Defenders 3: Doctrine of Creation (Part 21): The Names of Satan

Summary

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Defenders Podcast – Doctrine of Creation (Part 21): The Names of Satan

Host: Dr. William Lane Craig
Date: November 6, 2018
(Defenders is Dr. Craig's Sunday school class on Christian doctrine and apologetics)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. William Lane Craig continues the Doctrine of Creation series by examining the scriptural names and titles given to Satan. The discussion explores how these names reflect Satan’s identity, role, and perceived power, as well as theological questions surrounding his authority and influence in the world. Dr. Craig engages with class participants on issues of translation, theology, and the interpretation of specific biblical texts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Names and Titles of Satan

[00:15 - 14:36]

• Principal Name: "Satan" – a transliteration of the Hebrew (שָׂטָן) and Greek (Σατανᾶς) words meaning "adversary."
• "The Satan": Often appears with the definite article, making it more descriptive ("the adversary"), e.g. Job 1, Zechariah 3.
• "Devil": From the Greek “diabolos” meaning "slanderer" (e.g., 1 Peter 5:8).
• "Beelzebub/Beelzebul": Derived from a Canaanite deity ("Baal-Zebub"), often used in the New Testament for the 'prince of demons' (Matthew 12:24, 10:25).
• Other Titles and Descriptors:
  • Liar and murderer (John 8:44)
  • Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)
  • Ruler of this world (John 14:30-31, 1 John 5:19)
  • God of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)
  • Tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
  • Dragon, ancient serpent, accuser (Revelation 12:10, 20:2-3a)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Scriptural Examples

• Job’s Adversary:
  • “In both the Old and New Testaments, the word for Satan is used 14 times in the opening chapters of the Book of Job to denote this supernatural being which is opposing God.” — Dr. Craig [01:14]
  • “Then Satan answered the Lord, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'" [1:31 / quoting Job 1]
• Descriptive Terms:
  • “In these passages, the word 'Satan' appears with the definite article — ‘the Satan’ — meaning the adversary or the accuser who is opposed to God.” — Dr. Craig [03:11]
  • "Sometimes Satan is given another name in Scripture. Beelzebub, or a variant, Beelzebul. ... They thought Jesus, in casting out demons, was acting in the authority of Beelzebub, who they identify as the prince of demons." — [05:08–05:35]

On Satan’s Authority

• “We often think of God as the ruler of this world ... but John says that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” — Dr. Craig [09:58]
• “So much for religious pluralism. Paul, like his fellow Jews, regarded these pagan deities as demonic.” — Dr. Craig [07:17]
• “So in a very real sense, we are living in enemy territory. We are in fact living behind enemy lines...” — Dr. Craig [10:11]

On Proper Names vs. Descriptive Titles

• “I do think that Satan is both a proper name and a description. ... In the same way, we can use the word 'president' as a proper name...” — Dr. Craig [15:50]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:15] – Introduction to the topic, distinction between good angels and Satan/demons.
• [01:06–03:02] – Scriptural readings from Job and Zechariah on Satan as adversary.
• [03:11–07:17] – Various names for Satan: the Devil/diabolos, Beelzebub, and their scriptural sources.
• [07:17–10:11] – Satan’s role as liar, murderer, ruler of this world, and god of this world.
• [11:49] – Satan as the tempter; Revelation’s imagery of dragon/serpent/accuser.
• [14:40] – Audience question: The use of “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14:12 and its translation roots.
• [15:42–16:32] – Names as proper nouns vs. descriptors.
• [16:36–18:33] – Discussion: Does “God of this world” refer to a pre-fall assignment to Satan, or usurped authority?
• [21:03] – Literal vs. hyperbolic readings of “ruler of this world.”
• [22:09] – Beelzebub as "Lord of the Flies," its biblical and literary significance.
• [23:39] – Tension between Satan's power and God’s ultimate providence: The book of Job example.
• [25:54] – Lead up to the next session: The origin of Satan and evil.

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Audience Q&A Highlights

On “Lucifer” and Isaiah 14:12

• “Only the King James version ... says, 'How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer?' ... it actually is using the metaphor of a morning star, like Venus in the morning, to describe the person that's being addressed there.” — Dr. Craig [15:06]

On Proper Name or Description

• "I do think that Satan is both a proper name and a description ... just like 'president' can be both." — Dr. Craig [15:57]

On Satan’s Authority as “God of This World”

• Cindy: Suggests creation fell with Adam, and Satan was given allowance over the world.
• “It's conjectural, Cindy.” — Dr. Craig [17:09]
• Dr. Craig reviews speculation about pre-fall roles of angelic beings and the ambiguity in scripture about Satan's authority (pre-fall assignment vs. usurpation). [17:09–18:33]

On Beelzebub as “Lord of the Flies”

• “It's a correct translation … probably a way of belittling this Canaanite deity for the Jews to call him Beelzebul. He's just a lord of flies.” — Dr. Craig [22:09]

On Satan as “mediator”

• “I don't think that that role is ever assigned to Satan in scripture ... It seems to me ... he's usurping authority. He's inserting himself into things that he doesn't belong. But he's not mediating between us and God.” — Dr. Craig [19:44]

On God’s Sovereignty vs. Satan’s Power

• “Remember our lessons on divine providence, how especially on a Molinist view, everything that happens is either by God's direct will or permission. So ultimately God is in control. But he allows this renegade demon to wreak havoc ... but only insofar as will redound ultimately to God's saving purposes for establishing his kingdom.” — Dr. Craig [23:59–24:50]

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Conclusion & Preview

Dr. Craig closes by summarizing Satan as “this powerful and evil adversary of the work of God and the kingdom of God with whom we have to contend,” and introduces the next session’s question:
How could there be such a being as Satan if God created everything ‘good’?
[25:54]

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Summary Table: Scriptural Names and Titles of Satan

| Title/Name | Meaning/Association | Reference(s) | |----------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Satan | Adversary | Job 1, Zechariah 3, etc. | | Devil, Diabolos | Slanderer | 1 Peter 5:8 | | Beelzebub/Beelzebul | Lord/Prince of Demons; Lord of the Flies | Matthew 12:24, 2 Kings 1:2 | | Liar, Murderer | Father of lies | John 8:44 | | Prince of the power of the air | Spiritual power/influence | Ephesians 2:2 | | Ruler of this world | Temporal authority & power | John 14:30, 1 John 5:19 | | God of this world | False/divine usurper | 2 Corinthians 4:4 | | Tempter | One who tempts astray | 1 Thessalonians 3:5 | | Dragon, Ancient Serpent, Accuser | Symbolic adversary | Revelation 12:10, 20:2-3 |

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Final Thoughts

• Tone: Dr. Craig provides thorough, scripturally-grounded explanations, welcoming questions and openly acknowledging theological ambiguities.
• Memorable Moments:
  • Engaging exploration of the many faces of Satan in scripture.
  • Nuanced explanation of translation issues (e.g., “Lucifer”).
  • Clear summary of theological tension regarding Satan’s authority in the world.

Next session: The origin of Satan and the logical/theological problem of evil.

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Transcript

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig today the Doctrine of Creation, Part 21. For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonablefaith.org Today we come

to the section of the lesson dealing with Satan and the demons. We've been talking about angels which serve God, but not all angels. Do you also have a spiritual being referred to as the devil or Satan in Scripture, and the demonic hordes which serve his destructive purposes? So let's talk first a bit about the names of this person. The principal name given to the spiritual being that opposes God is Satan. And this is simply a transliteration of the Hebrew and Greek words for this individual.

[Assistant or Moderator]

In Hebrew, Satan, and in Greek Satanas.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

The word Satan means adversary in both languages. In both the Old and and the New Testaments, the word for Satan is used 14 times in the opening chapters of the book of Job to denote this supernatural being which is opposing God. Let me read Job, chapter 1, verses 6 to 12. Now, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, whence have you come? Satan answered the Lord, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. Then Satan answered the Lord, does Job fear God for naught hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house, and all that he has on every side Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have

[Assistant or Moderator]

increased in the land.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he has, and and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said to Satan, behold, all that he has is in your power only upon himself.

[Assistant or Moderator]

Do not put forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

So here Satan is described as being

[Assistant or Moderator]

among the company of the sons of God in heaven.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

The same word is similarly used three times in Zechariah, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2. Zechariah 3:1:2. It says, Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, the Lord rebuke you, O Satan. In these passages, the word Satan appears with the definite article, the Satan, meaning the adversary or the accuser who is opposed to God. So it's not simply a proper name, it's a kind of descriptive term as well, the adversary, the accuser. In the New Testament, the word diabolos is also used for this person. Diabolos means the devil or slanderer. For example, 1st Peter 5 and verse 8, 1st Peter 58 says, Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Here our adversary, or Satan, is described as the devil. Sometimes Satan is given another name in Scripture. Beelzebub, or a variant, Beelzebub. This term is derived from the Canaanite deity Baal. For example, Matthew 12:24 says, and when the Pharisees heard it, they said, it is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons. They thought that Jesus is, in casting out demons, was acting in the authority of Beelzebub, who they identify as the prince of Demons. Similarly, Jesus in Matthew 10:25 goes on to admonish his disciples, if they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his his household? Now the term BAAL Zebub, from which this is derived, means the Lord Prince. He is a Philistine God, part of the pantheon of gods of Israel's neighbors. And the people of Israel regarded the Philistines as worshiping not the same God that they did. Rather, in effect, they said they're worshiping Satan. BAAL Zebub is in fact the prince of demons. Paul similarly thought that the devotees of Greco Roman religions were not regarded as worshiping God, but as in fact worshiping

[Assistant or Moderator]

demons rather than God.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

For example, in 1st Corinthians 10:20, 21, 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21, Paul says flatly, what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of

[Assistant or Moderator]

the Lord and and the table of demons.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

So much for religious pluralism. Paul, like his fellow Jews, regarded these pagan deities as demonic. Satan is also called a liar and a murderer. In John 8:44. John 8:44, Jesus says, you are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. In Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 2, Satan is called the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 2, verses 1b to 2, says, when you were dead, through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in. In the sons of disobedience. So here you have Satan or the devil, referred to as a prince, much as the angels are sometimes referred to as princes. He is a spirit, a spiritual being of enormous power and authority. In fact, he is called the ruler of this world. In John 14, verses 30 and 31. John 14:30, 31, Jesus says, I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Father. Here Satan is described by Jesus as the ruler of this world. That's a very sobering title for Satan. Similarly, First John, chapter 5 and verse 9, First John 5, 9. We know that we are of God and the whole world lies in the power of. Of the evil one. We often think of God as the ruler of this world, who has authority over the world in which we live. But John says that the whole world lies in the power of the evil

[Assistant or Moderator]

One, that he is in fact the

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

ruler of this world. So in a very real sense, we are living in enemy territory. We are in fact living behind enemy lines and in this world. In fact, Satan is even called the God of this world in 2nd Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:4. Speaking of unbelievers, Paul says, in their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. Here Satan is called the God of this world. So we've seen that he's called the ruler of this world, that the whole world lies in his power. And here he's actually referred to as the God of this world who blinds the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from receiving the Gospel of Christ. So it gives you some understanding of the incredible power and authority of this being. In First Thessalonians chapter 3 and verse 5, he is called the tempter. First Thessalonians 3 and verse 5, Paul says, For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith for fear, and that somehow the tempter had tempted

[Assistant or Moderator]

you, and that our labor would be in vain.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Paul feared that his fledgling church would have been led astray into heresy by the temptation of Satan. So Satan is also one who tempts Christians with a view toward destroying them and bringing about their lapse from the true faith. In Revelation, chapter 20, verses 2 to 3a, Revelation 20, verses 2 to 3aA, we have a whole series of titles given to Satan. I quote, and he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the pit and shut it and sealed it over him that he should deceive the nations no more. Here he is referred to as the dragon, that ancient serpent. Perhaps a reference back to the serpent in the Garden of Eden who deceived Adam and Eve. He's called the devil and. And Satan. Revelation chapter 12 and verse 10 echoes Zechariah 3, 1, 2, that we've already read Revelation 12:10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come. For the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Here he's referred to as the accuser of the brethren, just as in Zechariah chapter three, he was accusing the high priest Joshua before the Lord. So I think you can see that this adversary or Satan is referred to in scripture by quite a large number of names and titles. He's called Beelzebub, the devil, the liar, the prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world, the God of this world, your adversary, the dragon, the ancient serpent, Satan, and the tempter. All of these go to describe the spiritual being that is bent upon the destruction of God's work and his kingdom in the world. Any question or discussion about those names

[Assistant or Moderator]

of Satan, we'll get the microphone to you, Cody.

[Cody]

So I was wondering if you could just comment on Isaiah 14:12, which specifically only the King James version where it says, how art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer? Which really only just means day star though. But I just find it interesting how of people in our culture, they think his name is Lucifer. And it's only because of the King James Version, because of the. I think it comes from the Latin Vulgate, the way they translate the word day star or something.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

We'll say something about this in a

[Assistant or Moderator]

moment when we talk about the origin of Satan.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

But you're right, in the Isaiah 14 passage it refers to him as a

[Assistant or Moderator]

day star or bright morning star, which as you indicate can be rendered as his proper name, Lucifer. But it actually is using the metaphor of a morning star, like Venus in the morning, to describe the person that's being addressed there. So I'll talk about that in a moment. Hang on. Okay. Jim is asking me to stand back so we can see the board. Yes. Okay, Kevin, thanks.

[Unidentified Participant]

Do you see these names or any of these names as being a proper name for Satan, or are they just descriptions like adversary? Satan means adversary.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

This is a good question. I do think that Satan is both

[Assistant or Moderator]

a proper name and a description.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

It does appear with the definite article, like the adversary. But it can also be a proper name. You know, in the same way we

[Assistant or Moderator]

can use the word president as a proper name. We can either talk about the president

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

or we can say Mr. President

[Assistant or Moderator]

and use it as a kind of proper name. So I think there are proper names

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

that are also descriptions.

[Assistant or Moderator]

And that would seem to be the case with Satan. And Beelzebub is certainly a proper name.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

That would be

[Assistant or Moderator]

a proper name springing from baal.

[Cindy]

Cindy, given the name was God of this world, to me, would indicate that when God created the world, it was good. But when man fell, is it not saying that not only man fell, but that the whole world fell and Satan was allowed to. God allowed him to possess the world as he allowed him access to Job.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Yeah.

[Cindy]

Is that an accurate depiction of how that term could be used?

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

I think we have to say that it's conjectural, Cindy. It's speculative. The speculation I think that Cindy quite rightly raises here is do you remember we saw before that there were certain angelic beings that were associated with certain nations, like the Prince of Persia, the

[Assistant or Moderator]

Prince of Greece, and then Michael is the prince or angel of Israel.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Could it have been that the proper province of pre fall Satan was the universe or the world, maybe the earth,

[Assistant or Moderator]

depending on what the world refers to here, that he had been assigned the

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

earth as his province and then he falls. And so now the ruler of this

[Assistant or Moderator]

age is incredibly wicked and is leading

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

the world astray against God? Or is it rather that Satan, being cast out of heaven, comes to the earth and there usurps the authority of God and challenges God by asserting his own authority?

[Assistant or Moderator]

I don't think we know, you see the difference between the two.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Is his being the ruler of this world a function of his original pre fall assignment? Or is it a function of his later usurping authority over the earth?

[Assistant or Moderator]

And I don't see any way to answer that question.

[Cindy]

But it does say in scripture that creation is yearning or to relieve itself of this curse. It Seems to me, I'm not sure the exact words used, but it was as if it's under duress.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Yes. Romans 8. Paul speaks of this, how the whole creation groans in travail like a woman

[Assistant or Moderator]

in labor for its eventual deliverance and the revelation of the sons of God in glory. So it does seem to portray the whole of creation in travail, as you say.

[Steve]

Yes, Steve, I would say all of these names, they become mediators between God and man. So when Satan was cast out, the mediator is removed. And that's why we have a thousand years he's bound like that. And so you can say they became the God of the world because they're mediators asserting themselves in between God and man. And so that's how they're. And Christ came to remove all mediators. Now there's only the mediator of Christ through the man.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

I don't think that that role is

[Assistant or Moderator]

ever assigned to Satan in scripture, as far as I know that he's called

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

mediator or

[Assistant or Moderator]

anything of that sort. It seems to me that quite the opposite, that he is usurping authority. He's inserting himself into things that he doesn't belong. But he's not mediating between us and God. Okay, Steve said without the mic that he inserts himself in between us and God, in effect becoming a sort of God to the unbeliever.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Just so long as we don't think that this is.

[Assistant or Moderator]

I think mediation is just the wrong word to use here, Steve. I think it would be more like a rebel who's trying to throw overthrow the government and set up a false regime in its place. Okay, let's go to somebody else now. Who was the next person?

[Jonathan]

Yes, Jonathan, I'm curious as to why you want to read that. The phrase the ruler of this world or God of this world, literally, when I read that, I tend to read that in terms of being hyperbole that he's saying Satan has tremendous influence over the world. But I don't really see any reason.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Well, it does seem to be confirmed

[Assistant or Moderator]

by the passage in First John where

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

he says that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one, and then he's called the ruler of this world as well as the God of this world. So you've got several scriptural passages that

[Assistant or Moderator]

seem to suggest that he's in control here, that he's controlling how things are going. Now, of course, this is only within the overall providence of God, but it

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

would make more intelligible why there is

[Assistant or Moderator]

so much evil and horror in this world we are living in, a world that is under the control of this malevolent being that is opposed to God and his purposes.

[Amy]

Amy so David and I play Jeopardy. On Alexa, and earlier this week they had a question about Beelzebub and described it as that the translation be Lord of the Flies, which speaks to the book. So is Lord of the flies not not a correct translation?

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

It is a correct translation of this variant Beelzebul, which appears in First Kings.

[Assistant or Moderator]

Let me see if I've got the reference here. Second kings, 2 kings 1:2. And then the passage we read from Matthew and that literally means not Lord,

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Prince, it means Lord of the flies. And it was probably a way of belittling this Canaanite deity for the Jews to call him Beelzebul. He's just a lord of flies. And of course this title was picked up by William Golding in this powerful

[Assistant or Moderator]

novel that describes a group of English

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

schoolboys were marooned on an island and degenerate into these savages that are about to kill each other before they're rescued, thereby illustrating the inherent fallenness and sinfulness of human beings. If you haven't read Golding's novel, you should read it or see the movie,

[Assistant or Moderator]

which is also stunning, very gripping, but

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

it so illustrates again the hold that

[Assistant or Moderator]

evil has upon humanity and showing the evil that is inherent in these seemingly innocent boys. Okay, some other comment, Don, in the back.

[Don]

The comment that Satan is in control of this world seems to be in direct conflict with the book of Job where Satan told God you built a hedge around him and that would indicate that he couldn't cross.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Comments well, I would say that Job does illustrate how God gives Satan scope to do these evil horrible things to Job, but only within the limits set by God.

[Assistant or Moderator]

And so remember our lessons on divine

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

providence, how especially on a molinist view, everything that happens is either by God's direct will or permission. So ultimately God is in control. But he allows this renegade demon to

[Assistant or Moderator]

wreak havoc throughout the earth upon humanity,

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

but only insofar as will redound ultimately

[Assistant or Moderator]

to God's saving purposes for establishing his kingdom.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

So please don't misunderstand me to think

[Assistant or Moderator]

that I'm saying God isn't in control.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Well, as we've seen then, Satan is presented as this powerful and evil adversary of the work of God and the kingdom of God with whom we have to contend. And this naturally raises the inevitable question as to the origin of this being. Since God is not evil and does not create evil, how is it that there could even be such a creature as this? How could there be such a being as Satan when God created the world? In Genesis chapter one, it says that he looked at creation and saw that it was very good. Everything was good. So how do you explain the origin of someone like Satan and the demons that follow him? That is the question that we will

[Assistant or Moderator]

take up next week.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

Let's close with a word of prayer. Father, thank you for this time of fellowship and teaching this morning. We pray that our eyes and ears would be alert to the dangers that

[Assistant or Moderator]

are around us and that threaten to

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

befall us and would lead to our undoing. Help us through the filling and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to so live that our feet do not stray to the right or to the left, but stay on the straight and narrow path that you have plotted for us. Through Christ our Lord, we pray.

[Assistant or Moderator]

Amen.

[Dr. William Lane Craig]

The copyright for the preceding material is held by Dr. William Lane Craig. For more go to reasonablefaith.org.