Editing Christian mythology (section)

===Combat myth===
Many Near Eastern religions include a story about a battle between a divine being and a dragon or other monster representing chaos—a theme found, for example, in the ''[[Enuma Elish]]''. A number of scholars call this story the "combat myth".<ref>McGinn 22</ref><ref>Forsyth 126</ref><ref name="murphy279">Murphy 279</ref> A number of scholars have argued that the ancient Israelites incorporated the combat myth into their religious imagery, such as the figures of Leviathan and [[Rahab (term)|Rahab]],<ref name="mcginn24">McGinn 24</ref><ref>Murphy 281-82</ref> the [[Song of the Sea]],<ref name="mcginn24"/> Isaiah 51:9–10's description of God's deliverance of his people from Babylon,<ref name="mcginn24"/> and the portrayals of enemies such as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar.<ref>Murphy 281</ref> The idea of Satan as God's opponent may have developed under the influence of the combat myth.<ref name="mcginn24"/><ref>Forsyth 124</ref> Scholars have also suggested that the Book of Revelation uses combat myth imagery in its descriptions of cosmic conflict.<ref name="murphy279"/><ref>McGinn 57</ref>