Is the Devil a Person or a Principle?

Question:

Is there a personal devil? Do “devil” and “Satan” refer to an evil principle or a person?

Answer:

1. There is but one devil, in the Greek ho Diabolos, the devil. When the word occurs in the plural in the common version, it is from “demon.” The devil is the head of all the demons or evil spirits.
2. He is called “that old serpent,” “the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” (Revelation 12:9).
3. “Satan” means adversary, and the devil is the adversary of God.
4. He is everywhere represented as a personal, intelligent, planning, scheming, plotting, morally responsible personality. (See Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 10:18; Jude 9; 1 John 3:8; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; Job 1 and 2, et al.).
5. He is called “dragon,” and “serpent,” because he first tempted man in that form. Genesis 3:3, 4. He is called “prince of this world” and “god of this world,” because earthly kingdoms have yielded to him, and he has deceived all mankind, and the majority have followed and served him. (See John 12:31; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9). He is therefore called “King of Babylon,” and “King of Tyre.” (Isaiah 14:4; Ezekiel 28:12).
6. He was once an angel of light, one of the day or morning stars, named Lucifer (light-bringer), and was the very highest of all God’s creation. (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28: 12-15).
7. From this high position, he fell because of pride and became an accuser, an adversary, a liar, a deceiver, and a murderer. He will finally be destroyed forever with sin, and God’s universe will be clean. (See Ezekiel 28:16-19; Hebrews 2:14).