Ignorance About Satan

There is widespread ignorance about Satan among people of all faiths. From comic strips in newspapers to numerous movies, we often see false portrayals of who or what Satan is. In comics, Satan is depicted wearing a red suit, with a tail and horns. While these images of a physical Satan may be entertaining, they are misleading and can cause many doubts, especially among young people.

In the Bible, Satan is described as the hater, accuser, adversary, or opposing spirit. The most detailed reference to Satan is in the New Testament, where the Greek term “diabolos” is translated as “devil” and “Beelzebub.” He is also called “prince of this world” (John 14:30) and “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

Throughout the New Testament, various descriptions reveal how Satan’s force operates. John 8:44 states that Satan is the father of lies. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter describes Satan as a roaring lion walking around to seek whom he may devour. James 4:7 adds that Satan is a coward who will flee if resisted.

According to the Bible, the purpose of human life is that humans play a key role in the ongoing war between good and evil. This is clearly illustrated in Job 1-2, where God and Satan confront each other over whether good or evil is superior. Atheism offers no purpose for human existence, so only faith can provide an answer to this question. Jesus repeatedly provided solutions to Satan’s attacks.

We learn in John 4:24 that God is a Spirit. Ephesians 6:12 explains that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 3:10-11 shows that God’s goal was that through the Church (the called-out souls, not a building or denomination) “the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Satan is real, but he is a spiritual being, not a cartoon character or a misguided human as depicted in movies. Ignorance about Satan is a serious matter because it has eternal consequences.  

— John N. Clayton © 2025