Herein we continue, from part 1, part 2, considering the “Devil” in text generally termed the Apocrypha, Deutero Canonical, Pseudepigrapha, Gnostic Texts, etc. (see my article on the Apocrypha here). The fuller complete result consists of quotations of those sections within the text that refer to Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Devil, Satan, demons, serpent and dragon. The point is not to elucidate these references but to provide relevant partial quotations and citations. See my section on Angels in general and in apocryphal texts here. See my section on Cherubim and Seraphim in general and in apocryphal texts here.
Devil in Epistles of Ignatius to Romans, Magnesians, Ephesians, Smyrnaeans, Trallians, Philippians.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans – 105-115 AD
5 Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. The very torment of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians – 105-115 AD
5 The ungodly man, again, is false coin, unlawful, spurious, counterfeit, wrought not by God, but by the devil. I do not mean to say that there are two different human natures, but that there is one humanity, sometimes belonging to God, and sometimes to the devil. If any one is truly religious, he is a man of God; but if he is irreligious, he is a man of the devil, made such, not by nature, but by his own choice.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians – 105-115 AD
10 While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord(who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit…Take heed that no plant of the devil be found among you, for such a plant is bitter and salt. “Watch ye, and be ye sober,” in Christ Jesus.
14 Wherefore none of the devices of the devil shall be hidden from you, if, like Paul, ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ which are the beginning and the end of life.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans – 2nd century AD
9 He who honours the bishop has been honoured by God; he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does[in reality] serve the devil.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians – 2nd century AD
4 I therefore have need of meekness, by which the devil, the prince of this world, is brought to nought.
8 Not that I know there is anything of this kind among you; but I put you on your guard, inasmuch as I love you greatly, and foresee the snares of the devil.
10 Do ye therefore flee from these ungodly heresies; for they are the inventions of the devil, that serpent who was the author of evil, and who by means of the woman deceived Adam, the father of our race.
Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians – 2nd century AD
3 I therefore exhort you in the Lord to receive with all tenderness those that repent and return to the unity of the Church, that through your kindness and forbearance they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.
6 Flee therefore the wicked devices and snares of the prince prophets, but denies Christ to be the Son of God, he is a liar, even as also is his father the devil, and is a Jew falsely so called, being possessed of mere carnal circumcision. If any one confesses Christ Jesus the Lord, but denies the God of the law and of the prophets, saying that the Father of Christ is not the Maker of heaven and Earth, he has not continued in the truth any more than his father the devil, and is a disciple of Simon Magus, not of the Holy Spirit.
In the next segment, we will consider Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Gospel of Nicodemus or Acts of Pilate, Wisdom of Solomon aka Book of Wisdom, Book of John the Evangelist aka Interrogatio Iohannis.