Who is our adversary?
- Read 2 Corinthians 10: 3-4; Ephesians 6: 10-18; 1 Peter 5:8
– Our warfare is not carnal – in the natural realm, rather it is spiritual – in the spiritual realm.
– Our adversary is not human, tangible, flesh and blood.
– Our adversary is a spiritual being, waging his warfare in the invisible world, but we see the effects in our natural/physical world. - In Scripture, he is referred to as Satan H7854, a masculine noun – the name or title given to a person.
– This proper masculine noun Satan actually comes from H7853, a verb, also satan. Its meaning originates from a primitive root which means to attack or a lier in wait. Figuratively, it means accuse: (be an) adversary, resist.
– This verb is translated into the English word “adversaries” 5 times in the KJV (Psalms 38:20; 71:13; 109:4, 20, 29 and into another English word “resist” once in the KJV (Zechariah 3:1).
– Its biblical usage is mainly “to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose.”
Satan, the proper noun, is used in scripture to refer to one who withstands, an adversary as in war (in general – personal or national), and as a superhuman adversary. A satan is an opponent; Satan is the arch-enemy of good.
3. Let us examine the verses where the Hebrew word, satan, was translated into various English words. It occurs 27 times in 23 verses in the KJV:
– Adversary/adversaries – Numbers 22: 22; 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 5:44; 1 Kings 11:14, 23, 25;
– Withstand – Numbers 22:32
– Satan – 1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1: 6-9, 12; Job 2:1-4, 6-7; Psalms 109:6; Zechariah 3: 1-2
In the New Testament, we see more occurrences of the word Satan. This word in the New Testament was translated from the Greek word, Satanas, also a proper masculine noun. Satanas has an Aramic that corresponds to the Greek word (G4566) Satan. This Greek word finds its origin in the Hebrew word satan. The Greek word Satan occurs only once in the New Testament – 2 Corinthians 12:7. Satan, as used in the verse above, refers to the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and Christ.
All other English translations of the word Satan in the New Testament were translated from the Greek word Satanas – the name given to the adversary, the one who opposes another in purpose or act. There are 36 occurrences of this word in the NT. See the list below for where the word is used and what it teaches us about our adversary – Satan.
- Tempts us – Mark 1:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5
- Incites us to apostasy – Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8
- Has a kingdom – Luke 11: 14-19
- Is Beelzebub, the chief of the devils – Luke 11:15, 18
- Fell from heaven – Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:9
- Can influence our thoughts – Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33
- Possesses men to act through them – Luke 22:3; John 13:27
- Desires to have us – Luke 22:31
- Through his demons to take possession of the bodies of men and to afflict them with diseases – Luke 13: 11-13,16 (compare with Matthew 12:26); 2 Corinthians 12:7
- Has power over men – Acts 26:18
- With God’s assistance we can bruise him – Romans 16:20
- Is able to destroy the flesh – 1 Corinthians 5:5 (compare with Job 2: 4-6)
- Is able to get the advantage of us – 2 Corinthians 2:11
- Can transform into an angel of light and deceive men – 2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9
- Hinders us – 1 Thessalonian 2:18
- Is used as an instrument for our learning – 1 Timothy 1:20
- Has his church, his followers, his synagogue – 1 Timothy 5:15; Revelation 2:9; 3:9
- Has a seat or dwelling place, even here on earth – Revelation 2:13
- Is also called the old serpent, the great dragon, and the Devil – Revelation 12:9; 20:2
- On Christ’s return from heaven he will be bound with chains for a thousand years, but when the thousand years are finished he will walk the earth in yet greater power, but shortly after will be given over to eternal punishment – Revelation 20:2-10
Time for Action:
- From the verses above, select two characters with whom you can relate regarding the opposition or attack of the adversary in your life.
- What was the remedy given by God to counteract that attack or opposition?
- Use it in your life today.
DIG DEEPER:
- Blog Post – Symptoms
- Devotional – Be Sober, Be Vigilant!
- Prayer Room – A Cry for Discernment