According to the biblical worldview behind all the evil in the world lies the devil. The Greek work for devil, diablos, translates the Hebrew word Satan. We are not told very much about the origins of Satan in the Bible. There is a hint that he may have been a fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12-23). He appears on a few occasions in the books of the Old Testament (Job 1; 1Chronicles 21:1). He is not merely a force but is personal. We are given a clearer picture of his activities in the New Testament. The devil is a personal spiritual being, who is in open rebellion against God and has the leadership of many demons like himself. Paul tells us to take our ‘stand against the devil’s schemes. For 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 6:11-12). The devil and his angels, according to Paul, are not to be underestimated. They are cunning. They are powerful. They are evil. Therefore we should not be surprised when we come under a powerful assault from the enemy.

Nicky Gumbel

Nicky Gumbel, Alpha Questions of Life, 2007, Eastbourne: Kingsway Communications, p.158