Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-23
THE DEVIL.


THE DEVIL.
The Question of the Existence Of Such Be
ing Considered.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Having examined specimens of the different
kinds Of hell in the bible, and failing to find it
place where Immortal sous tornented to
all eternity, popularity taught, begin to
think that some mistake may have been mad Q
with reference to His Satanic Majesty, sup
posed to preside over those sultry regions. We
are led to inquire then in The light Of scripture
testimony, whether there is an immortal spir-
itual monster, the concentrated essence of all
evil, commonly known satan and devil. We
do not propose to institute search TO" the
words satan and decil they like the word
hell, of very frequent occurrence in the sacred
volume, but do they point out that being sup
posed to be the i'm pacable enemy and tempter
of the human race? This. then, is the ques-
ton. what do the words satan and devil teach?
There is bible doctrine of the devi, there
is bible doctrine of God. The bible contains
three words relied upon to teach the popular
theory by Satan, Diabalos and damon, He
brew word, and Satan Is transferred to the
English bible untranslated from the original
tongue. Cruden (himself believer in the
popular deviD defines it fol-
lows: SATAN, Satnan, SathanaS; this
is mere Hebrew word, and signifies
AN ADVERSARY, AN ENEMY, AN ACCUsER.''
Parkhurst, in his Greek lexicon quotes Camp
bell saying in his Prelim. Dssert, p. 1877, that
Satan, though conceived by us proper name,
was appellative in the language spoken by
our Lord; for from the Hebrew il passed into
the Syriac, and signi6ed no more than adversary
or opponent. 1t is naturally just applicable
to human as to spiritual agents, and is in the
Old Testament often SO applied"
We will introduce passages from the Old T.s-
lament where the translato1s have performed
their duty faithfully in translating the word,
and set aside the idea of diabolical agency:
''And David said, what have to do with you,
ye sons Of Zeyuiah, that ye should this day be
ad0ersaries (Satans) unto me. I'D Sam, 1922.
But now the Lord my God hath given me rest
every side, that there is neither adlcrSu1y
(Satan) nor evil occurrent. ~ Kings, 5:4.
And the Lord stirred up an adversary (Sa-
tam unto Solomon, Hdlgd the E6omite; he
was of the kings seed in Edom."-1 Kings,
lila.
In the cases above cited there is no confusion
or doubt as to the Satans named being human
agents. If the translators had discharged their
functions faithfully in all cases where Satan
occurs the popular satanic theory would have
been deprived of its wonderful power over the
minds of the naturally superstitious.
The Hebrew word Satan was adopted into
the Greek language without translation, whence
we meet with it in the New Testament. We will
invite attention to samples of its use there:
Il know thy works and where thou dwellest,
even
WHERE sATANs SEAT IS
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not
denied my faith, even in those days when
Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain
among you
WHERE SATAN DwELLETH.-Rev. 2:13.
If this is to be taken proof of the clerical
devil We shall have no trouble in fixing the
locality of hell (his abode.) See previous verse.
And to the angel of the church in PerganaoS.
Pergamos appears from this to be the capital
ali speculation as to locality may now be set
aside. Pulpit orators here had no little trouble
i'll fixing the precise latitude Of his majesty's
metropolis: but if this is to be regarded as
proper testimony on the subject, they may
speak positively and definitely.
Pergamos was in Asia Minor, not far from
Constantincple, where, judging from present
appearances, the Prince of Darkness is more
than usually active just now. Dismissing the
popular idea of a spiritual devil as too absurd
for common sense We find the truth to be
| m ply this: Pergamos was the headquarters
of the truth, all human agencies. We will next
| notice what Jesus said to Peter On certain oc-
casion:
But he turned and said unto Peter, get thee
behind me, Satan; thou art an offense unto
me; for thou savourest not the things that be
of God, but those that be of .''-Math. 16:
%; Mark 1888; Luke 4:8.
Understanding Satan to mean adversary, or
opposer all is plain; by consulting the contix
we learn that Jesus has been telling his discl-
pies that he must go To Jerusalem to suffer and
die. Peter protested against this BE 1t far from
thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee. This was
Gods plan. Peter by opposing became Satan,
IN the bible sense. We might cite all the oc-
| currences of Satan in the New Testament to
| the same effect All will be found capable of
! solution upon the same principle. Read ad-
Versary, opposer,. in the place of Satan. and by
paying attention to tho circumstances under
which the word is used, all idea of superhu-
man devil will vanish. We get the popular
idea attached to the word-on the same princi-
pie the boy squeezed cider out of cotton-we
| put it in first.
We next come to the word devil, word of
| frequent occurrence in the New Testament
and more especially relied upon to
prove the existence of the arch rebel
| OF the universe. Cruden remarks: ssThis
word came from the Greek diabolos which
| signifies culminator or accuser.'' Parkhurst
| says: The original word dia6ozos comes from
| diabebol0, the perfect tense, middle voice of
! dtabaAo, which is compounded of dia, through,
| 6atto, to cast; therefore, meaning to dart or
| strike through; whence in fgurative sense it
signifies to strike stab Nth an accusation of
| eVE report. Hence Parkhurst defines diabolOs
as substantive, to mean ''an accuser, a SLAM
! derer.''
! This he illustrates by reference to / Tim,
3:11; I'd Tim. 33; Titus, 2:3; in all of which
human beings are the devils. The translators
to cover up the word devil in these cases, think
ing, no doubt, it would look little rough to
call deacons and old ladies such hard names
as the popular idea of devil would import;
! translate di0bolOus slanderers. Even so must
their wives be grave, not slande'8rs (dia5o1ous)
sober, faithful in all things''-l Tim, 3:3. The
aged women likewise, that they be in behavior
as becometh holiness, not false accuscrs (0ia5o-
| tous) not given to much wine teachers of good
things; Titus, 23.
Paul in speaking of the perilous times of the
last days says, men shall be truce breakers
d9ls Sc accnseys (diabooD incontinent, etc., see
20 Tim, 3:3.
This is all plain enough in view of the cor
rect meaning of the word, but perfect fog with
the clerical devil in mind.
Jesus applied the term to the prosecuting au-
thorities of the Roman state. he said in his
letter through John to the church at SMYRNA.
The devil shall cast some of you into prison. i
Rev, 2:lO.) The pagan Roman authorities were
the accusers of the early Christians, bent on