FLC Bible Study — 5.7.19 — Angels and Demons Problem of Evil Series From Last Time: Irenaean Theodicy • Suffering causes us to grow: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” And, “God doesn’t give us move than we can handle.” Augustinian Theodicy • Evil is a consequence of The Fall in Genesis. Moral evil explained by human’s sinful nature and natural evil explained by demons. God did not create evil. Martin Luther’s Theodicy • Evil is a consequence of The Fall in Genesis and humans’ sinful nature. Angels • From Latin, “messenger.” • In Hebrew, “mal’akh” - the name Malachi is the English translation of this word. • What do they do? ◦ Heal (Isaiah 6:6-7, Zechariah 3:4-5) ◦ Pray (Zechariah 1:12) ◦ Protect (Daniel 12:1) ◦ Messengers ◦ Teachers (through explanations of visions and dreams) Old Testament Angel Types • Chayot and Ophanim (Ezekiel 1 & 10) • Erelim (Isaiah 33:7) • Hashmallim (Ezekiel 1:4) • Seraphim (Isaiah 6) • Malakim - “Messengers,” “Malachi” • Elohim - “Godly beings” • Bene Elohim - (Genesis 6:1-4) “Sons of God” • Cherubim • Ishim (Genesis 18:2, Daniel 10:5) “human-like beings” Old Testament Angel Names • Michael and Gabriel (Daniel 9:21 & 10:13) New Testament Angel Hierarchy 1. Seraphim (Isaiah 6:1-8), Cherubim (Ezekiel 1 & 10), Thrones (Colossians 1:16, Daniel 7:9) 2. Dominions, Virtues, Powers (Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16) 3. Principalities (Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16), Archangels, (Thessalonians 4:16, Jude 1:9), Angels Page 1 of 2 FLC Bible Study — 5.7.19 — Angels and Demons Problem of Evil Series Satan ”ha-Satan, meaning “the adversary הַ ָּׂשָ טָ ן ,From Hebrew • • Appearances in Old Testament: ◦ Garden of Eden, as the serpent (Genesis 3) ◦ Job’s adversary (Job 1-2) ◦ Involvement in David’s census (1 Chronicles 21:1) ◦ Dispute with Angel of the Lord (Zechariah 3:1-2) ◦ Morning Star, Lucifer – meaning “light-bringer” (Isaiah 14:12) ◦ Cherub in Eden, Fall of Satan (Ezekiel 28) • New Testament Names ◦ Devil, diabolos. 32 times ◦ Satan, satanas. 12+ times ◦ Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24-27, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:18-19) ◦ Wicked One (Matthew 6:13, 13:19) ◦ Prince of this World (John 12:31, 14:30) ◦ The Tempter (Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5) ◦ Father of Lies (John 8:44) ◦ Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15) ◦ god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4 ◦ Dragon & Ancient Serpent (Revelation 20:2 Satan’s Origin • What we think of as Satan does not explicit appear in the Old Testament. If we equate the serpent in the Garden of Eden with Satan, then the text says that God created the serpent; so in this interpretation, God created Satan. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.” (Genesis 3:1) • Fallen from heaven “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” (Luke 10:18) • Satan has its own angels “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” (Matthew 25:41) • Fallen angels? Within the New Testament, demons are not described as fallen angels. ◦ The tradition of fallen angels comes from the Book of Enoch. Next Classes: May & June: - Gospel Endings - Learn to Translate the Bible - Atonement Theories - Tradition and Biblical Stories - What is the Trinity? - Movie, TBD - Women of the New Testament Page 2 of 2.