Christian Treatise: Satan is a Fool

 

This is the continuation of a debate in the comment section of a YouTube video which shows Apostle Arome Osayi stating that Satan should not be called a fool. I completely disagree. This is part of my biblical treatise to support my position.

Satan is a Fool

The Book of Proverbs is replete with the descriptive attributes of a fool. There are also a number of verses in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Once you study this, you will be adequately armed with a robust definition of the word “fool” from a biblical perspective. With this definition, you can see if it applies to the Devil. Let us remember that the Bible says in the Book of 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” As you read this, please note that the words “folly” and “foolishness” are synonyms – that is they mean the same thing.

Here are some biblical descriptions and characteristics of a fool.

A fool’s legacy is shame [Proverbs: 3: 35]

A fool spreads slander and has lying lips. [Proverbs: 10:18 - NIV]

Premise 1: A fool spreads slander and has lying lips. (Proverbs 10:18)

Premise 2: Satan is known as the father of lies and a slanderer. (John 8:44, Revelation 12:10)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

A fool finds pleasure in doing evil or wickedness. [Proverbs: 10:23]

Premise 1: A fool finds pleasure in doing evil. (Proverbs 10:23)

Premise 2: Satan takes pleasure in promoting and executing evil. (1 Peter 5:8, John 10:10)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

 

Fools do not depart from evil [Proverbs 13:19]

Premise 1: A fool does not depart from evil. (Proverbs 13:19, Proverbs 14:16)

Premise 2: Satan continually engages in evil and does not depart from it. (Revelation 12:9, 1 John 3:8)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

A fool speaks with ungodly pride [Proverbs 14:3]

Premise 1: A fool speaks with ungodly pride. (Proverbs 14:3)

Premise 2: Satan displayed ungodly pride by attempting to exalt himself above God. (Isaiah 14:13-14)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

A fool does not depart from evil. [Proverbs 14:16]

Fools mock at (atonement for) sins [Proverbs 14:9]

A fool does not deserve honour. [Proverbs 26:1]

A fool should not be given any honour. [Proverbs 26:8]

A fool repeats his folly. [Proverbs 26:11]

A fool cannot be separated from his folly [Proverbs 26:22]

A fool walks in darkness. [Ecclesiastes 2:14]

Premise 1: A fool walks in darkness. (Ecclesiastes 2:14)

Premise 2: Satan operates in the realm of darkness and is the prince of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:13)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

A fool’s folly is deceit. [Proverbs 14:8]

Premise 1: A fool’s folly is deceit. (Proverbs 14:8)

Premise 2: Satan is characterized by deceit, deceiving nations and people. (Revelation 20:3, 2 Corinthians 11:14)

Conclusion: Therefore, Satan is a fool.

A fool will speak foolishness [Isaiah 32:6]

A fool’s heart is bent on evil [Isaiah 32:6]

A fool practices ungodliness [Isaiah 32:6]

A fool utters error against the LORD [Isaiah 32:6]

A fool should not be responded to according to his folly, lest you also be like him. [Proverbs 26:4]

(You respond to a fool – the Devil or Satan - using the word of God. This was the principle Christ applied during the temptation in the wilderness.)

The word ‘foolish’ is used in the Bible to describe several things:

The Bible mentions foolish kings in Ecclesiastes 4:13, foolish princes in Isaiah 19:11, foolish prophets in Ezekiel 13:3, foolish idols in Deuteronomy 32:21, foolish hearts in Romans 1:21, a foolish shepherd in Zechariah 11:15 and a foolish nation in Deuteronomy 32:21.

Why would anyone think that Satan cannot be described with this adjective, foolish?

The Bible says in Proverbs 24: 9:

The devising of foolishness is sin… (NKJV)

Now read this logical deduction:

Devising foolishness is sin

Satan is the author and embodiment of sin. (1 John 3:8)

Satan, therefore, cannot be separated from the foolishness which is sin.

The Book of Ecclesiastes 7:25 says, wickedness is folly.

Amplified Bible

I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness]. Ecclesiastes 7:25

Satan was repeatedly referred to as the wicked one in several parts of the Bible (Mat 13:38, Ephesians 6:16, 1 John 5:19)

How can you call Satan the wicked one but you cannot call him the foolish one when wickedness is referred to as folly?

The Book of Ecclesiastes states further:

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:13

Essentially, wisdom is light, folly is darkness. Satan is associated with darkness.

Also, the Book of Psalms 74:18 states: “…foolish people are blasphemous.”

NKJV: Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. Ps 74:18

The Book of Revelations 2:9 says: blasphemous people are of Satan

NKJV: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9

This is a simple deduction based on these statements:

Foolish people are blasphemous.

Blasphemous people are of the synagogue of Satan.

Therefore, foolish people are of the synagogue of Satan.

If foolish people are of the synagogue of Satan, how can Satan not be foolish?

Also, the prophets of Samaria are called foolish in this verse from Jeremiah because they have prophesied by the demonic god, Baal. Read:

King James Bible

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. [Jeremiah 23:13]

How can Baal – symbolic of the devil – not be foolish or be a spirit of foolishness if the prophets who prophesied by him are called foolish for doing so?

Also, in the Book of Mark, Christ talks to His disciples about what defiles a man. Read:

Mark 7: 20 – 22

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

Thirteen things were enumerated here as evil things that defile a man.

I believe all 13 can be rewritten as devilish or demonic things which can defile a person.

Let’s rewrite the list this way, following the order in which it was written:

1.                 Spirit of evil thoughts or demonic thoughts

2.                 Spirit of adultery (Spirit of lust)

3.                 Spirit of fornication (Spirit of lust)

4.                 Spirit of murder

5.                 Spirit of theft

6.                 Spirit of covetousness or greed

7.                 Spirit of wickedness

8.                 Spirit of deceit or lies

9.                 Spirit of lewdness or profanity

10.            Spirit of evil (envy)

11.            Spirit of blasphemy

12.            Spirit of pride

13.            Spirit of foolishness

Christ has classified all these items as evil things. If they are evil things and are of the devil, then we can use them in characterizing or naming the devil who is the author of sin. (1 John 3:8)

We can call Satan, who is the devil, the spirit of lust, the spirit of pride, the spirit of wickedness or the spirit of foolishness.

If he is the spirit of foolishness, then he is a fool.