Toward Biblical Demonology More Accurately

Prior to the Fall of man, the first two humans were *sinless* image bearers.

Nevertheless, the one sinless image bearer was demonically deceived into transgressing against God, and the other sinless image bearer was influenced by a demonically deceived and now-sinful image bearer to sin against God.

*How much more* are all of us susceptible to the same two demonic means of enticement to sin against God because we are *not* sinless image bearers!

A. Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

All the trees in the Garden were pleasant to the sight and good for food, but only one tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

B. Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

In this statement, the serpent did not refer to partaking of something that was pleasant to the sight and good for food; rather, he spoke of their eyes being opened and their being "as gods, knowing good and evil."

C. Genesis 3:6a-c And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,

For Eve, the tree being good for food and pleasant to the eyes were factors in her doing what she did, and she desired to be made wise by taking of the fruit of the tree and eating it.

D. Genesis 3:22a And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:

God's concluding statement about what had happened did not speak of the man's partaking of forbidden fruit that was good for food and pleasant to the eyes, even though that was part of what had happened. Rather, God's stated concern was on man's having in some manner "become as one of us, to know good and evil."

Conclusion

A careful examination of these statements shows that seeking to obtain divinely withheld knowledge and wisdom by a forbidden means from a forbidden source was at the heart of the demonic enticement of Eve.

When Scripture has more than one statement about something, it is vital to compare the statements to profit fully from what God has revealed.

Gen. 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

‎WTT Genesis 3:5 כִּי יֹדֵעַ אֱלֹהִים כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְכֶם מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִפְקְחוּ עֵינֵיכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים יֹדְעֵי טוֹב וָרָע׃

Genesis 3:22a And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:

‎WTT Genesis 3:22 וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים הֵן הָאָדָם הָיָה כְּאַחַד מִמֶּנּוּ לָדַעַת טוֹב וָרָע וְעַתָּה פֶּן־יִשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וְלָקַח גַּם מֵעֵץ הַחַיִּים וְאָכַל וָחַי לְעֹלָם׃

The serpent spoke of Adam and Eve's becoming "as gods." God later said, "The man is become as one of us."

Both statements speak of Adam and Eve's becoming as someone (or something?) else. This comparison points to something in common between both statements. Determining correctly as much as is possible what that commonality was is vitally important.

A close comparison of Gen. 3:22 and Gen. 3:5 shows that neither God nor the serpent focused on Adam and Eve's becoming as "gods" in respect to being worshiped, receiving worship, etc. Rather, both statements stress humans' having knowledge of good and evil that God had chosen not to reveal to humans and had forbidden them from accessing.

Understanding the Fall of man in this way points to a key difference between idolatry and the occult as they are presented in the rest of Scripture:

The focus in idolatry is on sinful giving or receiving worship, being worshiped, etc., but the focus in the occult is on sinful obtaining/accessing/receiving/using/experiencing knowledge, wisdom, information, powers, or experiences that are all entirely inaccessible to humans apart from illicit means and sources that put sinful humans in either direct or indirect contact and interaction with supernatural non-human spirit beings who are incorrigibly evil.

To rightly believe the Bible is to believe that demonic possession has been a true and factual reality in human history.

Who, then, knows more truth about the *specifics* of demonic possession---how and why it has taken place, how and why people have become possessed, etc.---Satan and his demons or Spirit-filled mature Christian leaders who have a completed canon of Scripture?

My continuing study of biblical demonology currently is focused on what Scripture reveals about those who either had demons or were possessed. To that end, I have compiled the following non-exhaustive list of relevant verses:

Lev. 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Lev. 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

Lev. 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

Deut. 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Jdg. 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

1 Sam. 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1 Sam. 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

1 Sam. 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

1 Sam. 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Sam. 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

1 Sam. 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

1 Sam. 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

1 Sam. 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

1 Sam. 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

1 Sam. 28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

1 Ki. 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

2 Ki. 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

2 Ki. 23:24 Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

1 Chr. 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

2 Chr. 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

2 Chr. 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Isa. 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Isa. 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Isa. 29:4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Matt. 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matt. 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matt. 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Matt. 8:33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

Matt. 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

Matt. 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Mk. 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Mk. 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Mk. 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Mk. 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

Mk. 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Mk. 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

Lk. 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

Lk. 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Lk. 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Lk. 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Lk. 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

Jn. 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

2 Tim. 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

By meditating much on these passages, praying for illumination, and studying them repeatedly, I am seeking to know what I do not yet know and ought to know about biblical demonology (cf. 1 Cor. 8:2).

I did want to note that quite a few of these examples do not use the term “demon,” so an important question early on is what sort of being is described in the passage and what the possibilities are for varieties of types of entities.

Some of them are not even described as ‘evil,’ though the context usually makes that inference necessary or at least very probable.

It would also be a good idea to study the passages in multiple translations to see how various highly skilled teams understand them. Particularly in OT, the meanings of specific terms can be hard to suss out because the word/phrase occurs so rarely or occurs with such a wide range of meaning, depending on context.

An example is Isiah 29:4

KJV’s “as of one that hath a familiar spirit” translates אוֹב Which can mean wineskins (when plural, Job 32:19), but the singular is usually just “spirit.” NET comments…

tn Heb “and your voice will be like a ritual pit from the earth.” The Hebrew אוֹב (’ov, “ritual pit”) refers to a pit used by a magician to conjure up underworld spirits. See the note on “incantations” in 8:19. Here the word is used metonymically for the voice that emerges from such a pit. (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

I don’t know where they are getting “ritual pit” though. I’m not seeing it in the lexicons, but it may just take deeper digging.

I find it interesting that אוֹב is used with companion words to identify people who interact with אוֹב. So, for example, in 1 Sam 28:7 the “woman who is a medium” (ESV) is אֵשֶׁת בַּעֲלַת־אוֹב, something like “woman owner of spirit” (NET has another note and claims again, “woman owner of ritual pit”). The בַּעֲלָה is really there, and means “woman who is an owner”/ “woman owner” even though it’s not usually translated.

(KJV’s “woman that hath a familiar spirit” is pretty good, though “familiar” is not in the Hebrew.)

So אוֹב, which is translated quite often as “necromancer” and the like, is frequently just “spirit,” or if the NET scholars are right, “ritual pit.” In the case of 1 Sam 28:7 “woman owner of a necromancer” doesn’t make much sense.

My point is that passages like these provide insight into the range of meaning of the term and how much we might be losing in translation when we’re trying to get an understanding of just what was going on.

It might add up to simply a demon but it doesn’t say that, really.

Anyway, I do think we tend to read a lot of our comfortable, long-established assumptions into many of these passages without pausing to ask, “Really, though? Are we sure? Why?”

I've looked at some of this stuff before and just did some reading in NIDOTTE about אוֹב. It does get pretty complicated and theological presuppositions of the translators and interpreters play an undeniable role in some of their interpretational decisions. A seemingly widespread skepticism about the activities of demons concerns me, but that's too big of a subject to get into here.

I will have to do more with the original languages. Thanks for the input.

After doing more searching, I have compiled an updated NT list of verses that pertain to having a demon or demon possession in one manner or another:

Matt. 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matt. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt. 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matt. 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Matt. 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Matt. 8:33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

Matt. 9:32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

Matt. 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Matt. 9:34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

Matt. 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Matt. 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matt. 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Matt. 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Matt. 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Matt. 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Matt. 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Matt. 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matt. 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Matt. 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mk. 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Mk. 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Mk. 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

Mk. 1:39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Mk. 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Mk. 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

Mk. 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

Mk. 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Mk. 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

Mk. 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Mk. 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Mk. 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

Mk. 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

Mk. 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

Mk. 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

Mk. 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Mk. 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Mk. 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

Mk. 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

Mk. 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Mk. 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Mk. 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Mk. 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Mk. 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Mk. 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

Mk. 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mk. 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Lk. 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

Lk. 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

Lk. 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Lk. 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Lk. 8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Lk. 8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Lk. 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Lk. 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Lk. 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Lk. 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Lk. 8:38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Lk. 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Lk. 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Lk. 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

Lk. 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Lk. 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Lk. 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

Lk. 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Lk. 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

Lk. 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Lk. 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

Lk. 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Lk. 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

Jn. 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

Jn. 8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Jn. 8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

Jn. 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Jn. 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

Jn. 10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

Jn. 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

Jn. 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Acts 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

2 Tim. 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

1 Jn. 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Rev. 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This passage reveals that Jesus taught that there will be many unbelievers who will in that day profess to Him that they cast out demons in His name.

Jesus' response does not give any indication that He rebuked them by saying that they were lying and never did any such thing.

How do we explain the reality of many unbelievers who will have cast out demons in the name of Jesus?

It’s all been studies many times, but nothing wrong doing a fresh person study, for sure.

I believe that the Bible is an inexhaustible source of perfect truth. None of us or any preceding generation of Christians have even remotely come close to understanding everything that is important that the Bible reveals.

In addition, we have tools to use to study Scripture that past generations of believers did not have. For example, by putting verse lists or other biblical information into Excel and using macros to analyze the information in highly customized ways, I have produced resources that other approaches to studying Scripture have not.

Furthermore, many who have done previous studies in the past have had unacceptable presuppositions and biases that necessitate that we fully reexamine the data for any given subject carefully for ourselves.

My latest blog post treats truths about biblical demonology that merit our careful attention and believing reception.

Eight Truths about Biblical Demonology from Acts 16:16-19

A striking passage that reveals an important apostolic encounter with a demon-possessed woman teaches us at least eight truths about biblical demonology:

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

1. This woman was a genuinely demon-possessed woman---she was not just faking being possessed or just had some kind of mental illness. Paul's exorcising a demon from her proves indisputably that she truly was demon-possessed. Demon possession has happened to humans and is real.

2. This account reveals a genuinely demonic occult activity---soothsaying that involved a woman who truly was possessed by a demon and was bringing much gain to her masters through her soothsaying. Genuinely demonic occult activities are real and do take place.

3. Lost people were profiting greatly from an occult activity that in truth was demonic. They were not just people faking being involved in a demonic activity so that they could make money through deception about things that supposedly took place through the workings of a demon or demons. Unbelievers can and do participate in authentically demonic occult activities.

4. The passage does not provide any indication that Paul and the others who were with him were astonished and amazed by what they encountered because they supposedly had never even heard of demonic occult activities that actually involved the work of demons. It also does not show that they were highly skeptical that genuine demonic activities happen. Believers must not hold that truly demonic occult activities hardly ever happen and only occur under the most extreme circumstances.

5. Just because someone engages in an occult activity for the purpose of making money does not prove that they are fake occultists engaged in a fake occult activity where there really are not any demons involved. Evil people do exist who seek to make money by engaging in occult activities where demons are in truth actively involved in those occult activities.

6. It is not true that unbelievers can neither know that they are involved in a genuinely demonic occult activity nor know that they are genuinely interacting with demons in that activity. Unbelievers can engage in genuinely demonic activities and know that they have done so.

7. There really are evil people who are involved in demonic occult activities that truly involve the working of a demon or of demons. Believers must accept that evil humans can and do engage in real occult activities in which demons are active.

8. Some believers try to subsume all or almost all occult activities under idolatry, but the passage does not provide any basis for subsuming what it reveals under idolatry. The occult is not a minor reality in the world, and it is not a lesser realm of human activity compared to idolatry.

We should not dismiss the truths that this passage reveals simply because it is in a narrative account in Scripture. Nor should we downplay their importance because they are from a passage that is in the book of Acts instead of in some other part of the Bible.

I appreciate the substantive and thoughtful responses that you have provided. Rather than interacting with all of them in one post, I will interact with one or more of them at a time, as it seems helpful to do so.

On 6: Is the idea that unbelievers can know they are working with spirits in dispute? Given the narrative details, it does seem likely here, but it’s worth noting that the passage does not say they knew this. It tells us what the real workflow was: a spirit revealing information. It’s clear that the masters knew they could get information and sell it. We are not actually told they knew a spirit was the source. (Edit: Or does it? Maybe that is there. I have not seen it yet, or I’ve forgotten where that is.) We are also not told they didn’t know. It seems simplest, Occam’s razor, that they did know, but I’m just noting what is said in the text and what is not.

Yes, I have had more than one occasion in online discussions where believers have raised their belief that unbelievers cannot correctly know that they are working with spirits as an objection, including here on SI in one of my early threads about the GCI.

I anticipated that someone might point out that the text does not directly say that they knew that they were working with spirits.

This point, as with many others in many of these debates, depends on how silence about pertinent matters should be interpreted. Given the overall presentation of the incident, I think that understanding that they did know that they were interacting with spirits is the right interpretation.

In one of my early threads here on SI, someone used 1 Cor. 2:14 improperly to assert in some manner that I am not now fully recalling that unbelievers cannot rightly know spiritual truth, etc.

In a very lengthy previous thread, I argued very extensively against such a notion to show from Scripture that unbelievers can rightly know spiritual truths and bear valid testimony to them.

It is very important to a sound demonology that Christians accept that unbelievers can rightly know that they are interacting with spirits.

Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

This passage reveals that certain unbelieving Jewish exorcists correctly assessed that a man was demon possessed. It plainly reveals, therefore, that some unbelievers can know accurately who is truly demon possessed.

I suppose one point where the question of what unbelievers (or even believers) can know about interaction with spirits would be this: if someone was trying to argue that all mediums, magicians, witches and the like in all times and places have been and are phony, they might want to say unbelievers can’t even know about that—as a supporting premise.

But in that scenario, the point worth making is that these things are real in Scripture, which makes the supporting premise automatically unimportant and falsified at the same time. So, the pursuit of that supporting question seems unwarranted. (Not only do we not possess infinite time and energy to study, but people also don’t have infinite time and energy to read and learn from studies. So, selectivity is not just ‘a good idea;’ it is inevitable. What, then, is worth selecting?)

Yes, these things are real in Scripture. Nonetheless, within the limits of my experience in interacting with other believers, many Christians today seem to me to be extremely skeptical or dismissive of authentic occult activities (activities that involve actual contact and interaction with demons) taking place in our day and testimonies about them.

It seems that many may believe that the vast, vast majority of such claims are phony, smoke and mirrors, public relations stunts, kids messing around, etc.

I do not find any biblical warrant for such skepticism or dismissiveness. To combat such notions, it is necessary to thoroughly treat the biblical evidence to try to establish what we should believe is true in our day.

Rajesh, do you believe that at least some of these claims are phony? If so, approximately what percentage are legit? Is skepticism ever warranted?

I want to base all my answers to these kinds of questions on what is in the Bible.

From that standpoint, does the Bible ever talk about people who were fake occultists, etc? If so, what does it say and where does it provide that information?

If not, why is there such a pervasive Christian skepticism, dismissiveness, or even denial of authentic occultists existing in our day?

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "fake occultists." Are we talking about charlatans who pretended to wield occult powers or those who truly believed their idols had power they clearly did not possess? Simon Magus may have been the former, while the man Isaiah mocks for roasting his meat over the same wood from which he carves his idol may be an example of the latter. Neither of these is a denial of demonic activity, but they may indeed be examples of fake occultism.

What does Acts 8 say that supports your suggesting that Simon Magus was "a charlatan who pretended to wield occult powers"?

To think clearly and biblically about the topic, we have to distinguish these as different questions:

• What really happened in biblical times between humans and spirits?
• What is really happening today between humans and spirits?

At this point, my focus is on answering that first question ("What really happened in biblical times . . .). Until that question has been answered correctly, none of the other questions that you have set forth can be answered properly.

You're talking about the pervasiveness of skepticism, and I'm trying to establish whether skepticism is ever warranted. If so, we can then try to assess whether we are at an appropriate level of skepticism in the Western church today. If not, then it seems like you're saying there is no such thing as a spurious claim of demonic activity.

What Scripture reveals about whether skepticism is ever warranted is the most important information.

I have not made any claim whether there is no such thing as a spurious claim of demonic activity or not.

Again, I want to base all my positions on what is actually in the Bible. Does the Bible itself present any instances of spurious claims of demonic activity?