Paranormal: Thoughts on Demon Possession & Exorcism

Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Observations about demons

• No clear instance in the entire Old Testament.
  • Yet stories of the demonic were common in surrounding lands.
  • There may be a connection between idolatry and the demonic in Deuteronomy 32:17.
  • Was the Lord protecting his people? Or were those outside the covenant people of God merely superstitious.
• In the New Testament, possessions appear only in the early decades.
  • Thus exorcism was part of the apostolic mission (Mark 3:13-14).
  • No instructions are given in the letters, which deal with practical Christian living. (Were there no longer any active demons in the 50s or 60s?)
  • Did the apostles succeed in "mopping up"?
  • Could a Christian be possessed? How does that square with 1 Corinthians 10:13?
• Sloppy demonology today
  • False personifications of sin. ("A demon of laziness," for example.)
  • Details of possessions and exorcisms do not match what is found in the N.T.
    • N.T. exorcisms were highly public, not staged or ambiguous.
    • Exorcisms took place immediately; they were not multi-stage events.
    • Blaspheming demons? In the N.T., the spirits were respectful.
    • The possessed did not acquire Satanic or miraculous powers.
    • The demons recognized who Jesus was, but not why he had come to earth (Mark 1:24, 3:11, 5:7; Luke 8:21).
    • God concealed his plans from these malevolent powers. His wisdom was hidden (1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:9): the evil powers orchestrated Christ's crucifixion (1 Corinthians 2:6-8; John 13:27), yet this was the means by which these same evil powers effect their own ruin (Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).
• Some early Christians believed the demons were fallen angels. Others held different views. In the same way, there are many opinions today.
  • For a good book to stimulate your thinking, consider F. LaGard Smith, Angels, Demons, and the Devil: A Conversation with Michael the Archangel about Celestial Beings. ISBN 13-978-0-9660060-6-3.
  • Further and thorough material will be found in two of the appendixes of Craig Keener's magisterial Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts.
  • The Guardian article is also interesting, even though it seems to dismiss biblical theology.
  • Zech 13:1 speaks of a day, in the Messianic Age, when a fountain would be open for cleansing from sin and uncleanness. If demons are unclean spirits, then one might reason that demons were all removed. However, this verse refers to Jerusalem--not necessarily to the land of Israel, let alone the entire planet.
• We must approach this subject with biblical caution and in a spirit of humility.
  • Much of what passes for possession or exorcism today diverges radically from what we read about in the 30s and 40s AD, and in fact has much more in common with the occult aspects of pagan religions, shamanism, voodoo, and so forth.
  • Let's keep a healthy distance between ourselves and the Enemy and his agents.