devil

devil. In theological terminology the chief of the fallen angels. In the narrative of the Fall (Gen. 3) the serpent which seduces Eve has traditionally been considered an embodiment of the devil, and in the Book of Job Satan acts as a tempter and tormentor, though always in submission to the will of God. In the pseudepigraphical Jewish literature there is a much more developed demonology with traces of pagan influence. In the NT the devil tempts the Lord at the beginning of His public ministry (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST), and Christ shows his powerlessness over those who resist him. Satan also wanted the disciples, especially St Peter (Lk. 22: 31–2). At the Last Judgement he and those who belong to him will depart into eternal fire (Mt. 25: 41). An account of the angels' fall is given in Rev. 12: 7–9.

Most of the Fathers held that the fall of the angels was caused by their envy of men, though others attributed it to pride. In the Middle Ages there was much speculation on the subject. The Dominicans held that the initial sin of the devil, committed immediately after his creation, consisted in pride, manifested in a desire for a natural beatitude obtained by his own powers. The Franciscans taught that the devils committed various sins before becoming obstinate in evil, that Lucifer, their chief, desired equality with God, and that his sin consisted in inordinate love of his own excellence. Since the 16th cent. the traditional teaching has been accepted by most Christians, but there has been a reaction against speculative elaboration.