Ed Walsh
Puritan Board Senior
The Reality of Satan—Then and Now
By "Then and Now" I mean the Puritan era as compared to our modern era.
In preparation for our sixth lesson on Luke chapter four, I was intrigued by the following account while Jesus taught in a synagogue in Capernaum (a city in the North by the Sea of Galilee) on a Sabbath Day.
Luke 4:32-35
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Some commentators–Lenski maintains that many, even the better ones–interpret Jesus commanding the demons an accommodation to the superstitious beliefs of his day. Kind of like when Jesus speaks to the wind and the waves, and even to a fever as he does just several verses after the story I quoted (vs. 39). Although I am persuaded that most PB members would agree that Jesus addressed literal demons and that they obeyed his commands, nevertheless it is my opinion and experience that we modern Christians have far less fear and wariness then we should, given what the Scriptures teach about the Devil. I am also aware that the Puritans seem to find a demon under every rock. Was this Puritan view excessive? Is our view inadequate?
So what do you think? Which view is more in keeping with the Scriptures? I have some more to say, but I will wait to see if there is any interest in this topic.
Below are the verses I plan to address in the next lesson on Luke:
Ephesians 6:11-12 (see in context)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (see in context)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
By "Then and Now" I mean the Puritan era as compared to our modern era.
In preparation for our sixth lesson on Luke chapter four, I was intrigued by the following account while Jesus taught in a synagogue in Capernaum (a city in the North by the Sea of Galilee) on a Sabbath Day.
Luke 4:32-35
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Some commentators–Lenski maintains that many, even the better ones–interpret Jesus commanding the demons an accommodation to the superstitious beliefs of his day. Kind of like when Jesus speaks to the wind and the waves, and even to a fever as he does just several verses after the story I quoted (vs. 39). Although I am persuaded that most PB members would agree that Jesus addressed literal demons and that they obeyed his commands, nevertheless it is my opinion and experience that we modern Christians have far less fear and wariness then we should, given what the Scriptures teach about the Devil. I am also aware that the Puritans seem to find a demon under every rock. Was this Puritan view excessive? Is our view inadequate?
So what do you think? Which view is more in keeping with the Scriptures? I have some more to say, but I will wait to see if there is any interest in this topic.
Below are the verses I plan to address in the next lesson on Luke:
Ephesians 6:11-12 (see in context)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (see in context)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.