Satan = Adversary

Satan and the Devil: Adversary and Accuser

This one may shake ones theology and present a severe case of cognitive dissonance. But just stay with me.

When most Christians hear the words satan or devil, they immediately think of a supernatural fallen being. But the Bible itself gives these words a more basic meaning.

The Hebrew word satan means adversary or opponent.

In Numbers 22:22, the angel of the LORD stood in Balaam’s way “for an adversary against him.” The Hebrew word there is satan.

In 1 Kings 11:14 we read:

“And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite.”

Again, the word is satan. Hadad was not a supernatural devil. He was simply an opponent.

This is very important. The Greek word translated devil, diabolos, carries the idea of a slanderer or false accuser. Paul even uses the same word when describing human beings:

1 Timothy 3:11 “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.”

διάβολος “Slanderers” meaning diabolos in the Greek. dee-ab'-ol-os. From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan - false accuser, devil, slanderer.

“Slanderers” comes from the same word translated devil elsewhere.

This background becomes very important when we come to the ministry of Jesus.

Follow the thought:

Jesus told certain Jewish opponents:

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil…”

And what were they doing?

Jesus had already told them:

John 8:37 “…ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.”

They were opposing Him, accusing Him, lying about Him, and seeking His death.

Jesus later connected that same generation with Israel’s long history of persecuting God’s messengers:

Matthew 23:31–32 “Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.”

Another way of saying this is “go ahead and finish what your fathers started.”

The same pattern continued against the apostles.

Paul wrote concerning his Jewish persecutors:

1 Thessalonians 2:15–16 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us… Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway…

They were acting as adversaries to Christ and His gospel. This also helps explain Revelation’s language:

Revelation 2:9 the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Σατανᾶς Satanas; of Heb. or. H7854; the adversary, Satan, i.e. the devil: Satan

And:

Revelation 12:10 “…the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

That description fits the historical situation perfectly. The early Christians were continually being accused, slandered, persecuted, and brought before rulers by those opposing the gospel.

Even Jesus called Peter Satan:

Matthew 16:23 “Get thee behind me, Satan…”

We all know that Peter had not suddenly become a supernatural fallen entity. At that moment, he was standing as an adversary to what Christ was about to accomplish.

Peter knew who He was but failed to realize what He came to do and fulfill God’s will.

So perhaps we need to allow scripture to define its own language.

Satan means adversary.

Devil means accuser or slanderer.

And throughout the first century, Jesus and the apostles faced very real adversaries and accusers particularly among the covenant leadership that rejected Christ, persecuted the prophets, opposed the apostles, and attempted to stop the gospel.

That makes Revelation’s victory language incredibly powerful.

Revelation 12:10 Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down…

The adversary was being defeated. The accuser was losing his authority. Those in the old persecuting order were passing away. And the kingdom of Christ was prevailing.

A Brief Follow-Up

Please note: this does not mean that every use of the word Satan must automatically refer to the Jewish leadership, but it does mean we should stop assuming that “Satan” always means a supernatural cosmic being. This assumption not only weakens but corrupts the passage.

In the first-century conflict surrounding Jesus and the apostles, the covenant leadership repeatedly acted as the adversary opposing Christ, accusing His followers, persecuting the Church, and resisting the advance of the gospel. In that historical setting, they were functioning as the satan, devils and the adversarial power standing against God’s new covenant work in their own generation.

Too many people live constantly looking over their shoulder for the devil rebuking, fighting, and blaming Satan for every hardship that comes their way. But not everything bad that happens is a spiritual attack. Sometimes life simply happens. We face trouble, disappointment, loss, and difficulty because we live in a broken world.

Our confidence should not be in how loudly we rebuke the enemy, but in how completely Christ has already won. God is for us, not against us. We can live from victory instead of fear.

Stop the spiritual warfare and simply trust God. Remember the armor in Ephesians was never to fight, it was to always stand!

There is peace and rest once understanding this.