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A Comparison of the Doctrine of Satan in the Bible and the Qur’An

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A Comparison of the Doctrine of Satan in the Bible and the Qur’An A COMPARISON OF THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN IN THE BIBLE AND THE QUR’AN by NAEL ABD EL-RAHAMAN B.A., Dalhousie University, 2015 Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Theology, Acadia Divinity College, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Theology) Acadia Divinity College, Faculty of Theology, Acadia University Spring Convocation 2017 © by NAEL ABD EL-RAHAMAN, 2017 This thesis by Nael Abd El-Rahaman was defended successfully in an oral examination on 13 April 2017. The examining committee for the thesis was: Dr. Glenn Wooden, Chair and MA (Th) Director Dr. Jamal Badawi, External Examiner Dr. Matthew Walsh, Internal Examiner Dr. William Brackney, Supervisor This thesis is accepted in its present form by Acadia Divinity College, the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University, as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Theology). ii I, Nael Abd El-Rahaman, hereby grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to provide copies of my thesis, upon request, on a non-profit basis. Nael Abd El-Rahaman Author Dr. William Brackney Supervisor 13 April 2017 Date iii Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. vi Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 I. SATAN IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES ................................................................... 4 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4 Terrestrial Satan .............................................................................................................. 8 Celestial Satan ............................................................................................................... 12 Other References to Satan ............................................................................................. 17 Excursis: Satan in the Pseudipigrapha .......................................................................... 22 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 25 II – SATAN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ...................................................................... 28 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 28 Satan in the Synoptic Gospels....................................................................................... 29 Satan and Jesus’ Temptation ..................................................................................... 32 Casting Out Satan ...................................................................................................... 36 The Parable of the Sower ........................................................................................... 37 Satan in The Gospel of John ......................................................................................... 39 The Antichrist ............................................................................................................ 40 Satan in The Pauline Epistles ........................................................................................ 42 Other New Testament References to Satan .................................................................. 47 Satan in the Book of Revelation ................................................................................... 47 Satan in Revelation 1–11 ........................................................................................... 48 Satan in Revelation 12–24 ......................................................................................... 49 Satan’s Dwelling Place .............................................................................................. 53 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 56 III – THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN IN DEVELOPING CHRISTIANITY ..................... 60 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 60 The Reformers: John Calvin ......................................................................................... 65 19th Century Interpretation: Gustaf Aulén .................................................................... 70 Charles Hodge ............................................................................................................... 73 Lewis Sperry Chafer ..................................................................................................... 78 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 84 IV – SATAN IN ISLAMIC TEXTS ................................................................................. 87 iv Introduction ................................................................................................................... 87 The World of Jinn ......................................................................................................... 89 Creation ......................................................................................................................... 92 Do They Eat, Marry, and Die? ...................................................................................... 99 Good and Bad Jinn ...................................................................................................... 103 Satan in the Qur’an and Hadith ................................................................................... 107 Satan’s Status Before and After the Fall of Mankind ................................................. 112 Satan’s Dwelling Place ............................................................................................... 118 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 120 V – DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN IN ISLAM ......................... 123 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 123 The Existence of Satan................................................................................................ 125 The Personal Name of Satan ....................................................................................... 126 The Creation of Satan and His States ......................................................................... 127 Satan’s Sin and Fall .................................................................................................... 127 The Nature of Satan’s Sin ........................................................................................... 128 The Nature of Satan .................................................................................................... 130 The Personality and Characteristics of Satan .............................................................. 131 The Activities of Satan................................................................................................ 133 The Power of Satan ..................................................................................................... 135 Defense Against Satan and His Followers .................................................................. 136 The Judgment of Satan................................................................................................ 139 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 139 VI – CONCLUSION....................................................................................................... 142 Convergences Between the Hebrew Scriptures, New Testament, and the Qur’an ..... 142 Divergences Between the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the Qur’an............................ 149 Areas for Further Study and Discussion ..................................................................... 151 APPENDIX 1 .................................................................................................................. 153 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 178 v Abstract Only three major religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have ideas of Satan that are historically and theologically connected with one another. This thesis investigates Satan in the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the Qur’an. The study demonstrates that people who adhere to the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, or the Qur’an share similar conceptions about Satan. Theologians of the three different faiths agree on the idea that Satan is a person who was created by God to serve a fundamental purpose in human life. However, how he has been used by God is debated across the three religious traditions. I will also show that Satan is one of the religious figures theologians of different faiths have used to form their theology in their attempts to understand God and His relation with His creation. This study presents useful details to understand Satan and his role according to what is found in the holy books; the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the
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