Satan's Hatred for God's Son in Scripture
Satan's Hatred for God's Son in Scripture
Satan's hatred for God's Son is a recurring theme throughout the biblical narrative, manifesting in various forms of opposition and accusation. The Hebrew term "satan" means "adversary" or "accuser," and is used to describe a being who opposes God's will and seeks to undermine the faith of God's people [1].
In the Old Testament, Satan is depicted as a heavenly being who presents himself before God, accusing Job of being motivated by self-interest rather than genuine devotion [2]. This narrative establishes Satan's role as an accuser, seeking to undermine the faith of God's people by highlighting their perceived shortcomings [3].
The New Testament further develops this theme, portraying Satan as a personal adversary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. During Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, Satan addresses Jesus as "the Son of God," attempting to manipulate him into demonstrating his divine identity [5]. This encounter highlights Satan's hatred for Jesus and his desire to thwart God's redemptive plan.
The Gospel of John also emphasizes Satan's role as a spiritual adversary, stating that Jesus' opponents are children of the devil because they seek to kill him [6]. This passage underscores the spiritual conflict between Jesus and Satan, with Satan driving the opposition against Jesus.
The early Church Fathers understood Satan's hatred for God's Son as a fundamental aspect of his nature. According to John Calvin, Satan's "whole nature is depraved, mischievous, and malignant," driven by a desire to assail God's glory and the salvation of humanity [4]. Tertullian also recognized Satan's opposition to God's truth, noting that he has "rivalled and resisted the truth" throughout history [8].
The biblical narrative consistently portrays Satan as an enemy of God's people, seeking to undermine their faith and destroy their relationship with God. In Colossians 1:13, believers are described as being "rescued... from the power of darkness," emphasizing Satan's dominion over those who are outside of Christ [7].
The patristic tradition continued to develop this understanding, with some writers depicting Satan as a defeated foe, whose power is ultimately subject to God's authority. In one apocryphal text, Satan is portrayed as being rebuked by God, highlighting the limits of his power [10].
Throughout the biblical narrative, Satan's hatred for God's Son is a persistent theme, driving his opposition to Jesus and his followers. This hatred is rooted in Satan's fundamental nature as an adversary of God, seeking to undermine God's redemptive plan and destroy the faith of God's people [9].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Satan — The word itself, the Hebrew satan, is simply an "adversary," and is so used in (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 6:4; 11:14,23,25; Numbers 22:22,33; Psalms 109:6) This original sense is still found in our Lord's application of the name to St. Peter in (Matthew 16:23) It is used as a proper name or title only four times in the Old Testament, vis. (with the article) in (Job 1:6; 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1) and without the article in (1 Chronicles 21:1) It is with the scriptural revelation on the subject that we are here concerned; and it is clear, from this si”
- Job “Job 1:9 (BBE) — And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man?”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Accuser — Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10. Comp. Job 1:6; Zech. 3:1), as seeking to uphold his influence among men by bringing false charges against Christians, with the view of weakening their influence and injuring the cause with which they are identified. He was regarded by the Jews as the accuser of men before God, laying to their charge the violations of the law of which they were guilty, and demanding their punishment. The same Greek word, rendered "accuser," is found in John 8:10 (but omitted in the Revised Version); Acts 23:30, 35; 2”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: minds of men he involves in error; he stirs up hatred, inflames strife and war, and all in order that he may overthrow the kingdom of God, and drown men in eternal perdition with himself. Hence it is evident that his whole nature is depraved, mischievous, and malignant. There must be extreme depravity in a mind bent on assailing the glory of God and the salvation of man. This is intimated by John in his Epistle, when he says that he “sinneth from the beginning,” ( 1 John 3:8 ), implying that he is the author, leader, and contriver ”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 4:5: And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God,.... He addresses him after the same manner as before; if, or seeing, thou art the Son of God, show thyself to be so; give proof of thy sonship before all the priests which are in and about the temple, and before all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; cast thyself down that is, from the pinnacle of the temple: for since thou art the Son of God, no hurt will come to thee; thou wilt be in the utmost safety; and this will at once be a full demonstration to all the people, that thou art the Son of God: for hither Satan brought ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 8:44: 8:44 Since the unbelieving people did not love Jesus (8:42; 1 Jn 5:1), they were not children of the Father in heaven who sent his beloved Son (John 8:47). Their true spiritual ancestry was revealed in their desire to kill God’s Son. This was the work of the devil, who brought death to the world (see Gen 3:1-20; Rom 5:12-14).”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:13: from--Greek, "out of the power," out of the sphere in which his power is exercised. darkness--blindness, hatred, misery [BENGEL]. translated--Those thus translated as to state, are also transformed as to character. Satan has an organized dominion with various orders of powers of evil (Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12). But the term "kingdom" is rarely applied to his usurped rule (Mat 12:26); it is generally restricted to the kingdom of God. his dear Son--rather as Greek, "the Son of His love": the Son on whom His love rests (Joh 17:26; Eph 1:6): contrasted ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. I.--SATAN'S WILES AGAINST THE TRUTH. HOW THEY TAKE THE FORM OF THE PRAXEAN HERESY. ACCOUNT OF THE pUBLICATION OF THIS HERESY. (part 1): IN various ways has the devil rivalled and resisted the truth. Sometimes his aim has been to destroy the truth by defending it. He maintains that there is one only Lord, the Almighty Creator of the world, in order that out of this doctrine of the unity he may fabricate a heresy. He says that the Father Himself came down into the Virgin, was Himself born of her, Himself suffered, indeed was Himself Jesus Christ. Here the old serpen”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: the devil. 117 117 2 Cor. 4:4 ; Eph. 2:2 ; Rom. 9:22 ; John 8:44 ; 1 John 3:8 . For as believers are recognised to be the sons of God by bearing his image, so the wicked are properly regarded as the children of Satan, from having degenerated into his image. 19. Having above refuted that nugatory philosophy concerning the holy angels, which teaches that they are nothing but good motions or inspirations which God excites in the minds of men, we must here likewise refute those who foolishly allege that devils are nothing but bad affec”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — Chap. 4 (20).--And when all the saints were exulting, lo, Satan, the prince and leader of death, said to Hades: Make thyself ready to receive Jesus, who boasts himself to be the Son of God, and is a m (part 1): Hades, answering, said to Prince Satan: Who is he that is so powerful, when he is a man in fear of death? For all the powerful of the earth are kept in subjection by my power, whom thou hast brought into subjection by thy power. If then, thou art powerful, what is that man Jesus like, who, though fearing death, wit”