I asked Artificial Intelligence the following question:
On the hypothetical that Calvinism is true, why would the devil seek to blind the unregenate who were born blind so as not to see what they already cannot see? Why would the devil need to steal the word of God sown into unsaved people (through a preacher's preaching) if they can't naturally receive it anyway?
My answer has generally been that rhe devil can re-enforce and strengthen hardness of heart against the gospel.
Here's what Meta AI said:
You're raising a nuanced question about the relationship between spiritual blindness, the devil's actions, and the spread of the Gospel in the context of Calvinism. In Calvinist theology, the concept of total depravity suggests that all humans are born spiritually dead and unable to respond to God on their own. The devil's role in blinding the unregenerate is often seen as a reinforcement of this natural state, rather than a literal causing of blindness.
*Spiritual Blindness in Calvinism*
In this framework, spiritual blindness isn't just about physical sight but about the inability to understand or respond to spiritual truth. The devil's actions are often seen as a hindrance to the Gospel's spread, but this doesn't imply that he's causing a change in the unregenerate person's state. Instead, he's working to keep them in their natural condition of spiritual darkness.
*The Parable of the Sower*
Regarding the devil stealing the Word of God from unsaved people, this is often understood as a metaphor for the devil's attempts to prevent the Gospel from taking root in people's hearts. In Calvinist theology, the idea is that God sovereignly chooses to reveal Himself to some, and the devil tries to counter this work. The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, Luke 8:4–15) illustrates this concept, where the devil is seen as the one who snatches the seed (the Word of God) from people's hearts.
*Calvinist Perspectives*
Some Calvinist theologians, like John Calvin himself, interpret the devil's role in blinding the unregenerate as a means of preventing them from responding to the Gospel. Others, like Jonathan Edwards, emphasize the devil's efforts to keep people in a state of spiritual darkness, which is their natural condition apart from God's sovereign intervention.
These perspectives highlight the complex interplay between God's sovereignty, human responsibility, and the devil's actions in Calvinist theology.
Here's Grok's answer:
These are fascinating theological questions that hinge on the interplay between Calvinist doctrine and the role of the devil in human salvation—or lack thereof. Let’s unpack this step-by-step, assuming Calvinism’s framework of total depravity, unconditional election, and irresistible grace.
In Calvinism, the unregenerate—those not elected by God for salvation—are indeed spiritually blind from birth due to total depravity. This means they lack the natural ability to perceive or respond to spiritual truths, including the gospel. So, your first question is sharp: why would the devil bother blinding those who are already blind? If they can’t see the truth anyway, what’s the point of his interference?
One possible answer lies in the nature of the devil’s role and motives. Even if the unregenerate can’t naturally grasp the gospel, the act of preaching still scatters the "word of God" into the world, as in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). The devil, as an adversary of God, might seek to ensure that this word doesn’t linger in their minds or stir any fleeting awareness that could indirectly serve God’s purposes—like prompting reflection or exposing their depravity more clearly. In Calvinism, while the unregenerate can’t savingly respond without God’s grace, they can still hear the word externally. The devil’s "blinding" (2 Corinthians 4:4) could be about reinforcing their natural state, keeping them comfortably numb in their blindness, and preventing any secondary effects of the gospel—like conviction of sin or a cultural shift toward godliness—that don’t require regeneration but still frustrate his aims.
Your second question—why the devil steals the word sown into unsaved people if they can’t receive it—ties into this. In the parable, the devil (the birds) snatches the seed that falls on the path before it takes root. In a Calvinist view, the unregenerate heart is like that hard path: incapable of receiving the word unto salvation without divine intervention. But the devil’s theft might not be about their potential to believe (which Calvinism denies they have naturally) but about his opposition to God’s glory. Every time the word is preached, it’s a declaration of God’s truth and power. By stealing it, the devil minimizes its presence in the world, thwarting even the external testimony to God’s character that the unregenerate might otherwise encounter and reject. It’s less about their salvation (already impossible without election) and more about his cosmic rebellion—ensuring God’s word doesn’t even get a hearing.
Another angle: the devil might not know who’s elect. Calvinism holds that election is God’s secret decree, not fully revealed in time. When a preacher sows the word, the devil could act preemptively, blinding and stealing indiscriminately, unaware of whether God might later regenerate someone. He’d rather overplay his hand than risk losing a soul God has chosen.
So, in short: the devil blinds the already blind and steals the word not because the unregenerate can naturally respond, but to maximize their alienation from God, disrupt the word’s broader impact, and oppose God’s glory at every turn—perhaps even hedging against the unknown of election. It’s a spiteful, tactical overkill consistent with his character as the ultimate enemy of God’s purposes. What do you think—does that resolve the tension, or does it raise more questions for you?
