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

Mount Fuji: Facebook

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.

A church bible study leader asked me what texts I use

Richmond, yesterday

A church bible study leader asked me what texts I use:

Non-exhaustive:

Texts used in BA to PhD and newer in my possession, and also online academic blogging since 2004.

Current academic site book reviews

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy)

WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers. (Theology)

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. (Bible: Mainly review the graphic lists)

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. (Bible: Also listen to his online sermons)

Recently finished review (2 years)

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London. (Philosophy: Fallacies)

Texts for citations (not exhaustive)

Biblical Studies 

NASB (New American Standard Bible)

ESV (English Standard Version)

KJV (King James Version)

Online Greek manuscripts

BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.

THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies. F.F. Bruce, (ed.),

The International Bible Commentary (1986), Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Liberal work from my PhD stay in United Kingdom, but good facts)

Theology 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. (Main PhD text for compatibilism)

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

AUGUSTINE (388-395)(1964) On Free Choice of the Will, Translated by Anna S.Benjamin and L.H. Hackstaff, Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.

AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

AUGUSTINE (400-416)(1987)(2004) On the Trinity, Translated by Reverend Arthur West Haddan, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One, Volume 3, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1754)(2006) Freedom of the Will, Flower Mound, Texas. Jonathanedwards.com. http://www.jonathanedwards.com

Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. (Main PhD text for compatibilism)

PLANTINGA, ALVIN C. (1977)(2002) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. (Incompatibilism)

AUGUSTINE (388-395)(1964) On Free Choice of the Will, Translated by Anna S.Benjamin and L.H. Hackstaff, Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall. (Incompatibilism)

AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

AUGUSTINE (400-416)(1987)(2004) On the Trinity, Translated by Reverend Arthur West Haddan, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One, Volume 3, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Humanist, but excellent for facts. Another United Kingdom, PhD buy)

POJMAN, LOUIS P. (1996) Philosophy: The Quest for Truth, New York, Wadsworth Publishing Company.

STACE, W.T. (1952)(1976) Religion and the Modern Mind, in John R. Burr and Milton Goldinger (eds.), Philosophy and Contemporary Issues, London, Collier Macmillan Publishers.

Richmond, yesterday

Do you prefer a white house or a brick house?

Recent: Vancouver

Recent by Chucky Saint Red. My place in Maple Ridge.

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York.

Key symbols

≡df = Equivalence by definition
: = Equal (s)
ε = Epsilon and means is
⊃ = Is the same as
⊨ is Entails
˜ = Not
∃ = There exists
∃! = There exists
∴ = Therefore
· = Therefore
< = Is included
v = a logical inclusive disjunction (disjunction is the relationship between two distinct alternatives). x = variable
· = Conjunction meaning And
0 = Null class

Do you prefer a white house or a brick house?

On page 166:

According to philosopher, Langer:

The four propositions for our system (see my most recent entries) may be written in statements in regard to specific classes. (166).

W = White houses
B = Brick houses

W x B ⊨ 0 (166).

White houses x (times) brick houses entails null class.

'Null' class means that means 'all its members' equals none at all. This null class could be 'No wives of King Arthur'. (123).

W x -B ⊨ 0 (166).

White houses x minus brick houses entails null class.

-W x B ⊨ 0 (166).

Minus white houses x brick houses entails null class.

-W x -B ⊨ 0 (166).

Minus white houses x minus brick houses entails null class.

Langer explains that W (white houses) and B (brick houses) overlap (W x B ⊨ 0), yet neither is entirely included in the other. (166). In other words, there can be white brick houses, although these would be rare compared to red brick houses.

Neither class is entirely included in the other as we have the use of - minus. (166). The universe class is not exhausted even when both -W and -B are used to ⊨ 0. In other words, a house may be white and not brick (wood). A house may be brick, but not white (red).

St. Mark's Anglican Church: 'Fruit' is accurate, textually.

Confused On The Trinity

Confused On The Trinity

Happy Reformation Day (500)!

WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.

Chapter One:The Fantacizers Cont. 

The Danger of Islam

Mr. Wallace writes that Muslims too have a great commission in their Scriptures. (6). But it is much different than the New Testament, great commission. (6). Mr. Wallace quotes from the Qur'an and I will cite the same verse from my online source. The author explains that these were Muhammad's final instructions on his death bed. (6). Muslims are to convert these people, enslave them or force them to pay jizya. (6). Jizya is a protection tax extorted from non-Muslims. (163).

This reads like an act of thuggery. More like the mafia than a religion of peace. Enslaving people is even worse, morally.

Sahih International

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

Surah 9;29 (This verse has been quoted twice in this series, previously)

Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

Mr. Wallace writes that Muhammad was mildly partial to Christians in Surah 5:82. (6).  Below.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah ; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. 

But on his deathbed, Muhammad declared Christians as polytheists. and not monotheists (7).

As has been discussed in this review series so far, in regard to Jihad/Holy War, it appears that orthodox Islam and radical Islam have significant agreement.  Although as I have noted, the orthodox position claims Jihad and Holy War is more so, defensive. A trillion dollar question is how many Muslims in North America and the West would attempt to follow these instructions from Muhammad very literally? Especially if politically allowed to do so?

I do not have a clear, specific answer.

More importantly to me, at least at this point in time, as a Christian theologian and philosopher is the Islamic confusion in regard to the Trinity. Islamic theology confuses the Christian doctrine of Trinity, three divine distinctions/persons of one infinite, eternal, ontological nature as God, with polytheism, a belief in three Gods with distinct natures.

Colossians 2:9-10 (Him is Jesus Christ) 'New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made [a]complete, and He is the head [b]over all rule and authority;

Footnotes:

Colossians 2:10

Lit full Colossians 2:10

Lit of ' N.T. Wright explains in regard to Colossians 2: 9-10, it is an continuation of 1:19 (109), 'for all the fulness to dwell in him.' (NASB).

'He is uniquely God's presence and his very self'. (109). Wright reasons that Paul is teaching monotheistic doctrine here and not that Jesus Christ is a second deity. (109). Christ is the embodiment of full deity. (109).

Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1) remains infinite, eternal God, and became God incarnate.

Acts 2: 24 states that God raised Him (Jesus Christ) from the dead and in the process defeated death. 

From Hebrews 1; Greek scholar Walter Bauer defines 'Hupostasis' the original ὑπόστασις, εως, ἡit from the Greek as substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality. In the context of Hebrews 1: 3 the Son of God is the exact representation of God’s real being. (page 847).

Erickson further explains that each member of the Trinity is quantitatively equal. Erickson (1994: 337). Matthew 28: 19-20 and Acts 5 are two examples from the New Testament demonstrating the Holy Spirit as God.

Matthew 28:19-20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 28:19 Or Having gone; Gr aorist part.

Matthew 28:20 Lit all the days

Acts 5: 2-6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

It is stated that one can lie to the Holy Spirit (verse 3) and therefore lie to God. 'You have not lied to men, but to God.' (verse 4).

All three distinctions within the trinity are infinite, of one ontological (existence and being) essence and nature, and yet with distinctions. In speculation, a philosophical critique might be that the infinite nature of God requires no distinctions or differently that God being infinite, should exist as infinite distinctions. Finite, sinful and imperfect humanity needs God's enlightenment from revelation to reasonably know God and to have significant intellectual understanding. God is Scripturally revealed in three distinctions and three persons, properly biblically defined. This is not completely understandable for the finite mind, but it is reasonable to the finite mind. To suggest that God as infinite must have infinite distinctions is not necessarily true, theologically, is not necessary philosophically, and is highly speculative philosophy of religion.

The incarnation of Jesus Christ has the infinite, eternal Word of God (John 1) take upon a finite human nature without the infinite divine nature and finite human nature, mixing. Therefore, Jesus Christ remains infinite, eternal God, but with two natures as both deity and incarnated man. God as trinity is relational in nature and therefore humanity is made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26-27).

Humanity is therefore specifically relational and rational in the context of being made in the image and likeness of God.  The infinite God could create finite creatures capable of relationship and communication in rationality, because being relational and rational is also an aspect of God's nature.

BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.

WRIGHT, N.T., Colossians and Philemon, (1986)(1989), IVP, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.