Differences between Devil and God
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Differences between Devil and God[edit]
In Abrahamic religions, God is understood to be the supreme being, the creator and sustainer of the universe.[1] The Devil is generally an entity who represents evil and tempts humans into sin. In Christianity and Islam, he is typically depicted as a fallen angel or jinn who rebelled against God.[2] In Judaism, the figure of Satan ("the adversary") is traditionally seen as a subordinate agent of God, whose role is to act as an accuser or to test humanity's faith.[3]
While conceptions vary between and within traditions, a fundamental distinction is that God is the uncreated, eternal source of all existence, whereas the Devil is a created being.[4] God is characterized by omnipotence (all-powerful), omniscience (all-knowing), and omnibenevolence (perfectly good).[5] The Devil, though portrayed as powerful, operates within limits permitted by God and does not possess these divine attributes.[4] His power lies in deception and temptation, not in creation or ultimate authority.
Comparison Table[edit]
| Category | God | Devil |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | The supreme, uncreated, and eternal being. | A created being, often described as a fallen angel or jinn. |
| Primary Role | Creator, sustainer, lawgiver, and source of all goodness and truth.[5] | Adversary, tempter, deceiver, and father of lies. |
| Power | Omnipotent (all-powerful), with limitless authority over all creation.[4] | Powerful, but limited and subordinate; cannot act without God's permission. |
| Knowledge | Omniscient (all-knowing), with perfect understanding of all things past, present, and future.[4] | Knowledgeable and cunning, but not omniscient; cannot know thoughts or the future with certainty.[4] |
| Presence | Omnipresent (present everywhere at once). | Confined to one location at a time. |
| Relationship to Evil | Entirely good and just; the source of moral law and opponent of evil. | The primary source or personification of evil, sin, and rebellion.[2] |
| Relationship to Humanity | Offers salvation, guidance, love, and redemption. | Seeks to corrupt, mislead, and destroy humanity. |
| Ultimate Outcome | Eternal reign and ultimate victory over evil. | Ultimate defeat and eternal punishment. |
Origins and Development[edit]
The concept of God in the Abrahamic traditions is rooted in monotheism, the belief in one supreme creator.[1] The figure of the Devil developed over time. In early parts of the Hebrew Bible, the term "satan" is often used to mean a human adversary or an angel acting as a divine prosecutor under God's command, as seen in the Book of Job.
During the Second Temple period, influenced by dualistic ideas from religions like Zoroastrianism, the concept of Satan evolved into a more distinct malevolent entity in opposition to God. This is the figure who becomes prominent in the New Testament, where he is identified as the serpent from the Garden of Eden and the tempter of Jesus. In Islam, the figure of Iblis (or Shaitan) is presented in the Quran as a jinn who, out of pride, refused God's command to bow to the newly created Adam and was cast out of heaven.
While Christianity generally views the Devil as God's primary cosmic rival, modern Judaism largely rejects a dualistic framework and often interprets "Satan" as a metaphor for the "evil inclination" (yetzer hara) inherent in humanity, rather than an independent evil being.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved January 06, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved January 06, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "britannica.com". Retrieved January 06, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "medium.com". Retrieved January 06, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "christcenteredinsights.com". Retrieved January 06, 2026.
