Balfour, Walter. An Inquiry into the Scriptural Doctrine concerning the Devil and Satan : and into the Extent of Duration expressed by the terms Olim, Aion, and Aionios, rendered Everlasting, Forever, &c. in the Common Version, and especially when applied to Punishment. Charlestown, (Ms.): Davidson, Printer, 1827. Second Edition. [11476]
Full mottled calf, slight edgewear, good joints, red leather spine title label, 7 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches. [i]-xii, [13]-359; counted and complete. The text is generally clean, with occasional foxing, light pencil marks in a few margins; tight. Very good. Hardcover.
The author presents all of the places in the Old and New Testament where Satan or the Devil is mentioned, and concludes that the serpent that deceived Eve was not a fallen angel, and that Satan or the Devil is not a fallen angel, or a real being. He asserts that the belief that Satan or the Devil is a real being originated in heathenism. That is Part I. of the book, taking up about 200 pages.
The second part of the book is a study of the words mentioned in the title, with the conclusion, "It has been proved, we think, that so far from these passages teaching the doctrine of endless punishment they do not even teach a punishment beyond this life." p. 356.
Walter Balfour (1776-1852) b. St. Minians, Scotland; d. Charlestown, Massachusetts. Educated as a Presbyterian at the expense of his friend Robert Haldane, he emigrated to the United States about the year 1796 and turned Baptist. He converted to Universalism in 1823 and became an effective writer and preacher of that sect.
