:::And, as Marting Luther said of the devil, “Satan is God’s Satan”, meaning that Satan does nothing and can do nothing without God’s prior approval:::
Are you saying that satan is God’s agent? Are you saying that satan’s tempting and evil in the world is God’s doing?
Mark: Are you saying that satan is God’s agent? Are you saying that satan’s tempting and evil in the world is God’s doing?
Mark, Judaism considered Satan an angel of God and, who is far from fallen, but God's loyal servant. A cursory reference to the Encyclopedia Judaica will confirm this. The Gospels make a break with this Judaic tradition and place Satan as the fallen angel
Angeology and demonology familiar to Christians can be found in latter-day Judaism (Kabbalah, etc.) and rabbinical (Talmudic) Judaism of the 3rd centruy A.D.
Many Protestant, in order to maintain the absolute sovereignty of God, abhor the idea of Satan being a rebellious angel, but an agent of God who acts by God's permission (i.e. the Book of Job). As one Orthodox rabbi said: "how can an angel rebel against G-d? That's ridiculous!"
Judaism was by no means homogenious. It was sectarian at least as much as the Protestant world is today. They both read the same OT and have similar ideas of God. I can understand it from the Jewish point of view, since they a priori reject Christ; but the Protestants try to fit Christ into the OT mindset rather than the other way around.