The Nature and Powers of Satan
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The Nature and Powers of Satan (Contents)
Intelligence and Knowledge — Satan’s Mental Capacity Compared to Humanity Wisdom and Maturity — The Corruption of Satan’s Insight Power and Strength — Satan’s Spiritual Force and Mental Dominance Communication and Persuasion — The Father of Lies and Angel of Light Education and Religious Knowledge — Satan’s Theological Fluency and…
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Intelligence and Knowledge — Satan’s Mental Capacity Compared to Humanity
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction Among the most striking features of Satan in the Bible is his profound intelligence and knowledge. Unlike mythological or dualistic portrayals of evil, Scripture presents Satan not merely as chaotic or mindless, but as a cunning adversary endowed…
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Wisdom and Maturity — The Corruption of Satan’s Insight
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction Wisdom in biblical theology is not merely the possession of knowledge but the righteous and reverent application of truth. Satan, though once created “full of wisdom” (Ezekiel 28:12), is depicted as a being whose wisdom became perverted through…
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Power and Strength — Satan’s Spiritual Force and Mental Dominance
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction While the Bible does not attribute omnipotence or divine sovereignty to Satan, it does affirm that he possesses real, limited, and dangerous power. His strength is not primarily physical, but rather spiritual, psychological, and systemic—exercised through temptation, demonic…
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Communication and Persuasion — The Father of Lies and Angel of Light
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction Satan’s primary method of influence throughout Scripture is not brute force, but speech, persuasion, and deceptive communication. From his subtle dialogue with Eve in the Garden to his misquotation of Scripture to Christ, Satan is portrayed as an…
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Education and Religious Knowledge — Satan’s Theological Fluency and Spiritual Counterfeit
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction One of the Bible’s most startling insights is that Satan is not ignorant of theology. He possesses profound religious knowledge, not only of Scripture but also of divine worship, doctrine, and celestial order. His fall did not strip…
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Experience and Strategic History — Satan’s Long-Term Influence from Eden to the End
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction In contrast to human beings—who live within the constraints of time, mortality, and generational forgetting—Satan operates across millennia. His strategic experience is cumulative, extending from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) through biblical history and into the eschatological…
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Philosophy and Ideology — Satan’s Role in Shaping False Worldviews
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction Satan’s influence is not limited to personal temptation; it extends to the ideological and philosophical architecture of societies. The Bible presents him as the spiritual force behind worldviews, cultural systems, and deceptive thought patterns that oppose the knowledge…
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Can Satan Know Human Thoughts? — A Theological Clarification of Satan’s Cognitive Limitations
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction One of the most critical and often misunderstood questions in spiritual warfare is whether Satan can read or know human thoughts. While Satan is portrayed in Scripture as intelligent, experienced, and highly observant, the Bible makes a clear…
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Mental and Emotional Control — Satan’s Influence on the Human Heart and Mind
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction The battlefield of spiritual warfare is not merely external—it is fought primarily in the mind and emotions. Scripture portrays Satan as a master manipulator of thoughts, feelings, and desires. He does not merely tempt through external acts but…
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Authority and Supernatural Influence — Satan’s Limited Dominion and Spiritual Operations
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction Satan is often misunderstood as either too weak to be feared or too powerful to be resisted. The Bible presents a balanced view: he wields real authority and supernatural influence, but always under divine limitation. He is described…
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Limitations Compared to God (and Humans in Christ) — Satan’s Boundaries, Defeat, and Final Judgment
The Nature and Powers of Satan – A Biblical-Theological Series 1. Introduction While Satan is portrayed throughout Scripture as powerful, cunning, and dangerous, he is also consistently shown to be limited, finite, and ultimately defeatable. He is not an equal opposite to God but a created being under sovereign constraint.…