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The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity Paperback – September 2, 1987

by Jeffrey Burton Russell (Author)

4.5 119 ratings

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"Evil―the infliction of pain upon sentient beings―is one of the most long-standing and serious problems of human existence. Frequently and in many cultures evil has been personified. This book is a history of the personification of evil, which for the sake of clarity I have called 'the Devil.' I am a medievalist, but when I began some years ago to work with the concept of the Devil in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, I came to see that I could not understand the medieval Devil except in terms of its historical antecedents. More important, I realized that I could not understand the Devil at all except in the context of the problem of evil. I needed to face the issue of evil squarely, both as a historian and as a human being."―from the Preface

This lively and learned book traces the history of the concept of evil from its beginnings in ancient times to the period of the New Testament. A remarkable work of synthesis, it draws upon a vast number of sources in addressing a major historical and philosophical problem over a broad span of time and in a number of diverse cultures, East and West. Jeffrey Burton Russell probes the roots of the idea of evil, treats the development of the idea in the Ancient Near East, and then examines the concept of the Devil as it was formed in late Judaism and early Christianity.

Generously illustrated with fifty black-and-white photographs, this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, from specialists in religion, theology, sociology, history, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy to anyone with an interest in the demonic, the supernatural, and the question of good and evil.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Cornell University Press
Publication date

September 2, 1987
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

6.12 x 0.75 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0801494095
ISBN-13

978-0801494093
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Editorial Reviews

Review

All readers... will be enriched and stimulated by this honestly presented biography of the Evil One. The Devil, in religious myth, personal vision, and mystical reality, offers invaluable material for reflection and meditation.

― Studia Mystica

Russell is not only a conscientious historian, anxious to examine in texts, myths, legends, art and literature the persistence and transformation of a particular idea. He is also an introspective essayist who acknowledges his own continuing struggle to understand the nature and source of evil.

-- Robert Coles ― New York Times Book Review

This fascinating story of 'the Devil' explores the concept and personification of evil (defined as 'the infliction of pain on sentient beings') from its ancient beginnings into New Testament times.

― Seventeenth Century News

This is a serious work by a first-rate medievalist who has turned his eyes to antiquity in order to elucidate the sources of man's experience of the evil one. The result is scholarly, readable, and comprehensive.... Russell's notations are copious and impressive, attesting to the vast amount of research that has gone into this study. The text is richly illustrated with some fifty well-chosen plates.... An exceptionally lucid study and a major contribution to the field.

― Review of Books and Religion

Book Description

This lively and learned book traces the history of the concept of evil from its beginnings in ancient times to the period of the New Testament. A remarkable work of synthesis, it draws upon a vast number of sources in addressing a major historical and philosophical problem over a broad span of time and in a number of diverse cultures, East and West. Jeffrey Burton Russell probes the roots of the idea of evil, treats the development of the idea in the Ancient Near East, and then examines the concept of the Devil as it was formed in late Judaism and early Christianity. Generously illustrated with fifty black-and-white photographs, this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, from specialists in religion, theology, sociology, history, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy to anyone with an interest in the demonic, the supernatural, and the question of good and evil.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell University Press; Reprint edition (September 2, 1987)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801494095
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801494093
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.75 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #111,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #66 in Religious Cults (Books)
- #99 in History of Judaism
- #374 in History of Christianity (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 119 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

119 global ratings

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Ed Nissen

Detailed summary of the first four books in this series.

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2022

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If you want not just to understand evil better but also how the world has become what it is, then Russell’s works are a must for your library. Russell’s approach to understanding the concepts of evil and the Devil is brilliant! This book hits the highlights of the first four books in this series but is still very detailed.

Although Russell expresses that this book might be more appropriate for readers who do not want to plow through the rich details of the first four books, I’d still recommend it as a detailed recap.

One person found this helpful

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$teve A

"Perceptions"

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2015

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If one does decide to read this tome it is recommended that the second chapter be payed close attention for therein the author reveals a formula for arriving at his definition of perceptions. Without considering his approach as described in Chapter 2 the value of the work may be overlooked. If you are seeking an objective description of the devil, so called, then keep looking, for Mr. Russel's honesty is sobering in that he makes it very clear that as far as one can ascertain there is no true definition, as such, rather there are only developing views as to what the devil is as a living history. He insists that evil is the infliction of suffering upon others and that this infliction is the only objective reality we must face as undeniable. He does offer valuable insights into the historical development of the concept of evil. In the end he states his personal opinion as to the existence of the devil and does summarize with a thorough enough bibliography.

10 people found this helpful

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chyna

A must read

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020

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I highly recommend read!!! Don’t be caught up in what you’ve been taught but look deeper into the history of the story. I had to read this in my bible class at North Park University

5 people found this helpful

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J. Mccormack

Highly Detailed!

Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2011

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WOW! What a book, and what a history lesson. The first half of the book covers so much mythology, ancient Eastern views of evil, and enough odd names and stories to make your head spin. Yet all along you start to see some similarities shared and transferred from culture to culture, until you finally hit the second half of the book, which deals with evil in the Hebrew and biblical context.

This was (to me) the most fascinating section, as it is an area I knew a little more about already. The author uses many ancient apocryphal and extra-biblical writings to show the developing mindset that seems to have eventually led to the more modern view of evil and the Devil that is believed today.

It is so hard to clear out the traditional thoughts that you have had all your life, and that made this section a bit harder, though surprisingly revealing too. If you strip away all that you know of the Devil, and simply use the few mentions in the Bible, you will find that the information is quite lacking from the whole story we hear now. Then you start to see how Hellenistic thought started coming in and influencing the text, to build the whole story we mostly now believe in the modern church.

The influence of Dante and Milton adds to the story line, and the details grow and grow to a story that is nowhere to be found in biblical text. Even the non-canonical writings add to the story, filling in many of the gaps that the Bible has in this story. How much emphasis should we put on those extra bits and pieces? Is the "Devil" a member of the heavenly council of God, doing the evil? Is he a fallen angel, and if so, did he fall for pride against God as some tell us, or was it for lust as the book of Enoch displays? Was his fall before the fall of Adam, or just prior to the flood? These and so many more topics are examined in detail, making this a fascinating, and sometimes mind boggling look at the topic.

In the end, I do not know if what I have learned is more for the better or the worse on this topic. There is much more to it that I had originally thought, and now in some ways I am a bit more confused on where I stand on certain aspects. All in all though, a good read that looks at many questions, many histories, gives many answers, and in the end just makes me wonder even more. Fortunately, there are more volumes in this series that might provide further answers; so I will refrain from making any decisions on where I stand on this whole topic.

35 people found this helpful

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AmazonCustomer

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022

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Well researched and constructed.

One person found this helpful

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ikarionas

Very Important!!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2013

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An excellent work from Burton Russell!! The book focus on the main theme of devil from the old testament until the primitive christianity. It's a very interesting research from a historian and despite its age, it remains classical and must read!!!

8 people found this helpful

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Ryan Ives

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2016

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An excellent historical account!

4 people found this helpful

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peter tydeman

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2015

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interesting

3 people found this helpful

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Wyrd One

An excellent study. Russell presents a historians assessment of the ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2017

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An excellent study that evidences a depth of research into the archetype of the Devil. Russell presents a historian’s assessment of the development of the concept for the Devil, rather than a theological treatise. Included within Russell’s treatise are discussions of those relevant traits from Hinduism, Aztec, Toltec, Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Zoroastrian theological systems which suggest either the presence of the archetype within an array of cultures or may have been the sources from which the notion of the Devil arose. As Russell assesses the development of the form of the Devil, including the colour red and the trident, and identifies their origins in other forms of the archetype, he perfectly balances the study between academic and more general audiences, providing sufficient depth and brevity in perfect measure.

The most valuable aspect of the work is in Russell's assessment of how Judaism integrated these earlier notions of the Devil as a means by which to resolve its monistic crisis and resolve its own theodicy – with the result of the process being the inferred dualism of Christianity. The study is immensely beneficial then for anyone who has an interest in diabology. Whilst those of the Abrahamic faiths are most likely to have an interest in the study, those of other religions (i.e. Buddhism and even pagan faiths) will find a great deal of value here. As part one of Russell’s immense four-part study, the Devil is naturally essential to the context of the whole study. It also stands alone as a valuable insight into the development of the Devil and how such may have influenced the break of Christianity from Judaism.

2 people found this helpful

paul halford

Read this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2018

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A first rate book by outstanding medievalist

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