Satan as a Murderer from the Beginning in Scripture
The biblical assertion that Satan was "a murderer from the beginning" is found in John 8:44, where Jesus confronts those who oppose him, stating, "You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you desire to do. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him" [4]. This statement links Satan's nature as a murderer directly to his opposition to truth and his role as a liar.
The term "Satan" itself, derived from the Hebrew satan, means "adversary" or "accuser" [1, 2]. While it is used in a general sense for an adversary in some Old Testament passages (e.g., 1 Samuel 29:4; Numbers 22:22,33), it appears as a proper name or title for a specific spiritual being in Job 1:6, 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1; and 1 Chronicles 21:1 [1]. In the New Testament, "Satan" is often used interchangeably with Diabolos, or "the devil," and is also referred to as "the dragon," "the old serpent," "the prince of this world," "the prince of the power of the air," and "the god of this world" [2]. As the "accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10), Satan seeks to undermine believers by bringing false charges against them [3].
The phrase "from the beginning" in John 8:44 points to Satan's role in the temptation and fall of humanity in Genesis 3 [7]. Matthew Henry identifies the serpent in Genesis 3 as the devil, a "malignant spirit" who rebelled against God [8]. John Calvin similarly describes Satan as the "real enemy of the human race, the contriver of all evils," who used the serpent as his instrument [9]. This initial act of deception led to humanity's spiritual death and expulsion from the Garden of Eden, thus establishing Satan's identity as a murderer [7]. The "murder" here is understood not only as physical death but also as the introduction of sin, which brings spiritual separation from God.
The connection between Satan's sin and his murderous nature is further emphasized in 1 John 3:8, which states, "the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning" [5, 6]. This passage highlights that sin originates with the devil, and those who practice sin align themselves with his nature. Augustine, as cited by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, clarifies that while believers are "born of God," no one is "born of the devil"; rather, one becomes a "child of the devil by imitating him" [10]. This implies that Satan does not generate life but rather corrupts it [10].
The work of Christ is presented as the direct counter to Satan's destructive influence. John 12:31 refers to Satan as "the ruler of this world," the "architect of darkness, corrupter of the world, and promoter of death" [11]. However, the passage also notes that Christ's work began to unravel Satan's domain, even though Satan's final demise is yet to come [11]. The purpose of the Son of God's appearance was "to destroy the works of the devil" [5, 6].
The concept of Satan as a murderer from the beginning is therefore rooted in his original act of rebellion and deception, which introduced sin and death into the world. This understanding underscores the profound spiritual conflict between God's life-giving truth and Satan's destructive lies.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Satan — The word itself, the Hebrew satan, is simply an "adversary," and is so used in (1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 6:4; 11:14,23,25; Numbers 22:22,33; Psalms 109:6) This original sense is still found in our Lord's application of the name to St. Peter in (Matthew 16:23) It is used as a proper name or title only four times in the Old Testament, vis. (with the article) in (Job 1:6; 12; 2:1; Zechariah 2:1) and without the article in (1 Chronicles 21:1) It is with the scriptural revelation on the subject that we are here concerned; and it is clear, from this si”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Satan — Adversary; accuser. When used as a proper name, the Hebrew word so rendered has the article "the adversary" (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). In the New Testament it is used as interchangeable with Diabolos, or the devil, and is so used more than thirty times. He is also called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30); "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2); "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4); "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2). The distinct personality of Satan and h”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Accuser — Satan is styled the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10. Comp. Job 1:6; Zech. 3:1), as seeking to uphold his influence among men by bringing false charges against Christians, with the view of weakening their influence and injuring the cause with which they are identified. He was regarded by the Jews as the accuser of men before God, laying to their charge the violations of the law of which they were guilty, and demanding their punishment. The same Greek word, rendered "accuser," is found in John 8:10 (but omitted in the Revised Version); Acts 23:30, 35; 2”
- John “John 8:44 (LITV) — You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you desire to do. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, because he is a liar, and the father of it.”
- 1 John “1 John 3:8 (NASB) — the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
- I John “I John 3:8 (LITV) — The one practicing sin is of the Devil, because the Devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He undo the works of the Devil.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 8:44: Ye are of your father the devil--"This is one of the most decisive testimonies to the objective (outward) personality of the devil. It is quite impossible to suppose an accommodation to Jewish views, or a metaphorical form of speech, in so solemn an assertion as this" [ALFORD]. the lusts of your father--his impure, malignant, ungodly propensities, inclinations, desires. ye will do--are willing to do; not of any blind necessity of nature, but of pure natural inclination. He was a murderer from the beginning--The reference is not to Cain (as LOCKE, D”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 3:1: We have here an account of the temptation with which Satan assaulted our first parents, to draw them into sin, and which proved fatal to them. Here observe, I. The tempter, and that was the devil, in the shape and likeness of a serpent. 1. It is certain it was the devil that beguiled Eve. The devil and Satan is the old serpent (Rev 12:9), a malignant spirit, by creation an angel of light and an immediate attendant upon God's throne, but by sin become an apostate from his first state and a rebel against God's crown and dignity. Multitudes of the angels fell; but th”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 7.6: real enemy of the human race, the contriver of all evils, furnished with every kind of fraud and villainy to injure and destroy. Therefore, though the impious make a noise, there is nothing justly to offend us in this mode of speaking by which Moses describes Satan, the prince of iniquity, under the person of his servant and instrument, at the time when Christ, the Head of the Church, and the Sun of Righteousness, had not yet openly shone forth. Add to this, the baseness of human ingratitude is more clearly hence perceived, that wh”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 12:31: 12:31-33 The time for judging does not occur only on Judgment Day; it began when the light penetrated the darkness and unmasked it (3:19; 5:24; 9:39). • Satan, the ruler of this world, is the architect of darkness, corrupter of the world, and promoter of death. Although Satan’s final demise lies in the future, the work of Christ unraveled Satan’s domain (see Luke 10:17-18; Mark 3:27). Christ is now enthroned as ruler in heaven (Acts 7:55-56; Eph 1:19-22).”