To science the existence of Satan is an open question; it neither
can deny nor affirm it. Satan's existence and personality can be
denied therefore only on purely _a priori_ grounds. The Bible,
however, is very clear and positive in its teaching regarding the
existence of a personality of evil called the devil. It is popular
in some circles today to spell devil with the "d" left off, thus
denying his real existence.
Matt. 13:19, 39--"Then cometh the wicked one . . . . The enemy
that sowed them is the devil." John 13:2--"The devil having now
put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray
him." See also Acts 5:3; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6.
How Satan came to be is not quite as clear a fact as that he
exists. In all probability he was once a good angel. It is claimed
by scholarly and reliable interpreters that his fall is portrayed
in Ezekiel 28:12-19; cf. Isa 14:12-14. That he was once in the truth
but fell from it is evident from John 8:44. His fall (Luke 10:18)
was probably in connection with the fall of angels as set forth
in such passages as 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6. Pride (?) was one of the
causes (1 Tim. 3:6; Ezek. 28:15, 17). This fact may account for
the expression "Satan and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). Paul doubtless
refers to the fact that Satan was once an angel of light (2 Cor.
11:14). Whenever Satan is represented under the form of a serpent,
we are to understand such expressions as describing him after his
fall. There is certainly no ground for presenting the evil one as
having horns, tail, and hoofs. This is only to bring into ridicule
what is an exceedingly serious fact. A careful consideration of
all the scriptures here given will assure the student that Satan
is not a figment of the imagination, but a real being.