{
  "id": "dict_000132",
  "term": "Ahriman",
  "slug": "ahriman",
  "letter": "A",
  "entry_type": "comparative_religion_background_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Ahriman is the destructive evil power in ancient Persian religion, especially Zoroastrianism. The term is not found in Scripture and should be used only as background for Bible study.",
  "simple_one_line": "An extra-biblical Persian term for the evil power opposed to good in Zoroastrian thought.",
  "tooltip_text": "Ahriman is a Persian religious term, often linked with Zoroastrianism, and is not a biblical word.",
  "aliases": [
    "Ahriman (Persian background)"
  ],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Abyss",
    "accuser",
    "Satan",
    "demon",
    "spiritual warfare",
    "Persia"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Daniel",
    "Ezra",
    "Isaiah 45",
    "Zechariah",
    "Persian period"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Ahriman is a figure from ancient Persian religious thought, commonly identified as the destructive or evil power opposed to good. It is not a biblical term, but it may appear in studies of the Persian background to certain biblical periods.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "Extra-biblical Persian term for a destructive evil power.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Not a scriptural word",
    "related to Zoroastrian background",
    "should not be equated simplistically with Satan",
    "useful only as historical context."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Ahriman, also known as Angra Mainyu, belongs to ancient Persian religious thought as the hostile power opposed to good. Scripture does not use the term or build its doctrine of evil on this concept, so it belongs in background discussion rather than as a biblical headword.",
  "description_academic_full": "Ahriman is a figure from ancient Persian religion, especially Zoroastrianism, where he is commonly understood as the destructive or evil power opposed to good. The Bible does not use this term, and biblical theology does not derive its doctrine of God, Satan, or evil from Persian dualism. Readers may encounter Ahriman in historical or comparative studies of the Persian period, but the term should be handled as background material only. It should not be used to suggest that Scripture endorses a cosmic dualism of equal and opposite divine powers.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Scripture does not mention Ahriman by name. However, Bible readers sometimes encounter the term when studying the Persian period, the exile, and later Jewish life under Persian rule.",
  "background_historical_context": "Ahriman belongs to ancient Iranian religious thought and is associated with Zoroastrianism. In that setting he represents the destructive or hostile power opposed to what is good. The concept is useful for background study, but it is external to the biblical text.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Jewish communities lived under Persian rule and later encountered Persian ideas in the wider ancient world. Even so, the biblical writers maintain the confession of one sovereign God and do not adopt Ahriman as a theological category.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Daniel 10:13, 20-21",
    "Ezra 1:1-4",
    "Isaiah 45:1-7"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Job 1-2",
    "Zechariah 3:1-2",
    "Ephesians 6:12"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Ahriman is an Iranian/Persian religious term, often associated with the later form Angra Mainyu. It is not a Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek biblical word.",
  "theological_significance": "Ahriman helps clarify how biblical faith differs from pagan dualism. Scripture teaches a single sovereign Creator, with evil beings subject to God’s rule rather than existing as an equal opposite to Him.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The concept illustrates a dualistic worldview in which good and evil are portrayed as opposing powers. Biblical monotheism rejects any framework that makes evil a coequal eternal principle alongside God.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not equate Ahriman directly with Satan, and do not read Persian dualism back into biblical revelation. Use the term only as historical background, not as a controlling category for doctrine.",
  "major_views_note": "Scholars may compare Persian religious ideas with Jewish and biblical concepts of evil, but responsible interpretation keeps the comparison limited. Scripture itself does not identify Ahriman as a biblical entity.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "The Bible affirms one eternal, sovereign God and treats Satan as a created adversary, not an equal rival deity. Ahriman is not a biblical term and should not be used to reshape Christian doctrine.",
  "practical_significance": "The entry helps Bible readers recognize non-biblical ideas that may appear in background studies and avoid importing them into interpretation or teaching.",
  "meta_description": "Ahriman is an extra-biblical Persian term for the destructive evil power in Zoroastrianism, useful only as Bible background.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/ahriman/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/ahriman.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}