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What does the Bible say about the devil?

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The Bible teaches that the devil is a real, evil adversary who opposes God, deceives people, tempts believers, and will finally be judged by God. Jesus calls him a liar and the father of lies in John 8:44, while Revelation 12:9 identifies him as the ancient serpent who deceives the world. Yet he is not God’s equal and cannot overthrow Christ’s rule. Believers are called to resist him through humble faith and submission to God (James 4:7), to remain watchful (1 Peter 5:8), and to stand firm in God’s armor (Ephesians 6:11-12). Christ came to destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8), and his victory secures the final defeat of evil.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:14

    And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

  • 1 John 3:8

    He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

  • James 4:7

    Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

  • John 10:10

    The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

  • Ephesians 6:11-12

    [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

  • James 2:19

    You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

  • Revelation 21:8

    But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

  • Revelation 12:9

    The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

  • John 8:44

    You are of your Father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.

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