Diabolos

• To: NT-GREEK@Virginia.EDU
• Subject: Diabolos
• From: Charles Floyd Bearden <cbeard@tenet.edu>
• Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 23:43:40 -0500 (CDT)
• Reply-To: Charles Floyd Bearden <cbeard@tenet.edu>
• Sender: Charles Floyd Bearden <cbeard@tenet.edu>

The rudimentary tools I have at hand (Liddell _cott's Intermediate Greek
Lexicon and Arndt-Gingrich-Bauer Greek-English Lexicon) suggest that
'diabolos' translates the term 'Satan,' which in Hebrew means 'adversary'
or 'accuser.'  The verb 'diaballo' is already used in classical times to
mean "to traduce or slander," and the derived 'diabolos' is used by
Thucydides and Aristophanes to mean "slanderer."  Bauer makes the explicit
connection between 'diabolos' and 'Satan,' and he points to many passages
in the LXX where 'Satan' is rendered 'diabolos.'

While I am not a specialist, the works I cited are, I believe, highly
regarded basic reference books.  I hope this helps you.

Chuck Bearden
Library Service Specialist
Houston Public Library		Robinson-Westchase Branch		
Voice: 713/784-0987		3223 Wilcrest Dr. 
				Houston, Texas  77042
Internet: cbeard@tenet.edu

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