Bible Interpretation, Uncertainties, and Sound Demonology
In my comments in a previous thread that I did not start, "On Bible Interpretation, Evidence, and Music," I provided evidence from Scripture that important doctrinal information concerning sound demonology is found in the details of some passages, especially narratives, that many believers likely have not profited from as they should have.
In this thread, I want to continue that specific discussion and focus on sound demonology both by treating further Acts 13:6-12 and by treating other passages that provide relevant information.
Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
I would especially like to discuss in this thread how the Spirit wants us to profit properly from whatever uncertainties we may find in Scripture in passages that have content relative to a sound demonology.
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Acts 13:6-12 relates to us an apostolic encounter with a sorcerer. It is important to note that the passage does not directly say that Paul confronted Elymas by denouncing him for being a sorcerer.
Rather, under inspiration of the Spirit, Luke as the inspired author of Acts and narrator of the passage twice inerrantly informs all who read this account that Elymas was a professional occultist. Because as the passage actually reads, it is Luke and not Paul who speaks of Elymas as a sorcerer, we have uncertainty about what Paul knew about Elymas as a sorcerer.
The Spirit could have inspired the passage to read otherwise so that we would have no such uncertainty. Why did the Spirit not do so?
In fact, there is not a single passage in Scripture that reveals to us what all Paul and the apostles knew about sorcerers and sorcery and how much specific knowledge they had about these occultists and their occult practices. Indisputably, therefore, we learn that the Spirit has intentionally inspired the NT in such a manner that we do not have any certainty about what Paul and the apostles actually and specifically knew about professional occultists and their occult practices.
What are we to learn from the divinely inspired uncertainty that we have from Scripture about these demonic agents and their demonic practices?
Discussion