The Devil figures much more prominently in the New Testament and in Christian theology than in the Old Testament and Judaism. Religion scholar William Caldwell writes that "In the Old Testament we have seen that the figure of Satan is vague... The unveiling of Satan as a rebellious world-power is reserved for the New Testament, and with this fuller teaching the symbolic treatment of temptation in Genesis is to be connected. There is a sound pedagogical reason, from the viewpoint of revelation, for this earlier withholding of the whole truth concerning Satan.
Discover the New Testament's portrayal of the Devil as diabolos—the slanderer and deceiver. Explore how his lies distort truth, his schemes target humanity, and how Christ's victory exposes and defeats his power.. To understand what the devil and Satan are requires a thorough Bible study, both Old and New Testaments. The word for 'devil' is strictly New Testament and is the Greek, 'diabolos' meaning a 'false accuser' or 'slanderer' while 'satan' is a Hebrew word meaning 'an enemy'. The first false accusation was made against God by the serpent in Eden.