Exorcisms & Demonic Activity: Occult v. New Testament

Encountering page 292

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

Exorcisms & Demonic Activity: Occult v. New Testament

This ancient occultic formula stands in great contrast to a biblical, New Testament model.

A New Testament concept is that as demonic beings are fallen angels (Revelation 12), they can only be exorcised by spiritual means through the power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as God. Demonic beings cannot be essentially exorcised by physical means, such as with a formula. However, physical human beings were used as agents of the divine power of exorcism. Driving away demons is not necessarily always exorcism, but could include. There is a tension between demonic activity and demonic influence and possession. From a New Testament model, one could also pray for no demonic presence (Matthew 4).

Exorcisms

Browning explains that the exorcism of demonic beings in the synoptic gospels was an 'undoubted fact' as an aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ. (128).  They are not found in John. (128). The disciples were also given the power to exorcise demonic beings from persons (Matthew 10), and this was performed in the book of Acts.

Bromiley explains in regard to Exorcisms:

Cited

'In the New Testament exorcisms are primarily found in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. No exorcisms are referred to in the Gospel of John. (244-245).

Jesus is depicted as an exorcist in the Gopels, and He is able to delegate this ability to His disciples (Mk. 3:14f; 6:7 [par Mt. 10:1; Lk. 9:1; 10:17–20]; 9:18, 28 [par Mt. 17:16, 19; Lk. 9:40]; 16:17f). Exorcisms, which are acts of liberating afflicted persons from the malevolent influence of demons, are distinguished from other forms of cures involving the restoration to health of those whose disease or affliction was not regarded as having a demonic cause (Mk. 1:32–34 [par Mt. 8:16; Lk.4:40f]; 1:39 [par Mt. 4:24]; 3:10f [par Lk. 6:17f]; Lk. 13:32).

'Jesus’ method of curing the sick usually involved the touch of His hand, but in performing exorcisms He avoided the use of His hand and focused on addressing the demon with short, authoritative commands. Six accounts of exorcisms performed by Jesus are preserved in the Synoptic Gospels 1. Mk. 1:21–28 par Lk. 4:31–37; 2. Mk. 5:1–20 par Mt. 8:28–34; Lk. 8:26–39; 3. Mk. 7:24–30 par Mt. 15:21–28; 4. Mk. 9:14–29 par Mt. 17:14–21; Lk. 9:37– 43; 5. Mt. 9:32–34; 6. Mt. 12:22f par Lk. 11:14.'

Cited

'Acts of the Apostles

The Gospels themselves contain evidence that the name of Jesus was used during His lifetime by disciples in the performance of exorcisms (Mt. 7:22; Lk. 10:17; cf. Mk. 16:17), as well as by other Jewish exorcists not formally associated with Him (Mk. 9:38f par Lk. 9:49). In Acts it is primarily through the utterance of the name of Jesus that healings and exorcisms are effected (3:6, 16; 4:7, 10, 30; 9:34). The name of Jesus was regarded as so effective that it was also taken up by non-Christian exorcists (Acts 19:13). Origen noted that the name of Jesus was so powerful that it was even effective when used by evil men.'

Acts 19:13-20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it [a]fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So [b]the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. 

Footnotes:

Acts 19:19 Probably fifty thousand Greek drachmas; a drachma approximated a day’s wage
Acts 19:20 Or according to the power of the Lord the word was growing

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BROMILEY, G.W. (1988) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume 2, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans,

BROWING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.