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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 1170

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 4. The Devil Has No Authority Over Us

Is the devil a real entity?

The answer

The Holy Bible affirms the fact of the devil’s existence as a being with certain attributes, will, and work. For example:

a. In the Book of Job, God enters into a dialogue with the devil, who is one of the angelic

beings; and the devil reveals that he is a being who roams the earth. He makes accusations against the righteous Job.

b. The devil tempted the Lord Christ in the wilderness, had a conversation with Him,

and then departed from Him until an opportune time (Luke 4:1–13).

c. The archangel Michael contended with him (Rev. 12:7–9 and Jude 9).

d. The devil wanted to sift the disciples of the Lord like grains of wheat (Luke 22:31).

e. The devil caused some of the faithful to be cast into prison (Rev. 2:10).

f. The devil has devices of which we are not ignorant (2 Cor. 2:11). We must beware of

his craftiness (2 Cor 11:3) and knowledge (Rev. 12:12). He has a will (2 Tim. 2:26) and emotions of pride (1 Tim. 3:6) and anger (Rev. 12:12).

All this implies that the devil is a real being and not merely a figment of human imagination.

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volumes 1 and 2, Books 1–7. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.