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The Origins of Satan – Who is “The Devil”?

Alex O'Connor | February 5, 2026



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– VIDEO NOTES

Elaine Pagels is an American historian of religion. She is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Pagels has conducted extensive research into early Christianity and Gnosticism.

– LINKS

Buy “The Origin of Satan” by Elaine Pagels (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4dFHs18

– TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Who is Satan?
6:37 Early Satan in Job and Zechariah
8:32 The development of Satan in the Babylonian Exile
12:32 What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
15:34 The Book of Enoch
17:58 Satan in the New Testament
21:11 Did Zoroastrianism Inspire the Character of Satan?
23:38 Satan in John’s Gospel
28:58 Are the Jews Responsible for Jesus’ Death?
38:14 The Origins of Christian Antisemitism
45:11 Satan in the Real World
54:30 Satan in Revelation
1:00:53 Was Satan the Snake in the Garden of Eden?
1:04:41 Why Specialise in Satan?

– CONNECT

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Written by Alex O'Connor

Comments

This post currently has 41 comments.

  5. @jmanj3917

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    30:40 …which the Jews demanded be done. Nobody said they did it themselves. Of COURSE the authorities of the time, the Romans, did the execution…After the Jewish authorities lied to him about Jesus as a revolutionary.
    I'm not sure this lady knows what she's saying.
    🫤🐕‍🦺🦮

  6. @davidagiel81

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    The devil is the shadow self. It is explained in the life of Adam and Eve. The devil was sent to Earth when Adam was born, because the devil kicked out of hell is the shadow self kicked out of consciousness and sent to the unconscious. The formation of ego and the shadow.

  7. @BurdZirk

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    God is omnipotent, but also he has an archenemy powerful enough that it required a war just to expel from heaven and continues to thwart God right to the present day. 🤔

  8. @kenmcclellan

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Remember Lucifer's Fall in Isaiah 14? Venus (like Mars), after flying above the planets in the north, falls into the Underworld. (It's the ancient story of Dumuzi chasing his lover Inanna into the Underworld to have her rise and rule.) It's similar to Revelation 12:4 & 13:4. A third of the sky falls below the horizon! Seth/Lupus/the Beast (and the Southern Cross) rise and Draco (like Orion/Osiris) falls. It's the pole shift before the Sun is revived. It's a polar excursion that happens once every 6,500 years or so. (It's in the myths … the scientists won't dare confirm.) The Hebrews were ancestor worshippers. "Shem (in the north) and Seth (in the south) were in great honor among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation." — Sirach 49:16 A thing about Adam (one remembered possibly only by the Mandaeans) is that Adam/Atum was the great super-constellation at the axis of the equinoxes (a pillar once known as Asherah) stretching between Aquarius and Leo … between EliYaho (Saturn at the Index/vernal equinox in the north) and the Lion of Judah/the King (the autumn equinox in the south of the Signs … Gen. 49:10 in Leo … and Is. 7:14 or Rev. 12:1 in Virgo). They are the 1st and 2nd prophets of Deuteronomy 18. One was like God the Father. One was like the People. (One like an Eagle and one like a Serpent.) One like Aaron or John the Baptist … one who decreases. One like Moses or Jesus … the one who increases. (Taurus was supplanted by Aries … as Pisces is about to be by Aquarius.) Isaiah told the Jews to trust the first prophet. "The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail." (Is. 9:15) I love that Elaine compares the story of Cain and Abel to Seth and Osiris. Because it points to the polarity of this North-vs-South thing … and it points to the mutual deprecations of the Jews and Christians (contrast Sanhedrin 43a, Sanhedrin 107b, Sotah 47a, Gittin 56b–57a, Avodah Zarah or Berakhot 17b with John 8:44). This antipathy is perfectly illustrated by what happens to an ancient slander. When Antiochus IV "Epiphanes" (the Glorious) … also known as "The Mad" … invaded the Temple at Jerusalem in 169J/168BC, he came across the idol of a Golden Ass, which became the subject of a book by Apuleius. The story is picked up by Mnaseas of Patara, Posidonius of Apamea, Apollonius Molon and Cornelius Tacitus. The story is refuted by Yosef ben Mattityahu/Flavius Josephus. Once Christians were seen as a Jewish sect, the same onolatry slander was turned against them … and later denied (see the Octavius of Marcus Minucius Felix (chap 28) or Tertullian's Ad Nationes, chap 11 & 14). But it appears as one of the earliest images of the Christ called the Alexamenos Grafitto (it pictures Pegasus crucified … a perfect image of the coming Reversal). What historians WON'T talk about … and perhaps they should … is that this tension between the North and South goes back thousands of years! I don't say this as an American obsessed by the Civil War (continued by Republicans and Democrats to this day). I say it as a student of the ancients. When Orion/Osiris was in the East and a solar eclipse appeared on his vernal equinox, Isis (a goddess of the north) nursed the Sun to health and restored him as Horus/Aquila in the west. Muhammad tells us the same thing is about to recur (“The sun will rise from the west…” — Sahih Muslim, Kitāb al-ÄŞmān). Manetho says Moses had been an Osirian priest who invited the Sethians of Palestine to Avaris to oppose a hostile new pharaoh. So back to Lucifer and Satan … they are like Shemyatsa and Azaz'ĕl of the Book of Enoch. They are flip sides of the same magnetic pole. Both originally angels. One leads us into hell. One takes the blame to get us out. One in the north and one in the south. Jesus denied he was Cain/Seth in John 8:44. But somebody thought he might be. If you look on the facade of his Talpiot Tomb, you will find four images. At the left is the giant carving of a donkey/Onocoetes. In the center is a Gimel & Ayin (signifying an Eclipse near the 1st of Aries such as you will see next month). Below which figures the Lamb of God — the Baptist's title for him. The answers are almost here.

  9. @JohnGrimes-yi5ve

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    A necessary metaphysical character insertion to attribute evil to and preserve "theodicy", of course. Or put another way, he's God's muscle: "Nice soul ya got there. Be a shame if [My created son,] Satan were to get hold of it!"

  11. @saltking2420

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    why did she say the Bible says the Romans didn't have Jesus put on the cross the governor did say to do it but didn't want to but he was pressured to thats why Jesus says that the one who put him there are more responsible

  14. @paullange6072

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Is such an educated woman so blind? Were it not for the Jewish leaders, would Pilate who did not even know much of Jesus, have crucified the Christ? Yes, in ww2 the catholics and the ENTIRE world is guilty of not rising up 'faster' to help the people of Jerusalem. Yet, how can you equate the speed of their action with the gospels clear message? It is not the JEW or Muslim or Chrisitan who is the problem. It is the condition of the human heart that falls for the deception and also disobeys the commands of God. How can you also deny Christians as a whole have defended the jew and isolate just their faults…do that of your own please.

  15. @karinneumannmurphy8194

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Just getting a little tired of the never ending accusations of Antisemitism that washes through global discourse. Why single out theJews, when there are all kinds of despised and maligned peoples and Religions throughout history . It seems the Jews are the chosen perpetual victims. One wonders why.

  16. @kirbinator5000

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    The Jews couldn’t have crucified Jesus because it was a technique developed by the Romans to punish insubordination? Then how do you explain the fact that Hasmonean Jewish kings prior to Roman occupation crucified fellow Jews (Alexander Jannaeus) and the earliest Christian writing that exists blames the Jews for crucifying Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:15)?

  24. @zarlg

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Not to be mean, but after watching another video and 3 minutes of this, I don't think this woman has any idea what she's talking about. 2:40 she says the children of the sons of God are described as demonic in the Bible. Completely false, they're described as heroes: "the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown".

  25. @Brado-s7h

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    All man made religions are Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.

  27. @CanadaBoards

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Simply condemning those who justify antisemitism is far easier than concocting this rather unconvincing argument against the Jews’ involvement in the crucifixion

  29. @puppykibble

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    The difference between kinetic fear and language based fear to define satan as a figure and not a process makes it easier for an accuser to blame the victim and not the process. Defining satan creates liability and neglects the process of reconciliation.

  32. @christopherantiam4663

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    Say 10 hell marrys god be less you a men say 10 times holly warm wood come top ass or like riddin donkeys to hell witch is keys to he shall gs us crys goes on 40 and 2 months and swallows the warm wood warships

  38. @The9thDragon

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    I only worship the devils lettuce 🙌🏻 the way the only way, the beginning and the end, and then I rest on Sunday with Black Sabbath and Judas Priest

  39. @williamclayton9786

    February 5, 2026 at 10:57 pm

    DIVINE TRUTH WORD DELIVERED EARLY 1ST TRANSLATION!!!

    Our CREATOR (GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) Is The Author Of- (DEVELOPING To “FOLLOW… DIRECTION” … UNDERSTAND) Confusion.

    Satan, Devil- Was Made Up By Our Ancestors To Explain The Thoughts And Imagery That Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT PROMPTS DIRECT in (“Our”(“MIND”) Which is (“Our”(“Spirit”) Which is Called (GOD SUPER SPIRIT AUROA – (PURE ENERGY) That Would Be Considered Evil Or Bad, But All Thoughts And Imagery Comes From Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT Who is Also (“Our” – (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) Or (“Our” – (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT AMPLIFIEDDD…!!! – (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT in Our Body With Us.

    Jesus Christ- Made Up By Our Ancestors To Give People A Positive Leader To Follow. To Serve As A Example Of How We Should Behave Towards Each Other. Our CREATOR GOD Doesn’t Have A Son Or Any Children, But Only CREATIONS. That’s What We All Are is GOD’ S CREATIONS. Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) DEVELOPS Our MIND Which is Our SPIRIT Which is Called (GOD SUPER SPIRIT AUROA- (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT in Our Body With Us.

    Religions- Made Up By Our Ancestors To Try And Control Each Others Behavior Towards One Another. To Try And Say That This Is What GOD Requires Of You. Although All These Religious Ideals & Beliefs Are DIRECT PROMPT DIRECT in People’s MIND By Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY). GOD Does Not Require That You Believe in Any Of These Religions Or Even Believe That GOD Is Real For Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) To BLESS You. OUR CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) BLESS’S Us Simply Because Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) Is The CREATOR Of Us All. The Thought That GOD Is Real or Not Real Both Come From The Same Source Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY).

    Our CREATOR (GOD SPIRIT – (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT PROMPTS “IDEALS” Which Are Called DIRECT FREE WILL PROMPTS- (“CHOICES”) For All Paths…!!! DIRECT IN (“OUR” (“MIND”) Which Is (“OUR” (“SPIRIT”) Which Is Called (GOD SUPER SPIRIT AUROA- (PURE ENERGY).

    Allow Us To Choose Wisely From Our CREATOR (GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY)!

    Our CREATOR GOD SPIRIT- (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT PROMPTS LIFETIME.

    I William Clayton (“My” – (“Mind” – (“Spirit” – (GOD SUPER SPIRIT AUROA- (PURE ENERGY) FOLLOWING DIRECT FREE WILL PROMPTS- (“CHOICES”) SELECTIONS… from (“My” – (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT- PURE ENERGY) am the First Person Since The Creation Of PEOPLE   
    to-(“FOLLOW… DIRECTION”) …  
    BOOK   
    CHAPTER   
    VERSE   
    LINE BY LINE   
    WORD  BY  WORD   
    DIRECTIONAL  GUIDANCE   (HEBREW DEFINITIONS) IN   THE   BIBLE
    TO   SEEK,           SEEK,     THE   TRUTH IN YOU!!!
    Understand (“MY” – (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT AMPLIFIEDDD…!!! – (PURE ENERGY)
    On February 13, 2020.

    Here Is A Example Of How To Study The Bible To SEEK, SEEK, THE TRUTH IN YOU!!!
    When Studying The BIBLE These Words Appear Several Times In The BIBLE.

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Angel” – (Messenger)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Messenger” – (Mal’akh)- (An Angel, A Messenger Who Runs On Foot, The Bearer of Despatches)- (GOD’ S PEOPLE)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Camp” – (Macha’ ne)- (Parking)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Pillar” – (Amud)- Page(in A Prayer Book)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Cloud” – (To Confuse (A Person’ s Mind- (Spirit) or Judgement- (A Formal Utterance Of An Authoritative Opinion)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Mind” – (Spirit)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Stand” – (Held On To A Belief or Opinion)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Light” – (Knowledge)

    HEBREW DEFINITION “Darkness” – (ingnorance)

    Take The HEBREW DEFINITIONS & DEFINITIONS You Look Up & Put Them In The Scripture Verse.
    Here Is A Example.

    DIVINE TRUTH WORD DELIVERED EARLY 1ST TRANSLATION!!!

    Exodus: 14 19-20
    The angel- (“Messenger” – (Mal’akh)- (An Angel, A messenger who runs on foot, The bearer of despatches)- (GOD’ S PEOPLE) of God, who had been going before the camp-(Macha’ ne-(parking) of Israel-(GOD’ S PEOPLE), moved and went behind-(line or procession) them-(GOD’ S PEOPLE); and the pillar-(Amud- page(in a prayer book) of cloud-(to confuse(a person’ s mind- (Spirit) or judgement-(a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion) moved from before-(prior to) them-(GOD’ S PEOPLE) and stood-(held to a belief or opinion) behind-(line or procession) them-(GOD’ S PEOPLE). So-(UNDERSTAND) it-(Amud- page(in a prayer book)(to confuse(a person’ s mind- (Spirit) or judgement- (a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion) came between the camp-(Macha’ ne-(parking) of Egypt-(GOD’ S PEOPLE) and the camp-(Macha’ ne- (parking) of Israel-(GOD’ S PEOPLE) and there was the cloud-(to confuse(a person’ s mind- (Spirit) or judgement-(a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion) along with the darkness-(ignorance) yet it-(Amud- page(in a prayer book)(to confuse(a person’ s mind- (Spirit) or judgement- (a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion) gave light-(knowledge) at night-(ignorance) . Thus the one-(GOD’ S PEOPLE) did not come near the other-(GOD’ S PEOPLE) all night-(ignorance).

    What This Verse Is Talking About Is People Been Divided Over A Page In A Prayer Book For Example A Bible, Quran, Or Whatever Prayer Book We Might Study That Sometimes Confuses A Person’s Mind Which Is Our Spirit Or Judgment A Formal Utterance Of A Authoritative Opinion. These Beliefs Or Opinion From A Page In A Prayer Book That Sometimes Confuses A Person’s Mind Which Is Our Spirit Or Judgment A Formal Utterance Of A Authoritative Opinion Are Being Held On To & Passed Down From Generation To Generation. Even Though A Page In A Prayer Book Gives Some Knowledge. People Do Not Associate With Each Other Over Ignorance.
    To Truly Understand The Bible Seek Below The Surface Scripture In The Bible.

    My (COVENANT”- (“AGREEMENT”) WITH (“DEATH”) (“ANNULLED!!!
    I William Clayton (My- (“Spirit” – (GOD SUPER SPIRIT AUROA- (PURE ENERGY) DIRECT IN (My- (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT AMPLIFIEDDD…!!! – (PURE ENERGY) am the First Person on 02/13/2020 To Hear
     (My- (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT AMPLIFIEDDD…!!! – (PURE ENERGY)
     BLESS’ S (ME- (My- (“COVENANT” – (“AGREEMENT”) WITH “DEATH” – (“LIFETIME END DIRECT IN BODY DIRECT ON EARTH”!!!) 
    HAS BEEN (“ANNULLED!!!   
    TO- (“FOLLOW… DIRECTION” … )
    BOOK   
    CHAPTER   
    VERSE  
    LINE BY LINE   
    WORD   BY   WORD  
    DIRECTIONAL  GUIDANCE  
    (HEBREW DEFINITIONS)   IN   THE   BIBLE!          
    SEEK,                   SEEK,      THE   TRUTH IN YOU!!!
    Understand (“Your” – (“Soul” – (GOD SPIRIT AMPLIFIEDDD…!!! – (PURE ENERGY).

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