Satan
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Satan is a personal, superhuman entity of evil portrayed in Scripture as the adversary of God and humanity. The term originated as a common noun meaning 'adversary' before evolving into a specific appellation and eventually a proper name.
What is the meaning of Satan in the Bible?
Satan is a personal, superhuman entity of evil portrayed in Scripture as the adversary of God and humanity. The term originated as a common noun meaning 'adversary' before evolving into a specific appellation and eventually a proper name.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the shift of Satan from a functional title to a distinct character clarifies the development of biblical theology regarding evil and spiritual conflict, allowing readers to better interpret passages that depict cosmic struggle.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Satan in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Satan clarify?
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.