The father of the devil (John 8:44) : A Christian exegetical inspiration for the evil creator

Journal article

Litwa, M. David. (2020). The father of the devil (John 8:44) : A Christian exegetical inspiration for the evil creator. Vigiliae Christinane. 74(5), pp. 540-565. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700720-12341453
AuthorsLitwa, M. David
Abstract

This article argues that John 8:44 helped to inspire the early Christian view that the creator was an evil being. John 8:44 has at least four possible readings allowed by grammar. In two of these readings, taken by a variety of early Christian groups (including early catholics), there is indication that the devil has a father. Since the desires of this father are known from the parallel desires of his children, some early Christians inferred the hostility of the devil’s father toward Christ, and thus his evil nature.

Keywordsdevil; creator; demiurgy; Gnosis; history of interpretation
Year2020
JournalVigiliae Christinane
Journal citation74 (5), pp. 540-565
PublisherE.J. Brill Academic Publishers
ISSN0042-6032
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1163/15700720-12341453
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85097247270
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range540-565
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online12 Nov 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited15 Jun 2021
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8w3ww/the-father-of-the-devil-john-8-44-a-christian-exegetical-inspiration-for-the-evil-creator

Log in to edit

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 457
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 15
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Carpocrates, Marcellina, and Epiphanes : Three early Christian teachers of Alexandria and Rome
Litwa, M. David. (2022). Carpocrates, Marcellina, and Epiphanes : Three early Christian teachers of Alexandria and Rome Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/b22945
The so-called Stratiotics and Phibionites : Three notes on the "Gnostics" of Epiphanius, Panarion 26
Litwa, M. David. (2022). The so-called Stratiotics and Phibionites : Three notes on the "Gnostics" of Epiphanius, Panarion 26. Vigiliae Christinane. 76(1), pp. 73-93. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700720-bja10036
Did Marcion call the creator 'God'?
Litwa, M. David. (2021). Did Marcion call the creator 'God'? Journal of Theological Studies. 72(1), pp. 231-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/jts/flab010
The evil creator : Origins of an early Christian idea
Litwa, M. David. (2021). The evil creator : Origins of an early Christian idea Oxford University Press.
Equal to angels : The early reception history of the Lukan ἰσάγγελοι (Luke 20:36)
Litwa, M. David. (2021). Equal to angels : The early reception history of the Lukan ἰσάγγελοι (Luke 20:36). Journal of Biblical Literature. 140(3), pp. 601-622. https://doi.org/10.15699/jbl.1403.2021.8
Posthuman transformation in ancient mediterranean thought : Becoming angels and demons
Litwa, M. David. (2021). Posthuman transformation in ancient mediterranean thought : Becoming angels and demons Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108921572
The Presocratics
Litwa, M. David. (2020). The Presocratics. In In Edwards, Mark (Ed.). The Routledge handbook of early Christian philosophy pp. 179-190 Routledge.
The Curse of the Creator: Galatians 3:13 and Negative Demiurgy
Litwa, M. David. (2020). The Curse of the Creator: Galatians 3:13 and Negative Demiurgy. In In Francis Watson and Sarah Parkhouse (Ed.). Telling the Christian Story Differently: Counter-Narratives from Nag Hammadi and Beyond pp. 13-30 Bloomsbury.
We are being transformed : Deification in Paul’s soteriology
Litwa, M. David. (2012). We are being transformed : Deification in Paul’s soteriology Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG.