Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

[Cristo Rei]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

 

[atpollard]

Technically both.
The word translated “Satan” in English also means “accuser”, so it can vary from verse to verse just as “Angel” also means “messenger” or “Spirit” also means “breath”.

 

[marks]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

This is one place where I see Satan being contextualized as a personal being.

Luke 10:16-20 KJV
16) He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
17) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Don't rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, even Satan fell from heaven. Rejoice because your names are written there.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Technically both.
The word translated “Satan” in English also means “accuser”, so it can vary from verse to verse just as “Angel” also means “messenger” or “Spirit” also means “breath”.

Good point!

Devil, from diabolos, "slanderer".

Satan, "adversary".

Like when Jesus said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan! He may have been saying that Peter was being his adversary, rather than actually calling him Satan, as in, the devil. Still it would have left a sting!

Much love!

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

Good point!

Devil, from diabolos, "slanderer".

Satan, "adversary".

Like when Jesus said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan! He may have been saying that Peter was being his adversary, rather than actually calling him Satan, as in, the devil. Still it would have left a sting!

Much love!

The point is that we are all of Satan or under such a influence due to the Stain of original Sin, Jesus had not risen yet, so Peter tho he had faith in Jesus but did not truly know who Jesus truly was in fact, until Jesus went to Heaven.
The same is with a water baptised they have faith in Jesus but they do not know Jesus truly, until they become truly born again.

If one is not for Christ Jesus, then they are in the sewer with Satan.
The works of the Devil is a diabolical slanderer.

Devil is commonly applied to them angels who with Satan, rebelled against God.
A devil is an angel who by revolt against God has lost supernatural grace.
Lucifer is known as the Devil; the other devils, as demons.
Lucifer leads the rebelling angels, the devils want to be like to God, so to rob him of his supremacy as their creator. they ensnare and persecute people.
Angels are messengers their can be good and also their is the bad ones.

 

[JohnDB]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

Yes.

 

[Enoch111]

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil...

Are they Bible-believing Christians, since the Bible is very clear about who Satan is?

 

[lilygrace]

Isaiah 14:12-14
King James Version

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 

[Brakelite]

KJV Luke 10:18
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

KJV Revelation 12:9, 13
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.....
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

A metaphor cannot persecute the church.

 

[Michiah-Imla]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

Satan is a real entity.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

Both.

 

[lforrest]

Reducing Satan to an metaphor seems like a ploy to give universalism greater merit. If there is no devil, angels, demons, etc there is no need for a literal hell. And then dead humans can't go there either.

 

[Addy]

Reducing Satan to an metaphor seems like a ploy to give universalism greater merit. If there is no devil, angels, demons, etc there is no need for a literal hell. And then dead humans can't go there either.

I had to look up that word the other day... I had NO idea that some people don't believe that hell is a place for eternity... they claim
a loving God could never torture a soul for eternity... God is more than just LOVING... HE is also JUST... and that means those who are going to hell... will be there for good cause. I don't have a problem understanding this.

 

[Waiting on him]

I had to look up that word the other day... I had NO idea that some people don't believe that hell is a place for eternity... they claim
a loving God could never torture a soul for eternity... God is more than just LOVING... HE is also JUST... and that means those who are going to hell... will be there for good cause. I don't have a problem understanding this.

Hi addy, would you list a few of these good causes?

 

[amadeus]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

And if we get this right but miss seeing God, where does that leave us?

If we look in the mirror and are unable to see Satan, should we go looking for him?

Should we seek the face of God or the face of the devil?

What was it God told David?

"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." Psalm 27:8-9

And did God promise to show us the face of our adversary?

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." I John 3:2

John was not writing about Satan!

And what is it that Matthew wrote here?

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

Are we to look for a devil or for a hell?

 

[Pearl]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

Luke 10:18
He (Jesus) replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

So Satan is a real entity.

 

[Mantis]

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

I recently heard that 40% of Christians think that Satan is a metaphor for evil... What do u think

Is Satan a real entity or a metaphor for evil?

40% of Christians probably haven’t read the Bible

 

[Addy]

Hi addy, would you list a few of these good causes?

Hello @Waiting on him .... No I am not able to list a few of those good causes because they would all be guesses at best.
The bible states there is ONE unforgivable sin... I believe there are those who will have committed this sin.
Again... I'm not sure that anyone can absolutely identify what that looks like. I have ideas about this... but this is not a topic
I have studied.

Everyone is accountable before God for how they lived their lives... It will be FAIR in the end. God is JUST... and HE is GOOD... so I guess
my point is I don't have to know the particulars of it all... but YES... I do believe hell is eternal.

 

[Cristo Rei]

Are they Bible-believing Christians, since the Bible is very clear about who Satan is?

I don't know who they surveyed.
I've ever contemplated anything else but Satan as an entity.
Inrerestingly one person has voted the other way but

 

[Cristo Rei]

It looks as though some people are responding to me with the belief that I think Satan is a metaphor... No no no no

Let me just be clear about my own belief...

I believe Satan is a real entity...

Ok...

So there's no need to be quoting scripture to me to prove that...
Thanks