Theology: Can the Devil have forgiveness?

[MobBoss]

I think there are a couple of exceptions, warpus - suicide being the one I hear about the most. It's supposed to be the one "unforgivable sin".

There is only one unforgiveable sin mentioned in the bible. Its not suicide.

Yes, Satan can repent and be forgiven.

I dont think that is in the cards, as he is probably one who has indeed committed the 'unforgivable sin' against the holy spirit. Or, at the very least, shouldnt the odds of him doing that be kind a high? I would think so.

 

[Nick Carpathia]

Of course (because it all exists in the imaginations of petty little men).

 

[civ2]

Well, a Jewish POV:
Satan is but a servant of G-d, though he is OUR "enemy", that is, he tries his BEST to make us do WRONG.
But there never was any "rebellion", not to mention that to ascribe "power" to ANYONE beside G-d, is already wrong.
Christianity got too Greekish, so they introduced the "Big Bad Guy" (though he's far from being "Big"), to oppose the "Big Good Guy". Sorry.
(BAD, sure, BIG, no way.)
Thus, no forgiveness is even needed.
Oh, but "one more thing"(c) - all "evil" is but a temporary thing, meant to be abolished in the End.
What will happen to Satan then, is kinda unclear, but he for sure will get unemployed.

 

[kochman]

Well, a Jewish POV:
Satan is but a servant of G-d, though he is OUR "enemy", that is, he tries his BEST to make us do WRONG.
But there never was any "rebellion", not to mention that to ascribe "power" to ANYONE beside G-d, is already wrong.
Christianity got too Greekish, so they introduced the "Big Bad Guy" (though he's far from being "Big"), to oppose the "Big Good Guy". Sorry.
(BAD, sure, BIG, no way.)
Thus, no forgiveness is even needed.
Oh, but "one more thing"(c) - all "evil" is but a temporary thing, meant to be abolished in the End.
What will happen to Satan then, is kinda unclear, but he for sure will get unemployed.

Who was the big bad guy in pre-Christian Greek stories?

The Persians?

 

[Arakhor]

In Greek mythology, you had the Titans constantly scheming to overthrow the Olympians and then you had the all-too mortal hubris of the Gods and mortals alike. They're much more exciting than other mythologies, for that reason.

 

[kochman]

In Greek mythology, you had the Titans constantly scheming to overthrow the Olympians and then you had the all-too mortal hubris of the Gods and mortals alike. They're much more exciting than other mythologies, for that reason.

Ah, I had forgotten the Titans...
"Remember the Titans"

 

[civ2]

kochman
I can't find a definitive article on it exactly.
(I might be wrong in attributing this to GREEKS, but the idea is the same - of pagan duality origins.)
But I found a wiki, that basically says the same thing I did about Satan's role.

Also, THIS.

 

[Arakhor]

The Persians practised duality in Zoroastrianism, but I believe that it was the mediaeval Catholic church that rather required Satan to be actively evil and of the same power of God in order to threaten him and sieze faithless men's souls.

 

[_random_]

Eh. Popular medieval depictions of Satan tended to portray him as pretty incompotent as a supreme evil, frequently being outwitted by prospective servants.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Eh. Popular medieval depictions of Satan tended to portray him as pretty incompotent as a supreme evil, frequently being outwitted by prospective servants.

I wonder if that's in line with GK Chesterton's comment that "fairy tales don't exist to tell children that dragons exist; they already know that. Fairy tales exist to tell children that dragons can be defeated."

 

[Dachs]

Who was the big bad guy in pre-Christian Greek stories?

The Persians?

He's talking about Neoplatonism, not Greek mythology per se, and certainly not the stories of the gods of Olympos.

 

[Birdjaguar]

What would happen to hell if the Devil was forgiven and ascended into heaven? Who would run it? One of his underlings? What if they all accepted Jesus?

According to the Bible there is no choice in the matter. Satan will be forgiven:

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

Origen of the early church built a whole theology around this set of verses. It is pretty clear that in the end there are no exceptions. If you believe the Bible.

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

Well, a Jewish POV:
Satan is but a servant of G-d, though he is OUR "enemy", that is, he tries his BEST to make us do WRONG.

I find this quite profound and true. Satan and other hostiles serve some (their) purpose which indirectly serves Gods.

But there never was any "rebellion", not to mention that to ascribe "power" to ANYONE beside G-d, is already wrong.

It seems to be true that all the Power which exists has the same Source and that it can be withdrawn at Gods sweet will however thats not the usual process so one has to be cautious and wise when dealing with the deadly forces...
EDIT:btw rebellion is something which is going on constantly its kind of nature of ignorance to be rebellious to Light

Christianity got too Greekish, so they introduced the "Big Bad Guy" (though he's far from being "Big"), to oppose the "Big Good Guy". Sorry.
(BAD, sure, BIG, no way.)
Thus, no forgiveness is even needed.
Oh, but "one more thing"(c) - all "evil" is but a temporary thing, meant to be abolished in the End.
What will happen to Satan then, is kinda unclear, but he for sure will get unemployed.

The Bed guy(s) is no match for God but he is certainly big enough for little human worms..
Everything is subject to illumination (no exceptions)