Your comment on this is not in line with general commenatry. As an accuser, his job was to accuse, just as a prosecutor is charged to exaggerate the wrongdoing in order to strengthen the government's case. Satan merely got carried away and God put him in his place. But he is not portrayed as an enemy of God out there to compete with God or to draw those who are of God away from Him.
In addition, The Bible itself sans Apocrypha is patently clear that satan is evil. I certainly didn't need the Apocrypha to come to the correct conclusion.
Not the Old Testament. And all references form the New Testament that involve satan as the devil come from "Apocrypha."
I don't know what consists of "general commentary". I just read the words. In the OT there is also this:
Ezek 28:11-19 : 11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. 16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. 18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'"
Again, just reading the words, it seems pretty clear that a mere man is not being referenced. There are plenty of commentators who would agree with me. There is also:
Isa 14:12-15 : 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. KJV
I suppose we could argue over whether satan is the King of Babylon. There is much literature on both sides. I am pointing out that evidence is there and was available to the righteous to recognize satan as evil. I am still a little confused though as to what would "possess" :) you to sort of stick up for satan and portray him as a loyal servant of God. Why would it make you more comfortable if satan really isn't such a bad guy? It would hurt my Christianity because then I would not think that I am under constant attack by an evil enemy. If that was true, then I would be less motivated to clothe myself in Christ and put on His full armor, etc.