Who is Satan according to the Bible?
Satan is a fallen angel who opposes God and tempts people to sin. The Bible portrays him as real but defeated — a deceiver whose end is certain through Christ’s victory.
The Bible describes Satan (‘the accuser’) as a created being who rebelled against God. Jesus called him ‘a liar and the father of lies’ (John 8:44), and Peter warns that he ‘prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).
Yet Satan is not God’s equal; he is a creature, limited and already defeated at the cross. Believers are told, ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7), and that ‘the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4).
Scripture neither ignores Satan nor obsesses over him. It points us to Christ, whose victory is sure, and assures us that Satan’s destruction is coming (Revelation 20:10).
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.