I’m seeking some good articles, essays, dictionary entries, etc., on Satan in early Judaism. C.T. Pierce’s entry “Satan and Related Figures” in The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism is a very helpful for introducing the subject, but I’d like to hear from more than one voice.
Your recommendations are welcomed in the comments section!
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Brian, I was going to direct you to this article but then I realized you suggested it as well. I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for, but a friend of mine who recently became a Fullbright scholar at University of Göttingen (and was also recently accepted into a Th.D program at Harvard) wrote a paper on fallen angels, warfare and monotheism.
Do you mind if I ask why you’re particularly interested in this?
Doing work on Romans 16:17-20a and I want to read more on the evolution of the figure of Satan since he is rarely named (if at all) in the OT.
Also, a friend of mine, John Christopher Thomas, wrote a book called “The Devil, Disease and Deliverance: The Origins of Illness in New Testament Thought.” JCT is a Classical Pentecostal brother who does some real quality biblical scholarship. This was his PhD thesis if I understand correctly. It was recently republished into a more accessible form.
Miguel de la Torre has a fantastic little book that he co-wrote with Albert Hernandez called “The Quest for the Historical Satan.” It’s not solely about Satan in early Judaism, but it is a good primer that traces the evolution of belief in Satan to its earliest roots. It also includes some good commentary on contemporary perceptions of Satan, as well.
And don’t forget Loren T. Stuckenbruck’s decent little chapter on Satan and demonology in Second-Temple Judaism, featured in Keith and Hurtado’s, “Jesus Among Friends and Enemies.”
I’ll let you know what I come across. Maybe you’ll find something in Graham Twelftree’s “In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism Among Early Christians.” Especially of interest to you would probably be Archie T. Wright’s book “Origin of Evil Spirits: The Reception of Genesis 6:1-4 in Early Jewish Literature.” You might also find Anette Reed’s book on fallen angels of interest.
I am beginning research soon on territorial fallen angels in the second temple period in relation to New Testament interpretation (especially the end of 1 John, Luke 4, Matthew 4, etc…). I’m thinking about doing a master’s thesis on this.
Yes! Loren T. Stuckenbruck’s chapter is phenomenal! I loved it. It confirmed what I was suspecting and I thought most NT scholars missed, perhaps due to a modernistic bias.
Excellent, this leads should help me a lot. Also, Jack Levison (via Twitter) mentioned “No Ordinary Angel” by Susan R. Garrett. Have either of you come across that one?
Can’t say that I have. I’ll have to check it out.
No, I haven’t!
Satan Conflict and the Plot of Matthew is a dissertation written by Robert Branden for his PhD at Dallas Theological Seminary. I found this to be extremely helpful.
The Legends of the Jews By Louis Ginzberg [1909] This is a massive collation of the Haggada–the traditions which have grown up surrounding the Biblical narrative. These stories and bits of layered detail are scattered throughout the Talmud and the Midrash, and other sources, including oral. In the 19th century Ginzberg undertook the task of arranging the Haggada into chronological order, and this series of volumes was the result.
I find this description of the fall of Satan found in chapter 2 to be most believable. It involves Satan being jealous of Adam being made in the image of God and then when all the angels come down to pay homage to the new creation Satan will not bow to Adam. Archangel Michael encourages him to do so and then Satan says that if he is punished for not doing so he will raise his throne above the stars. Thus starts the war in heaven between Michael and the dragon and it puts an interesting spin on Satan trying to get Christ the second Adam to bow to him in the wilderness.