Ancient Beliefs on Satan?

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I can't find anything anywhere's on Satan! I'm looking for church councils, or infalliables proclomations etc. on Satan and who he is. I know he's mentioned in the Old Testament but some people believe Satan was a variety of angels sent by God to test people and not one being as being the "father of lies." I believe what our church teachs about him but I am trying to find ancient writtings about this.

Where St. Peter, St. Paul or any other of the apostles aware that Satan was ONE DARK ANGELIC BEING? And did the jews of the OT days believe this? I mean, where does it exactly say that Satan rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven?

I just cannot find a straight answer for this anywheres.

-- Jason (Enchantedfire5@yahoo.com), January 28, 2005

Answers

Can't answer on the "cast out of Heaven' part, most tend to use a Pasge from Isaiah, now thoguth not to mean it. However, a for Satan beign a single intety, the Angel known iN english as "Satan", is in hebrew known as "Heylel".

Below is rom the Book of Job, King James Version.

Job 1

1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10. Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 13. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14. And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 19. And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Seems pretty clear form the above satan is a single being, intent o mischeif.

as for rather or not Satan is rebellious, i differ for now. sorry I didnt keep up on the last post, been busy.

It is interestign to note that Job is perhaps the oldest book int he entire Bible, so beelif in Satan is anceint indeed.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), January 28, 2005.

Scripture repeatedly refers to Satan as "he", "his", "himself", etc., indicating that he is a single being (Matt 4:26; Mark 3:26; 2 Cor 2:11; 2 Cor 11:14; Rev 20:7; etc.).

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), January 28, 2005.
Satan's fall from heaven:

"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Lc 10,18

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), January 29, 2005.

are you all sure that satan is a person?

instead of a metaphor maybe for the maximal deviation from god?

-- sdqa (sdqa@sdqa.com), January 29, 2005.

Some books which I remember reading from an bibilography in New Covenant Magazine many years ago: Deliver us from the Evil by Pope John Paul II. Power of Healing by Fr. Francis McNutt. Ministry of deliverence (forgot the author), and many good ones by eminent priests and experts, now I don't remember fully. I believe the address for the books was: Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Just check out!).

I also remember 2 simple quotes (not exact words, but the sense): "Evil does not mean just absence of something good, but something positively evil, perverted and perverting." Pope Paul II.

"Satan who is dark himself, covers himself in more darkness, so as to confuse men about activity or his very existance."

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), January 30, 2005.

As I closed the computer, I remembered the name of another eminent priest I was trying to remember, Fr. Michael Scanlon who too has written some books on the demonic powers.

I suggest you read both old and new authors. In the old, the nature and powers of the devils and their is vulnerability is shown. Some of them like Cure of Ars, St. Bernard, St. Ignatius of Loyala, etc. In the new, Holy Spirit unviels and reveals much more about the nature and the novel and subtle ways of the evil in light of our times, like the authors I have given before. There may be many more. It is more than 10 years and I have not kept track after that.

In the Bible, the Church Fathers considered Isaiah.14:4ff as refering Luciphor, leader the devils or Satan, and also Ezekial 28:11-19, looks something close.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), January 31, 2005.

Jason asked And did the jews of the OT days believe [Satan was ONE DARK ANGELIC BEING?]? no one else has answered, so I did a bit of research and here is what I found: Jews of the (Christian) Old Testament share the same beliefs on this as do modern, February 2005 Jews - that Satan is NOT "dark" or evil. He is one of many angels, or agents of God. God created evil, not Satan. "[Satan's] job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it can be a meaningful choice" (see the link to Question 12.35 below where this quote is from). Here are two passages that are often quoted to support this. I'll use Vatican's version of Deuteronomy Chapter 30 since this is the Catholic forum. Of course any translation of an ancient document will differ based on the translator (and subsequent translator); a more traditional Jewish translation of line 15 is: See, I [God] have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. The story of Job provides an example of this; God sent (or allowed if you prefer) Satan to test Job. Satan obeyed; Job passed the test. Again, Satan is one of many angels, or agents of God. (If you'd like to read more on the subject from a Jewish/(Christian) Old Testament point of view, check out a short answer here: Question 12.35: What does Judaism believe about Satan? and more explanation in Does Judaism Believe in Satan? which explains this in the context of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 05, 2005.
Presence of a dark evil force is a reality. In the Old Testament, things are unclear or partial. In Christ, things become clear and complete. Holy Spirit guiding the Church, helps her to define and express it in clear terms, so that is no doubt in the faithful.

In the book of Job, it is clear that Satan is an outsider who intrudes into the presence of God his Sons (not one among them). The job of Satan here is to roam all around the world so that he can bring a bad report or accuse someone. The aim is to challenge God and His Kingdom values with his own dark values. In the case of Job, he wanted to prove to God that truly there was no one who truly fears/loves God in the world. If Job is so good, it because of all the innumerable good things he has received from God. Therefore, if all the good things were to be withdrawn from him, then Job will have nothing to do with God. In fact, he will surely curse Him. Satan felt thus, because it is his own very nature. No love, no trust, no obedience. You may good as long as it is profitable to you, even to God. But then Job proved him wrong and glorified God even after losing everything. As we come into the season of Lent, let us be aware of 3 enemies, the flesh, the world, and the devil. Let us pray, read the scriptures, practice abstinence, fasting, penance, intercession, works of mercy, etc., which are indeed weapons against the enemies of our soul. Let us not forget that Satan is a real person, but he hides himself in thick darkness so that none may suspect even his very existence. Only the Holy Spirit can help us to uncover the cunning fox with his pants down.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), February 06, 2005.

Leslie said In the book of Job, it is clear that Satan is an outsider who intrudes into the presence of God his Sons (not one among them).

I looked up the specific verse you are probably referring to in two translations to see if a Catholic version and a Jewish version match, and in fact they do:

Vatican Job 1: 6:

And a Jewish translation Eyov (Job) 1: 6: You raise an excellent question here, one that I will have to do more research on, namely is the following true in the Jewish faith:

[Satan] is one of many angels, or agents of God.

- - - - -

That doesn't change the fact that in the book of Job Satan is not rebelling against God; it was God that asked Satan about Job, not the other way around as you suggest when you said that Satan roam[s] all around the world so that he can bring a bad report or accuse someone. That may be the case in other passages, but is NOT the case in Job.

Again from the Vatican version of Job 1:8:

Satan then requested Gods permission to test Job, God agrees and sets limits on what Satan can do when testing Job, and apparently Satan does what God commanded him to do and follows those limits.

You mention the reason Satan responded to God's question about Job: Satan felt thus, because it is his own very nature.

I agree with this, yes, but I suspect for a very different reason than you do. God created all things. God created Satan, God created evil, and gave us the ability to choose between good and evil. And again "[Satan's] job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it can be a meaningful choice"

Please don't confuse what I am talking about here, which is trying to provide information to answer Jason's question about what Jews think of Satan, with what Catholics think of Satan. They are two very different things; I'm happy to talk about one or the other, or compare the two, but please lets keep things straight.

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 06, 2005.

Leslie, have you had a chance to consider a response to my statment that in "the book of Job Satan is not rebelling against God; it was God that asked Satan about Job, not the other way around"?

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 08, 2005.
Sorry, for being late. My work was too hectic, even without a Sunday! [Satan] is one of many angels, or agents of God.

Satan was one of the (most glorious) angels of God. Now, a fallen one. Read Ezekial 28:11-19, a lament is figuratively addressed to the king of Tyre (Satan himself desires to set himself above God as a king). See reason of his fall in v:17. Isaiah.14:12- 20 is a bit more clear. Why should God address such a lament against Satan if he is such a obedient servant.

We know those who are in God's Holy Presence are blameless, holy, and attain perfection by themselves, especially angels. But we read that God charges his angels with error, see Job.4:13 and 15:15. Isn't this in reference of that small speck of pride referred to in Ezekial.28:17?

That doesn't change the fact that in the book of Job Satan is not rebelling against God; it was God that asked Satan about Job, not the other way around as you suggest when you said that Satan roam[s] all around the world so that he can bring a bad report or accuse someone. That may be the case in other passages, but is NOT the case in Job.

Actually, it a post-rebellious period

Satan then requested Gods permission to test Job, God agrees and sets limits on what Satan can do when testing Job, and apparently Satan does what God commanded him to do and follows those limits.

It is actually not a request, but a challenge, which God accepts and allows Satan to have his way, playing fairly even in an unfair game.

I agree with this, yes, but I suspect for a very different reason than you do. God created all things.

God created all things very good. See Gen.1:31.

God created Satan, God created evil

Wrong dear friend. God created angels and created only good. Nothing evil/bad can come from God who is the source all good things. Any deviation would mean ungodliness. and gave us the ability to choose between good and evil This I agree with you. Again "[Satan's] job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it can be a meaningful choice

Our own natural carnal desires and today's worldliness are true challenges, against whom we should make a choice for God and His values. Satan is a distinct person. His nature is to decieve us into doing evil.

There is a difference between testing and temptation. God tests humans for their good. Satan does not test. His nature is to tempt us so that we may succumb into evildoing for sake of some profit and we be eternally cut off from God like himself is cut off. This is vengence and hatred against God because of his hurt pride. We as Christians are supposed accept tests for as a part of spiritual purification and santification. Tests make us strong Christians. But we are supposed to flee temptation, like in Genesis wher Joseph flees from the advances of Potipher's wife. Test are good challenges. Temptations are booby traps by the evil one who wants to devour us. Sorry, I wanted to put something more, but I have little time. Thanks for your zeal for truth!

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), February 08, 2005.

Thank you for the response... I don't have time to 'digest' it today, but will do so as soon as I can and respond.

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 08, 2005.
But Lelie, that is the Generally acceted Christain veiw. The Jewish Veiw is as Pat stated, that Satan was an angle, a "Son of God", and acted within God's limits.

evi however is not created by God, but rather is merley crruption of that which is Good.

Satan is merley Gods prosecuting atouny.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 08, 2005.

Take your time Pat. Even though, I read many a times, but I do not get enough time to contribute. Sometimes, I try to sneak in time little by little (even between work hours) over some days and type.

You are right Zarove. I know Pat is Jew, but I was of the view that Jews had similar beliefs like that of Christians. Anyway, Pat seems to me a quite decent and open-minded person and seeking truths from different sources (even from Taoism). Since, he is discussing this in a catholic forum, I don't think it is inappropriate to present him our beliefs (the Church view and also the fruits of our personal ponderings on similar lines).

I am just curious how do Jews interpret the Old Testament where there are references to the devil/Satan.

1. Gen.3 - Serpent deceives man and then God curses the serpent. Should not have God blessed him for doing his job so well (Pat says he doing God's work).

2. Leviticus - 16:6 - Scapegoat (Azazel in Hebrew), has references to the devil.

3. Wisdom - 2:24 - By envy of the devil death came into the world (not God's will).

I guess Jews may have different interpretations of the same, but would like to know what?

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), February 09, 2005.

Take your time Pat. Even though, I read many a times, but I do not get enough time to contribute. Sometimes, I try to sneak in time little by little (even between work hours) over some days and type.

{nO COMMENT.}-Zarove

You are right Zarove. I know Pat is Jew, but I was of the view that Jews had similar beliefs like that of Christians.

{Simialr but not identical, Ill explain later if I have time.}-Zarove

Anyway, Pat seems to me a quite decent and open-minded person and seeking truths from different sources (even from Taoism). Since, he is discussing this in a catholic forum, I don't think it is inappropriate to present him our beliefs (the Church view and also the fruits of our personal ponderings on similar lines).

{Agred, but the Jewish Idea was spacificlaly requeasted.}-Zarove

I am just curious how do Jews interpret the Old Testament where there are references to the devil/Satan.

{Ill answer, I know a bit.}-Zarove

1. Gen.3 - Serpent deceives man and then God curses the serpent. Should not have God blessed him for doing his job so well (Pat says he doing God's work).

{Since Jews do not inteprret the Serpent as Satan, no.

Same as me, Jews intepret the Serpent as a serpent, NOT as Satan. This is a Bias of reading you have as a christain, but the Jews do not accept the pasage as "Satan tempted even and caused the fall fo Man", but rather interpret it as " A Serpent temtped eve and caused Mans expulsion form paridise." Since satan wa snot in that episode, then it serves no logic to say "God Sgould have rewarded him for doiugn his job so well."}-Zarove

2. Leviticus - 16:6 - Scapegoat (Azazel in Hebrew), has references to the devil.

{Does it? I rad the entire chapter, no reference ot Satan is made.}- Zarove

3. Wisdom - 2:24 - By envy of the devil death came into the world (not God's will).

{Not part of the Jewish Cannon. I know Cahtolcis have it in the Old Testament, and tend tot hink Protestants removed thedm beca they are disliked, but its a mistake to asusme Jews use them. They are nto seen as inpsired.Thus not part of the Tanahk.}-Zarove

I guess Jews may have different interpretations of the same, but would like to know what?

{I gave the interrpetation. But again, only relaly two pasafges apply, and neither of them reference Satan.}-Zarove

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 09, 2005.

This may be not very important, but there is reference to Azalel in Lev.6:10 (I had made a mistake before), and references are for Satan.

-- Leslie John (lesliemon@hotmail.com), February 10, 2005.
Leviticus 6:10: And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

I dont see how this is a reference to Satan...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 10, 2005.

16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

In case you meant htis.

And I still dont see the clear reference to Satan...

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 10, 2005.

Leslie, first off, thank you for your kind words, and I am most certainly interested in the Church's view. I'm learning a lot about the differences between the two religions, but also learning more about my personal interpretation of those beliefs.

To be overly literal, my point about Job was that it was God who mentioned Job first, and asked Satan about Job. It wasn't Satan who said "I say this guy on earth that SEMMS good, but I want to tempt Job to show you that he will stray."

While that is important, sure, it is the general idea behind good and evil that I find so interesting here.

If I may stray from a specific Religion's beliefs into my own (which speeds things up since I don't have to find quotes!) I realized that what you've described is really very different than my basic view of 'good' and 'evil'.

You said God created angels and created only good. Nothing evil/bad can come from God who is the source all good things. Any deviation would mean ungodliness.

But then someone/something else must have created 'evil' - my view of their being one God means there is no other power capable of such creation outside of God's plan. When I said God created all things I meant the earth, the trees, but also good and evil, free will, etc...

If God created Satan/The devil then He would have done a complete and perfect job of it; there would be no way Satan/The devil would be able to undo Gods work so completely.

Therefore I believe that God created 'evil' and was responsible for giving us the ability to be evil. From this point on I think we agree (at a high level) on the benefits of our having the ability to choose.

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 10, 2005.

No --God created Satan GOOD. The fact is obvious.

Just as He creates us all good, and we choose to offend Him ourselves. If He'd created evil He wouldn't be perfect.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), February 10, 2005.

Eugene, you say God created Satan GOOD but I assume you think Satan is now bad, and not only bad, but the SOURCE of evil? So does that mean that God made a mistake when he created Satan? I understand that a human is capable of good and evil, sure, but if God didn't CREATE evil, then who was as powerful as God to do so?!

I re-read the Book of Genesis Chapter 1, and I agree that it is not clear where the darkness that covered the earth came from... was it part of "heaven and earth"? Certainly "God divided the light from the darkness", but why at that point didn't He replace the darkness with light? Of course I don't for a second mean to question His choice (!!!), I mean He decided to leave the dark and contrast it with light. His and His alone.

As an aside, I've found another good quote to support my asertion that this is the Jewish view -- but we can continue to discuss it, of course:

(pg 120 What is a Jew by Rabbi Morris N. Kertzer, revised by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman 1993)

-- Pat Thompson (pat.thompson.45@gmail.com), February 10, 2005.
Can we work the theology of Zoroastrianism/Zarathustra in here in any way?

A 1000 to 3000 BC year old ( Many chronologies) ancient belief involving only "one" eternal god of light--- Ahura Mazda, a monotheistic conception of a being that is wholly, just, good and wise.

The adversary: Angra Mainyu being wholly evil. (Sort of Satan like)

Seems similar to our belief system. This anciant belief system touched Judaism during the time of the mixing of Iranian/Zoroastrian cultures with Alexander the Great. Alexander conqurered the Persians, and in turn ended up picking up much of their culture. Thus much of Zoroaster snuck in. (Sort of Greco-Persian)

Jews didn't have a thourougly developed conception of hell and the devil at that time as we understand it. Mixing of cultures may have brought about our current understanding of Saten.

By the way, Zoroastrian teaching tells of a devistating conflict at the end of our times when good will overpower evil. The one true god will prevail. Only the names are changed????

-- Jim (furst@flash.net), February 10, 2005.

Good question, Pat.

God is All-Good and as such is incapable of creating evil. In His Creation, good does not co-exist with evil, or, Dualism. There really was no evil to begin with. All had to be good, proceeding from God. God is the Creator of all good; the greatest Good which is Life. He says in the Old Testament (Deut) to Israel, ''Keep my commandments and LIVE.'' Or; ''I place before you life and death; choose, therefore life.'' Death is clearly an evil opposed to life. But God didn't MAKE death. We made it by rejecting life, His commandment. CHOOSE. That strictly means free will. He declares it so, and He is All-Knowing, Omniscient. If He calls it a choice, it's free will.

Satan had his choice and became evil by parting with God voluntarily. For a pure spirit, an angel, a choice is irreversible. Satan never again can choose, nor his angels. Turn away from God's love freely and there's just the Abyss; the loss of Good for eternity. Absence of life and love and happiness. That typifies pure evil, and Satan's part in Creation.

Why does this evil want to capture all of God's Creation? It's a mystery, of course. Maybe suited for another thread. Too deep to cover here.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), February 11, 2005.

Here are my thoughts on the ancient Jewish understanding of Satan taken from my online book "Putting God on Trial: The Biblical Book of Job" (http://www.bookofjob.org).

"Satan

Into this world comes a tempter. His name is “Satan”. (Job 1:6) This proper name “Satan” is a modification of the common Hebrew noun “satan”, which means “the accuser”, “the slanderer”. His name is his title, and that title aptly describes his character. He is a liar, though the extent of his lies remains for other books of The Bible to develop. In any event, this is not the portrait of a faithful servant. As a member of the heavenly host and not yet an outside challenger, he seems to have unlimited access to God and the divine council. Having reviewed the lives of men and women “from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it” (Job 1:7), Satan does not hesitate to question the justice of God when asked. For many scholars, the phrase “going to and fro” describes a member of the secret police of the ancient world. Such persons were men who did not hesitate to wrongly accuse and wrongly condemn the innocent to death. This phrase darkens the portrait of a faithless servant. And as a “slanderer”, Satan is not a just and impartial prosecutor of God’s justice. He presents a profoundly different verdict on the life of Job and, by implication, the lives of all men and women. It is his charge that brings silence to the heavenly court.

“Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:9-11) All await God’s answer to this slander.

The accusation was devilish in both origin and design. It raises three issues for consideration: one explicit and two implicit.

(1) First, Satan’s judgment brings into question God’s judgment on Job. And it does so explicitly. God’s judgment on Job is a judgment on his intentions. Job intends the good. Satan’s judgment on Job is a judgment on his motives. Job intends the good for reasons of selfishness. He does not fear God for nothing. He serves God for what he can get from God: the good life. In short, Job does not really serve God. Job manipulates God. This motive is the hidden sin. Job is a sinner. Satan’s challenge is a claim to the soul of Job. Satan’s claim here has two important elements. Job is a sinner. And Job is such a sinner that, given the right circumstances, Job will “curse” God “to his very face”. Satan’s prediction here may suggest a self-imprecation: “I’ll be damned if he doesn’t curse you to your face!” If so, then, within a canonical perspective, The Book of Job may be presenting an alternate version of the fall of Satan. In any event, blessing and cursing, righteousness and rebellion, are for Satan two sides of the same coin. Because human beings serve God out of selfishness not selfless love, they are equally apt to curse God for the loss of their rewards as they are to bless God for the receipt of those rewards. It is vitally important to remember that the essence of Satan’s claim is that God has missed sin in Job’s character. Job was not blameless. If Job sins in any way in thought, word or deed short of actually cursing God, then Satan is right and God is wrong in his judgment on Job. The reason is simple. Plot reveals character. If Job sins in his test, then that sin is an expression of a pre-existing character flaw that God missed but Satan didn’t miss.

(2) Secondly, Satan’s judgment brings into question God’s authority to judge. And it does so implicitly. If God is wrong in his judgment on Job, then God has erred. In this scene, God is called “LORD”. This is the NRSV translation of the Hebrew “JHWH” which may also be transliterated as “YHWH”. “Yahweh” is the personal name for God in the Old Testament. It is often left untranslated as YHWH. This personal name is taken from God’s self- disclosure to Moses in the burnish bush.

“But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name? What shall I say to them? God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever and this my title for all generations.” (Exodus 3:13-15) In the Exodus revelation, God’s name is given in three ways: “I AM WHO I AM”, “I AM”, and “LORD”. All three forms are forms of the Hebrew word “to be”. In Hebrew, “I AM WHO I AM” is “ehyeh asheh ehyeh”, first person singular, present tense. In Hebrew, “I AM” is “ehyeh”, a shortened form of the former, but again first person singular, present tense. In Hebrew, “LORD” is “jhwh”, third person singular, present tense. It functions as a personal name, Yahweh. This self-designation by God is the designation of a perfect being. Scholars have seen in the use of the first “I AM” a reference to essence and in the use of the second “I AM” a reference to existence. Through this name, God declares himself to be the Supreme Being, a perfect being, a being whose essence is existence. By definition, such a being is all-powerful, all- knowing, all-present and all-good. Certainly the ancient Jews understood the personal name of Yahweh to designate the perfect being God. If God is wrong in his judgment on Job, then God has ceased to be all-knowing. God has ceased to be a perfect being. The implication is clear. God should step down from his throne for God has lost the authority the one true God possess. Satan’s challenge is a claim to the throne of heaven. (3) Thirdly, Satan’s judgment brings into question God’s very purpose in the creation of humankind. And it does so implicitly. If Job is the very best humankind has to offer and God is wrong in his judgment on Job, then God is wrong in judgment on humankind. Human beings were created to freely love God. If men and women love God for what they can get from God, then their love for God is not genuine. It is manipulation not love. It is selfishness not self-giving. That selfishness may be short-term: the good life. Or that selfishness may be long term: an after-life, eternal life. If human beings cannot rise beyond selfishness, then a meaningful relationship with God is never possible in this life or the next. God is wrong in creating human beings in the first place. The entire human project is a failure and should be scrapped. Humankind itself should be destroyed. Satan’s challenge is a claim to destroy the earth and all in it. This three-fold judgment was a stroke of evil genius. With a single accusation, Satan had put God on trial. And he had done before the High Court of Heaven. In any event, this three-fold challenge carries with it profound implications for understanding Job’s so-called excessive words and his Oath of Innocence. If Job sins in any way short of actually cursing God, then God has lost it all."

-- Robert Sutherland (sutherlandrobert@shaw.ca), February 17, 2005.

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