Dr. Pappas I read on Facebook that Satan can read minds. I do not think so. Can you explain? Can  Satan read minds?  

Thank you for your question. Satan cannot read your mind. Though it is true that he was created sometime in the early creation of the world and has had all this time to observe mankind, all that means is that he and all the angels, for that matter, can learn. It does not take a long time to understand fallen mankind, what drives us, the various weaknesses, and how to get us worked up over certain subjects. 

Satan is known by several names, The word Satan is used some fifty-two times in the Bible and means in the Hebrew “adversary or oppose.” Satan is a person and called the devil which means “slanderer.”  His activities include blinding the minds of unbelievers so that they will not accept the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) and taking away the Word so as to prevent them from believing (Luke 8:12). 

Satan is known as the tempter, after all he has had a long time to figure us out. Dr. Ryrie in his “Basic Theology” lists three areas where Satan tempts believers: (1) conforming to the pressures and structures of society (1 Thes. 3:5); (2) moves in believers to cover up selfishness (Acts 5:1-11); and (3) immorality (1 Cor. 7:5). 

There is no doubt that Satan is both God’s and our adversary, opposing the work of God and bringing destruction to our testimony. His host of demons is effective in their work, but they are limited in what that can do, for they are, after all, just angels. 

Angels are spirit beings and of a higher order than mankind, have a greater wisdom than man (2 Sam. 14:20), but nevertheless are limited in knowledge (Matt. 24:36) and power (Dan. 10:13) and power. 

Thanks for asking.  
Dr. John Pappas   
      
John Pappas, ThD, is the author of Bible Greek Vpod, a website dedicated to the teaching of the original Bible languages for those who want to learn them.  He received his doctorate from Scofield Seminary.