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Devil: A Definition - from the "Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Bible"
1. The name given to any of the fallen angels, who sinned before the creation of Adam and have been damned to hell. The devils did not lose all of their original greatness and power after their sin, and they use all their cunning now for evil. The common teaching is that their sin was one of pride: Suarez taught that theirs was a refusal to worship the Word Incarnate when God revealed to them the Incarnation. All the gods of the Gentiles were devils. Men offered them sacrifices even of their own children (Ps. 106:37; Bar. 4:7). This was specifically forbidden (Lev. 17:7). They were driven out of possessed persons by Our Lord (Matt. 8:16, 31; 9:33; 17:17; Luke 4:35; 8:2, 28; 9:43; 13:11). They were subject to the disciples (Luke 10:17; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:18). They recognized Christ (Matt. 8:29; Mark 3:11; 5:7; Luke 4:33, 41; 8:28; Acts 19:15). 2. The name given to the chief of the fallen angels, who is also called Satan ("the adversary"). Sin entered the world through his jealousy (Wis. 2:24). He is always seeking to injure men (Gen. 3:1; 2 Chron. 18:21; Job 1:11; Zec. 3:1; Matt. 8:28; Luke 8:12; Eph. 6:11; Rev. 2:10; 12:9). He tempted Our Lord (Matt. 4). He transforms himself into an angel of light to deceive men (2 Cor. 11:14). He can act only as God permits (1 Kings 22:22; Job 1:12; 2:6; Matt. 8:31; 2 Tim. 2:26; Rev. 20:7). He is the father and prince of the world and of all the wicked (John 8:44; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Acts 13:10; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 1 John 3:10). His empire was destroyed by Christ (Matt. 8:16; Luke 10:18; 11:22; Col. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:14).
Why Did God Create The Devil? - by Rev. Jude O. Mbukanma, "Is It In The Bible?" Catholics believe that the devil is an angelic person whose will is fixed forever in evil. When God created the angels, He made them good and gave them a share in His own divine life. But before they could enter heaven, they were tested by God. Some of the angels failed the test and sinned grievously against God. They are called evil spirits or "fallen angels". Their leader is named Satan (which in Hebrew means "the enemy"), Lucifer or simply the devil. The devil is a spiritual being who has no body and that is why we cannot see him. Because he has intelligence and free will, he is a personal being. He is evil through his own fault. He was good when created by God, but he freely made himself evil by abusing his freedom. The devil is under God’s control and cannot act without God’s permission. He is allowed to incite us to sin (temptation), to enter human bodies and move imagination and locomotive faculities (diabolic possession). However, he has no power over our free will. He can never force our consent to evil. Although the "devil is clever and as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour" (1 Pt. 5:8), we should not be afraid of him for, "God is faithful and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also give you a way out that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13). If God destroyed the devil, he would violate the precious gift of freedom and deprive man of opportunities for virtue and merit. To destroy free beings would mean God’s failure to fulfill the plan of creation. Besides, it is far greater punishment for the devil to suffer eternally than to be snuffed out of existence. As the last, God will take from him all power and thrust him back, hopeless and helpless into hell forever.
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Devil: A Definition

Why Did God Create The Devil?