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Selected Verse: 2 Corinthians 11:14 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
2Co 11:14 |
Strong Concordance |
And [2532] no [3756] marvel [2298]; for [1063] Satan [4567] himself [846] is transformed [3345] into [1519] an angel [32] of light [5457]. |
|
King James |
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
is transformed--rather, "transforms himself" (compare Job 1:6); habitually; the first occasion of his doing so was in tempting Eve. "Himself" is emphatical: If their master himself, who is the "prince of darkness," the most alien to light, does so, it is less marvellous in the case of them who are his servants (Luk 22:54; Eph 6:12). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And no marvel - And it is not wonderful, Co2 11:15. Since Satan himself is capable of appearing to be an angel of light, it is not to be deemed strange that those who are in his service also should resemble him.
For Satan himself is transformed ... - That is, he who is an apostate angel; who is malignant and wicked; who is the prince of evil, assumes the appearance of a holy angel. Paul assumes this as an indisputable and admitted truth, without attempting to prove it, and without referring to any particular instances. Probably he had in his eye cases where Satan put on false and delusive appearances for the purpose of deceiving, or where he assumed the appearance of great sanctity and reverence for the authority of God. Such instances occurred in the temptation of our first parents Gen 3:1-6, and in the temptation of the Saviour, Matt. 4. The phrase "an angel of light," means a pure and holy angel, light being the emblem of purity and holiness. Such are all the angels that dwell in heaven; and the idea is, that Satan assumes such a form as to appear to be such an angel. Learn here:
(1) His power. He can assume such an aspect as he pleases. He can dissemble and appear to be eminently pious. He is the prince of duplicity as well as of wickedness; and it is the consummation of bad power for an individual to be able to assume any character which he pleases.
(2) his art. he is long practiced in deceitful arts. For six thousand years he has been practicing the art of delusion. And with him it is perfect.
(3) we are not to sup pose that all that appears to be piety is piety. Some of the most plausible appearances of piety are assumed by Satan and his ministers. None ever professed a profounder regard for the authority of God than Satan did when he tempted the Saviour. And if the prince of wickedness can appear to be an angel of light, we are not to be surprised if those who have the blackest hearts appear to be people of most eminent piety.
(4) we should be on our guard. We should not listen to suggestions merely because they appear to come from a pious man, nor because they seem to be prompted by a regard to the will of God. We may be always sure that, if we are to be tempted, it will be by some one having a great appearance of virtue and religion.
(5) we are not to expect that Satan will appear to man to be as bad as he is. He never shows himself openly to be a spirit of pure wickedness; or black and abominable in his character; or full of evil and hateful. He would thus defeat himself. It is for this reason that wicked people do not believe that there is such a being as Satan. Though continually under his influence and "led captive by him at his will," yet they neither see him nor the chains which lead them, nor are they willing to believe in the existence of the one or the other. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Satan
See on Luk 10:18. The rabbinical writings represent the devil rather as the enemy of man than of God or of good. They use none of the New-Testament names for the Evil One except Satan, and contain no mention of a kingdom of Satan. Edersheim says: "Instead of the personified principle of evil to which there is response in us - we have only a clumsy and often a stupid hater." It is also to be observed that in the Septuagint the usage is limited to the enemy of man, as is that of διάβολος devil by which Satan is translated. See Ch1 21:1; Est 7:4; Est 8:1; Psa 108:1-13 :(109) Psa 108:5; Job 1:6; Zac 3:1, Zac 3:2. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Satan himself is transformed - Uses to transform himself; to put on the fairest appearances. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
And no marvel - Και ου θαυμαστον· And no wonder; it need not surprise you what the disciples do, when you consider the character of the master.
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light - As in Co2 11:3 the apostle had the history of the temptation and fall of man particularly in view, it is very likely that here he refers to the same thing. In what ever form Satan appeared to our first mother, his pretensions and professions gave him the appearance of a good angel; and by pretending that Eve should get a great increase of light, that is, wisdom and understanding, he deceived her, and led her to transgress. It is generally said that Satan has three forms under which he tempts men:
1. The subtle serpent.
2. The roaring lion.
3. The angel of light.
He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which are subversive of it. Hence all the persecutions, faggots, and fires of a certain Church, under pretense of keeping heresy out of the Church; and hence all the horrors and infernalities of the inquisition. In the form of heathen persecution, like a lion he has ravaged the heritage of the Lord. And by means of our senses and passions, as the subtle serpent, he is frequently deceiving us, so that often the workings of corrupt nature are mistaken for the operations of the Spirit of God. |
12 For [3754] we [2254] wrestle [3823] not [3756] against [2076] [4314] flesh [4561] and [2532] blood [129], but [235] against [4314] principalities [746], against [4314] powers [1849], against [4314] the rulers [2888] of the darkness [4655] of this [5127] world [165], against [4314] spiritual [4152] wickedness [4189] in [1722] high [2032] places.
54 Then [1161] took they [4815] him [846], and led [71] him, and [2532] brought [1521] him [846] into [1519] the high priest's [749] house [3624]. And [1161] Peter [4074] followed [190] afar off [3113].
6 Now there was a day [03117] when the sons [01121] of God [0430] came [0935] to present [03320] themselves before the LORD [03068], and Satan [07854] came [0935] also among [08432] them.
1 Now the serpent [05175] was [01961] more subtil [06175] than any beast [02416] of the field [07704] which the LORD [03068] God [0430] had made [06213]. And he said [0559] unto the woman [0802], Yea [0637], hath God [0430] said [0559], Ye shall not eat [0398] of every tree [06086] of the garden [01588]?
2 And the woman [0802] said [0559] unto the serpent [05175], We may eat [0398] of the fruit [06529] of the trees [06086] of the garden [01588]:
3 But of the fruit [06529] of the tree [06086] which is in the midst [08432] of the garden [01588], God [0430] hath said [0559], Ye shall not eat [0398] of it, neither shall ye touch [05060] it, lest [06435] ye die [04191].
4 And the serpent [05175] said [0559] unto the woman [0802], Ye shall not surely [04191] die [04191]:
5 For God [0430] doth know [03045] that in the day [03117] ye eat [0398] thereof, then your eyes [05869] shall be opened [06491], and ye shall be as gods [0430], knowing [03045] good [02896] and evil [07451].
6 And when the woman [0802] saw [07200] that the tree [06086] was good [02896] for food [03978], and that it [01931] was pleasant [08378] to the eyes [05869], and a tree [06086] to be desired [02530] to make one wise [07919], she took [03947] of the fruit thereof [06529], and did eat [0398], and gave [05414] also [01571] unto her husband [0376] with her; and he did eat [0398].
15 Therefore [3767] it is no [3756] great thing [3173] if [1499] his [846] ministers [1249] also [1499] be transformed [3345] as [5613] the ministers [1249] of righteousness [1343]; whose [3739] end [5056] shall be [2071] according [2596] to their [846] works [2041].
2 And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Satan [07854], The LORD [03068] rebuke [01605] thee, O Satan [07854]; even the LORD [03068] that hath chosen [0977] Jerusalem [03389] rebuke [01605] thee: is not this a brand [0181] plucked [05337] out of the fire [0784]?
1 And he shewed [07200] me Joshua [03091] the high [01419] priest [03548] standing [05975] before [06440] the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068], and Satan [07854] standing [05975] at his right hand [03225] to resist [07853] him.
6 Now there was a day [03117] when the sons [01121] of God [0430] came [0935] to present [03320] themselves before the LORD [03068], and Satan [07854] came [0935] also among [08432] them.
5 Be thou exalted [07311], O God [0430], above the heavens [08064]: and thy glory [03519] above all the earth [0776];
1 A Song [07892] or Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. O God [0430], my heart [03820] is fixed [03559]; I will sing [07891] and give praise [02167], even with my glory [03519].
2 Awake [05782], psaltery [05035] and harp [03658]: I myself will awake [05782] early [07837].
3 I will praise [03034] thee, O LORD [03068], among the people [05971]: and I will sing praises [02167] unto thee among the nations [03816].
4 For thy mercy [02617] is great [01419] above the heavens [08064]: and thy truth [0571] reacheth unto the clouds [07834].
5 Be thou exalted [07311], O God [0430], above the heavens [08064]: and thy glory [03519] above all the earth [0776];
6 That thy beloved [03039] may be delivered [02502]: save [03467] with thy right hand [03225], and answer [06030] me.
7 God [0430] hath spoken [01696] in his holiness [06944]; I will rejoice [05937], I will divide [02505] Shechem [07927], and mete out [04058] the valley [06010] of Succoth [05523].
8 Gilead [01568] is mine; Manasseh [04519] is mine; Ephraim [0669] also is the strength [04581] of mine head [07218]; Judah [03063] is my lawgiver [02710];
9 Moab [04124] is my washpot [07366] [05518]; over Edom [0123] will I cast out [07993] my shoe [05275]; over Philistia [06429] will I triumph [07321].
10 Who will bring [02986] me into the strong [04013] city [05892]? who will lead [05148] me into Edom [0123]?
11 Wilt not thou, O God [0430], who hast cast us off [02186]? and wilt not thou, O God [0430], go forth [03318] with our hosts [06635]?
12 Give [03051] us help [05833] from trouble [06862]: for vain [07723] is the help [08668] of man [0120].
13 Through God [0430] we shall do [06213] valiantly [02428]: for he it is that shall tread down [0947] our enemies [06862].
1 On that day [03117] did the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] give [05414] the house [01004] of Haman [02001] the Jews [03064]' enemy [06887] unto Esther [0635] the queen [04436]. And Mordecai [04782] came [0935] before [06440] the king [04428]; for Esther [0635] had told [05046] what he was unto her.
4 For we are sold [04376], I and my people [05971], to be destroyed [08045], to be slain [02026], and to perish [06]. But if [0432] we had been sold [04376] for bondmen [05650] and bondwomen [08198], I had held my tongue [02790], although the enemy [06862] could not countervail [07737] the king's [04428] damage [05143].
1 And Satan [07854] stood up [05975] against Israel [03478], and provoked [05496] David [01732] to number [04487] Israel [03478].
18 And [1161] he said [2036] unto them [846], I beheld [2334] Satan [4567] as [5613] lightning [796] fall [4098] from [1537] heaven [3772].
3 But [1161] I fear [5399], lest [3381] by any means [4458], as [5613] the serpent [3789] beguiled [1818] Eve [2096] through [1722] his [846] subtilty [3834], so [3779] your [5216] minds [3540] should be corrupted [5351] from [575] the simplicity [572] that is in [1519] Christ [5547].