READING • HEBREWS 2:9–18
What does the Bible mean by “the devil”?
The Bible certainly speaks about “the devil”. The Greek word diabolos carries the idea of a slanderer or false accuser. Christadelphians understand the devil language of key salvation passages as a personification of sin and its power, rather than as an immortal evil being who rivals God.
Why did the Son of God appear?
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:8 • King James Version
The purpose of Jesus was not merely to teach good principles. He came to deal decisively with sin and death. Hebrews 2 explains why he had to share our human nature in order to do this.
Jesus shared our flesh and blood
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Hebrews 2:14 • King James Version
WHAT THE VERSE SAYS
WHY IT MATTERS
The children share flesh and blood.
Human beings are mortal and subject to temptation.
Jesus “likewise took part of the same”.
He genuinely shared our human nature; his temptations were real.
He destroyed the devil “through death”.
His sacrificial death was central to overcoming the power associated with sin and death.
He did this without sinning.
Hebrews 4:15 says he was tempted as we are, “yet without sin”.
Sin put away by sacrifice
Hebrews itself helps us understand the connection. Later it says that Jesus appeared “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself”. Christadelphians therefore understand the devil in Hebrews 2 as sin personified—the power of sin and death which Jesus overcame by perfect obedience and finally defeated through his sacrificial death.
“But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Hebrews 9:26 • King James Version
This does not mean that Jesus himself was a sinner. He shared the same mortal human nature as those he came to save, and he was genuinely tempted, but he never committed sin.
What does “devil” mean?
The Greek word diabolos is often translated “devil” when used as a title, but the same word-group can also describe human slanderers or false accusers. This reminds us not to assume that every occurrence must describe a supernatural being.
PASSAGE
KJV WORDING
POINT
1 Timothy 3:11
“not slanderers”
The same word-group can describe ordinary people who speak falsely against others.
2 Timothy 3:3
“false accusers”
Again, the meaning is human slander or accusation.
Titus 2:3
“not false accusers”
The word can plainly be applied to human conduct.
Hebrews 2:14
“the devil”
Christadelphians understand the expression here as sin personified in relation to death.
Where does sin come from?
Jesus taught that evil actions arise from within human beings. He did not tell us to excuse ourselves by blaming an outside tempter.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Mark 7:21–23 • King James Version
James gives the same practical explanation of temptation. Desire is allowed to draw a person away; desire gives birth to sin; and sin leads to death.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
James 1:14–15 • King James Version
Personal responsibility matters
The Bible places responsibility for sin on us. Temptation may come through circumstances, other people or the desires of our own hearts, but we are called to recognise our own choices and seek God’s forgiveness and help.
The devil in the temptation of Jesus
Lesson 17 considered the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Christadelphians understand the devil in that account as the personification of temptation arising from the human nature Jesus shared with us. The temptations were real, but Jesus never yielded to them. He consistently chose his Father’s will rather than his own way.
There is no power equal to God
The Bible does not present the universe as divided between two equal supernatural powers—one good and one evil. The LORD alone is God. Isaiah 45 emphasises His absolute sovereignty.
“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me... I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”
Isaiah 45:5,7 • King James Version
In the KJV, “evil” can sometimes mean calamity, adversity or judgement rather than moral wickedness. Isaiah is saying that prosperity and calamity alike are under God’s sovereign control; He has no equal rival.
One Creator, one supreme authority
Human sin opposes God, but it never becomes a second divine power. God remains sovereign over creation, history, judgement and salvation.
Sin is a serious problem
The hardest part of this subject is not identifying someone else to blame. It is recognising the problem in ourselves. Scripture repeatedly says that all human beings fall short of God’s standard.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23 • King James Version
The original lesson accidentally referred to Romans 2:23 here. The correct reference is Romans 3:23.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9 • King James Version
Paul knew this struggle personally. He wanted to do what was right, yet recognised the power of sin operating in mortal human nature.
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing... For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
Romans 7:18–19 • King James Version
Why this matters
Until we recognise the seriousness of sin, we cannot fully appreciate why God sent His Son or why forgiveness is such a gift. Jesus did what none of us has done: he faced temptation throughout his mortal life and remained completely obedient to God.
Repentance means turning round
Once we recognise sin in ourselves, the Bible calls us to repent. Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It means turning away from our own way and deliberately seeking God’s way. We cannot undo our past, but through the Lord Jesus we can receive forgiveness and begin a new life of obedience.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Romans 6:1–2 • King James Version
Paul then describes the practical response expected of a disciple:
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Romans 6:12–13 • King James Version
The battle is real—but grace is greater
A disciple should never become comfortable with sin, but neither should a disciple imagine that salvation depends on achieving sinless perfection by personal effort. We continue to struggle against wrong desires, confess our failures and depend on the grace and forgiveness God provides through Christ.
Do not excuse sin—and do not despair
The Bible calls us both to responsibility and to hope. We must not blame an external devil for our sins; neither should we give up when we fail. Repentance means returning to God and continuing to follow the example of His Son.
When will the struggle end?
In this mortal life we continue to face temptation. But the Gospel promises a complete change for faithful disciples when the Lord Jesus returns. Those accepted by him will receive immortality and will be freed from the present weakness, corruption and struggle with sin.
Paul describes the transformation of the faithful in 1 Corinthians 15:51–57: mortality will put on immortality, and death will be swallowed up in victory. The final victory is God’s gift through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus has already won the decisive victory
Jesus never surrendered to temptation. In his death he condemned sin in the flesh and opened the way for forgiveness and life. His resurrection shows that sin and death do not have the final word. Our task is to belong to him, follow him and keep turning from sin toward God.
Putting the teaching together
BIBLE TEACHING
PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCE
Sin leads to death.
We cannot treat sin as a minor problem or assume we can save ourselves.
Temptation arises within human experience.
We must accept responsibility rather than blame an imagined external tempter.
Jesus shared our nature but never sinned.
He is both our Saviour and our perfect example of obedience.
God offers forgiveness and life through Christ.
We respond with faith, repentance, baptism and a continuing life of discipleship.
The real enemy
The Christadelphian understanding of “the devil” directs attention to the enemy the Bible repeatedly tells us to resist: sin. It works through human desire, deceit, pride, selfishness and disobedience. Christ overcame it completely. His followers are called to fight the same battle with God’s help.
This understanding also protects the Bible’s teaching that God is supreme. There is no immortal rebel being able to challenge His authority. The problem of evil is not solved by inventing another god-like power; Scripture makes us face human sin and points us to God’s answer in His Son.
SUMMARY
1
Christadelphians understand the devil as sin personified.
In key salvation passages, “the devil” represents the power of sin and death rather than an immortal supernatural rival to God.
2
Jesus genuinely shared our human nature.
He was tempted as we are, yet never sinned; through his sacrificial death he put away sin and opened the way to life.
3
Temptation must be faced personally.
Jesus and James both direct attention to what arises from within the human heart and its desires.
4
God alone is supreme.
Isaiah 45 leaves no room for an equal evil deity competing with the Creator.
5
The answer is repentance and life in Christ.
We turn from sin, trust God’s forgiveness, follow Jesus and look forward to the final victory over mortality and sin.
Chapters to read
James 1:12–27 • Romans 6 • Romans 7:14–25 • Hebrews 2:9–18
LEARN BY HEART • JAMES 1:14–15
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
James 1:14–15 • King James Version
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