Can Satan Perform Miracles

[Vico]

This Satan is described in the Catechism: 391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy.266 Scripture and the Church’s Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called “Satan” or the “devil”.267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing."268

392 Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels.269 This “fall” consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably *rejected *God and his reign. We find a reflection of that rebellion in the tempter’s words to our first parents: "You will be like God."270 The devil “has sinned from the beginning”; he is “a liar and the father of lies”.271

266 Cf. Gen 3:1-5; Wis 2:24.
267 Cf Jn 8:44; Rev 12:9.
268 Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800.
269 Cf. 2 Pet 2:4.
270 Gen 3:5.
271 1 Jn 3:8; Jn 8:44.

Lateran Council IV - Confession of Faith (excerpts):

“The devil and other demons were created by God naturally good, but they became evil by their own doing. Man, however, sinned at the prompting of the devil.”

“All of them will rise with their own bodies, which they now wear, so as to receive according to their deserts, whether these be good or bad; for the latter perpetual punishment with the devil, for the former eternal glory with Christ.”

 

[Birdpreacher]

Jesus was crucified and rose again around AD 30. The earliest books of the NT were written around AD 50-55, so it wasn’t “70 years after he died”.

But you didn’t answer my questions, and you don’t have to be a Christian to know the answers.

1. Did Jesus speak of Satan or the “evil one” during His public ministry?
2. If so, to whom was He referring?

Who knows what he said, it appears from the scripture you quoted earlier from Luke (written 80-90 CE) he is portrayed by the writers as having said Satan. Who knows how he is using this term though (or more importantly how the writers are using this term?)

 

[Birdpreacher]

This Satan is described in the Catechism: 391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy.266 Scripture and the Church’s Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called “Satan” or the “devil”.267 The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: "The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing."268

392 Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels.269 This “fall” consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and irrevocably *rejected *God and his reign. We find a reflection of that rebellion in the tempter’s words to our first parents: "You will be like God."270 The devil “has sinned from the beginning”; he is “a liar and the father of lies”.271

266 Cf. Gen 3:1-5; Wis 2:24.
267 Cf Jn 8:44; Rev 12:9.
268 Lateran Council IV (1215): DS 800.
269 Cf. 2 Pet 2:4.
270 Gen 3:5.
271 1 Jn 3:8; Jn 8:44.

Lateran Council IV - Confession of Faith (excerpts):

“The devil and other demons were created by God naturally good, but they became evil by their own doing. Man, however, sinned at the prompting of the devil.”

“All of them will rise with their own bodies, which they now wear, so as to receive according to their deserts, whether these be good or bad; for the latter perpetual punishment with the devil, for the former eternal glory with Christ.”

I like the original Satan better, you know- the Jewish one. The Christian concept of Satan is more akin to the one found in Zoroastrian religion. Which makes since if you consider the huge influence that religion had on other faiths in the middle east.

. In Judaism “satan” is not a sentient being but a metaphor for the evil inclination – the yetzer hara – that exists in every person and tempts us to do wrong.

judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/jewishbeliefsatan.htm

 

[Vico]

I like the original Satan better, you know- the Jewish one. The Christian concept of Satan is more akin to the one found in Zoroastrian religion. Which makes since if you consider the huge influence that religion had on other faiths in the middle east.

judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/jewishbeliefsatan.htm

Both the general term for adversary and also the personal title (haś·śā·ṭān, wə·haś·śā·ṭān, wə·śā·ṭān) are used in Hebrew. The personal is used in the Old Testament in many places, shown in Strong’s Concordance, which are:
Job 1:6 ****Job 1:7 ****Job 1:8 ****Job 1:9 ****Job 1:12 ****Job 2:1 ****Job 2:2 ****Job 2:3 ****Job 2:4 ****Job 2:6 ****Job 2:7
****Zechariah 3:2 ****Zechariah 3:2 Zechariah 3:1 http://biblehub.com/text/psalms/109-6.htm
Psalm 109:6

 

[Randy_Carson]

Who knows what he said, it appears from the scripture you quoted earlier from Luke (written 80-90 CE) he is portrayed by the writers as having said Satan. Who knows how he is using this term though (or more importantly how the writers are using this term?)

Sounds like a yes. Begrudgingly given, but yes.

Okay, now Jesus is God. We know this because of His resurrection from the dead.

So, God says that the evil one exists.

And by the way, folks just as skeptical as you have researched the historicity of Jesus and the resurrection, and they have been convinced that it’s all real by the evidence.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to read the right books.