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Selected Discourses of Shenoute the Great from Part III - The Christian's Struggle with Satan
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2015
How there is no one who has authority over the Spirit, so that he might hinder the Spirit and someone who knows the way of the Spirit.
A beloved asked me years ago, as he was inquiring about the devil, “What is this term ‘demon,’ which became revealed to me during this present trial?”
“Demon” is the term that is more contemptible than any other one. The Greeks, the tellers of tales, because they are eager to prettify evil words, interpret it this way: “demon” is one who knows or one who distributes portions among individuals. I'm going to dispute their words, however, and say that “demon” is one who knows how to distribute portions among the ungodly – namely, instances of disbelief, pollutions, instances of lack of self-control, abusive acts, and all rejected works. Among the saints themselves, “demon” is a rejected and evil term; these additional terms are joined to it: “fool,” “senseless,” “shameless.”
The profit of combat with Satan
Therefore, it has been said that his (Satan's) “flanks are iron” because he is not ashamed when he and his evils are trampled upon by those who always conquer him by making war against him and slaying him with their faith. Rather, after he has fled from them in defeat, they pursue him with their good works, in order to kill him, just as those who have knives and instruments of combat pursue their enemies to slaughter them. Yet again he impudently returns and dares to oppose them. It's the Lord God Almighty who brings such retributions upon him – apart from the fire of Gehenna that is prepared for him – so that his righteous ones might always pursue him like fiery flames in their patience, in their endurance.
If a contender prevails a single time, he receives a single crown. Because the contests of those who compete in the games are different from the contests of those who run in these racecourses – namely, “Run in such a way that you may obtain (it)” – the imperishable crowns differ from the perishable crowns. This is why God puts up with the devil: so that his righteous ones might receive glory.
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