary, or the one who opposes God, as well as the most powerful of the fallen angels. Other names of Satan are also presented, with several Scriptural references. Varying views among Christian scholars as to the timing of Satan's fall from heaven are discussed, and several references to Satan in the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible are provided, and cited by Scripture. Links to related topics are included.
https://carm.org/about-jesus/what-did-jesus-say-to-satan-when-he-was-tempted/
Deliriums Realm is devoted to the study of good and evil in society. Satan is featured in this page, including his origins, and accounts of Satan tempting Adam and Eve, as well as, later in the Old Testament accounts, Job. Satan, as he is depicted in Hellenistic and Apocryphal writings, Satan in the Gospels, in the Acts of the Apostles, and Satan’s fall. References and articles on related topics published on the same site, such as demonology, are also included.
https://www.deliriumsrealm.com/satan/
Faith & Fable is a pastoral podcast that discusses common and controversial topics from a biblical perspective. Entitled "Theology Bites: Satanology (Part I)," its podcast on Satanology is available here, in audio format, along with notes on its topics, which include Scriptural references, as well as its main topics, which include the personality of Satan, his designations, primary and secondary names and descriptive titles. Comments on the podcast may be viewed or submitted, as well.
https://www.faithfable.com/post/satanology
God's Word For You: Satan and Demons
This series of Bible studies examines God's word about Satan and the demons, viewing relevant scriptures from several perspectives (creation, the fall, the incarnation, salvation, church age, God's judgement, God's character), and comparing modern methods of dealing with evil with the biblical methods of dealing with demons. Also included is a list of names and descriptions of Satan, the names and descriptions of demons, and other uses of the word "spirit" in the Bible.
https://www.godswordforyou.com/bible-studies/satan-and-demons/
Great Bible Study: Our Direct Enemy - Satan? Or Demons?
Intended as fodder for Bible study, the article discusses the various roles played by Satan, in the world and the church today, as well as the of the demons, who are far more likely to be the ones responsible for temptations than Satan, given that Satan is incapable of being in more than one place at the same time. Neither are demons, but there are a lot of demons. In other words, the odds of someone being oppressed by Satan himself are very low. Satan and the hierarchy of demons are discussed.
https://www.greatbiblestudy.com/deliverance-ministry/our-direct-enemy-satan-or-demons/
James R. Brayshaw is the author of four books on Satan, whom he doesn't believe in. These are "Satan: Christianity's Other God," "Imagine There's No Satan," "Who's the Devil Jesus Knew?," and "This Is It... Satan is Finished." Each of these is reviewed, and made available for sale online, in electronic and published form. Articles on the central topics covered in the books are included, and several videos, and audio from radio appearances, on the subject may be viewed.
http://www.imaginenosatan.com/
The doctrines regarding Satan that are employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are put forward, beginning with the often misunderstood idea that the Mormons believe Satan to be the brother of Christ. Questions about the reality of a devil, in Mormon theology, are answered, and information about the workings of Satan is discussed, including his role in the fall of Adam in the Garden, his tactics, and his tools. Links to other online resources are included.
https://www.mormonwiki.com/Satan
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Satan
From the official website of the Mormon Church, the guide presents references to Satan in the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price, as well as other topics related to Satan, giving an overview of who or what Satan is, according to the LDS, what he did, and what mankind should expect from him. Scriptural references, prophetic teachings about Satan, Scripture study resources, and additional information on the subject are offered.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/satan
The Scriptural warnings about taking the “mark of the beast” are defined, and the beast is identified as Satan claiming to be God in the Last Days. Several articles on the subjects of End Times prophecy, Satan, and the mark of the beast are included. A warning against taking the mark is given, along with the implications. Satan's history is discussed, in the past, present, future and ultimate end. His identification with Lucifer and the Devil is made.
http://www.markbeast.com/
The Real Devil: A Biblical Exploration
Available in English, Latvian, French, Russian and English, this is the work of Duncan Hester, who has concluded that many Christian traditions don't hold up to Biblical analysis, including the common views of Satan. In his book, Hester argues that the Scriptural references to satan do not refer to a personal being, but rather to any opposing force, and often to the power of sin and evil. His book is accessible online by chapter or MP3 audio files; or in its entirety in PDF or PDB format.
http://www.realdevil.info/
The Skeptic's Dictionary: Satan
Established in 1994, The Skeptic's Dictionary is devoted to exposing the supernatural as being the result of illogical thinking, if not outright fraud. The Biblical story of Satan is discussed here from that perspective, paralleling the historic power of Satan with the power of the church, which peaked in the 13th century. Arguing more from a perspective of illogic than from a scientific perspective, the article suggests that very few people believe that Satan is a real being today.
http://www.skepdic.com/satan.html
Satan, as he is described in the Urantia Book, is featured here, as Lucifer’s first assistant and lieutenant. Satan’s role during the Lucifer rebellion against the Universal Father is told, as well as his war in Heaven, according to the Urantia Book. Caligastia is introduced as having been in charge of Urantia for three hundred thousand years when Satan, Lucifer's assistant, informed him of Lucifer's "Declaration of Liberty." His relationship with Jesus is also discussed.
https://truthbook.com/urantia-book/topical-studies/satan/
