Rationalism has always made short work of the devil - at least in theory!
The Christian Doctrine of Creation and Redemption p. 137
Emil Brunner was my late teacher Bruce Smith's favourite. In many ways he was a lesser Barth, but he wrote in his own distinctive voice. Because, unlike Barth, he believed in the business of apologetics (though he called it somewhat enigmatically 'eristics') his work has dated not so well: the contemporary references and issues have died away somewhat and left Brunner's most urgent work sounding shrill.
However - and this is what Bruce was hoping we would see I think - Brunner writes with faithfulness to the witness of Christ and perception of the depths of the message of the Bible, his great source. I enjoyed this:
The most important truth about the Devil is this: Jesus Christ has conquered him. The Cross is the exact opposit of, and therefore the reaction against the 'fall of Lucifer': the rebellion against God of that being who could not endrue not to be equal with God. The Cross is the Sign of the Devil's defeat, and a continual reminder of Him who conquered him; it is alos the Sign of Him who 'emptied Himself' of His Divine power in order to express in His own person the Divine self-giving to the uttermost. p. 145
