The Existence of the Devil and the Origin of Evil
W. Barnes. 1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested… I. REFUTE THE THREE THEORIES IN WHICH THE DEVIL-DENYING DOCTRINES ARE COMPRISED. 1. The doctrine that two principles, of good and evil, eternally existed, and that the devil is only the evil principle personified. 2. The theory that the devil, specified in the Bible, is only the personification of fallen human nature. 3. The theory that sinful actions are the only devil that the Bible guards us against. II. EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN OF EVIL, AND EXHIBIT THE REAL EXISTENCE OF SATAN, AS ESTABLISHED BY REASON AND REVELATION. (W. Barnes.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. WEB: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.