Problem: There are those that claim that there never were any real demons “in people”. Their claim is that Jesus just used the terminology for illnesses because the people superstitiously believed there were demons. It is true that throughout the Synoptics [Matthew-Luke] sicknesses and demons are closely associated.

VIEWPOINT OF LITERATURE. Literature written by those that do not see fit to believe that there was anything such as possession suppose that so-called “spirit possession” of the New Testament was the influence of common superstitions of the time; i.e., demons were the cause of physical problems and most or all mental problems. The returning Jews of the fifth and fourth centuries were supposed to have brought with them an influence of the Babylonian religion of spirit possession. Such proponents explain that the people actually only had a disease or infirmity but that Jesus acted as though they were possessed by unclean spirits to accommodate their ignorance. He was just “throwing out” their sickness.

THE WORD “HEALING.” There are at least two separate Greek words chiefly used for “healing” and both are applied to the possessed and the diseased. One is represented in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing^G2390 all that were oppressed of the devil (diabolos); for God was with him.” This healing (iaomai^G2390) means “to cure, to make whole” (Thayer's)ⁱ and in this passage it states that all problems of oppression are from the Devil which would include those possessed by the demons as well as diseases, etc.

The second chief word for healing is where we get our English word “therapy.ⁱⁱ” When Jesus sent His Twelve out on their first mission “they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13). The people “who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed” (Luke 6:17,18). The terminology is indeed the same for diseases and exorcisms: they were both “healed.” Although Mark never used this term for demonized persons (he describes just the action), Luke (who was, by the way, a physician) does say it was healing.ⁱⁱⁱ

Definition of “SPIRIT POSSESSION” IS “HAVING.” Possession has been defined as “the manipulation of an unwilling victim by a demon resulting in harm to self or others.” ^iv However, such a definitiom has to be concluded from the recorded descriptions since the Greek word used for possession when occurring in the book of Acts means only “to have.” “For [from] many of those which had (ἔχω ^{G2192 v}) unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed” (used in Acts 8:7, ERV translation; also in Acts 16:16). That is, the point should be made that the unclean spirits did not “possess” in an ownership sense but that the people (they) actually had the spirits. On the other hand, in the synoptic gospels the Greek word translated “demon possession” is one word daimonizomai ^vi; i.e., definition “vexed with” (to trouble, distress, or agitate); “under the power of” (Thayer's definition). List of some passages in endnotes.^vii

It should be noted that the Vine's Dictionary claims "the verb — daimonizomai^G1139 — signifies 'to be possessed of a demon, to act under the control of a demon.' Those who were thus afflicted expressed the mind and consciousness of the 'demon' or 'demons' indwelling them, e.g., Luke 8:28. The verb is used in all three, Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Thayer's Greek Definitions also defines this word daimonizomai^G1139 (δαιμονίζομαι) as “to be under the power of a demon. Part of Speech: verb, passive voice.” Whether the word is passive or middle voice is important. In Greek the endings are identical for this word. On the one hand, the passive voice indicates control is from an external force outside one's self which may explain Thayer's definition as “control”. Strong's Greek Lexicon on the other hand goes with the middle voice ^viii which places the guilt for possession upon the victim. However, Jesus never is reported as putting blame on victims (e.g., He says that there was no sin involved in the one born blind, John 9:3 ^ix). From the Old Testament we have both, (1) Job was cursed by the devil to no fault of his own (he was just being tested; Job 2); but (2) King Saul is illustrative of being vexed because of his own decision of rejecting the good Spirit of God (1 Samuel 16:14). According to this then, it seems it can be interpreted either way according to cause; i.e., middle or passive (?) But, we should remember the actions indicate the afflicted has little or no control over his actions (e.g., the two who lived among the tombs).^x

HOLY SCRIPTURE TELLS IT AS IT WAS and/or IS. All Holy Scripture including the synoptic gospels and the book of Acts were divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, if the passage says that a person was possessed, then according to the Holy Spirit that person actually was possessed. The following observations have been put forth as proof that the Scriptures indicate real spirit possession:

1. Christ and the apostles spoke to unclean spirits in individuals; they addressed them, and managed them, as if the bodies were indeed so possessed; thus, leaving us to infer beyond a doubt that such was true. "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out" (Luke 4:33-36). NJKV, Luke 4:41 'And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.'

2. Those who were thus possessed spake, conversed, asked questions, gave answers, and expressed their knowledge of Christ, and their fear of him; things that certainly could not be said of diseases; e.g., Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:27. Diseases can not be said “to know Christ".

3. The spirits go out of the persons possessed, and enter other bodies; Matthew 8:32.

4. Jesus commanded them to be silent, to depart, and not to return; Mark 1:25; 5:8; 9:25.

5. Christ believed in such possessions, and left his disciples with that belief.

The possession by real demons was also true because ...

EVIL SPIRITS ARE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED SEPARATELY

in lists and require a separate healing action.

Unclean spirits are not pictured as a SINGLE source for all infirmities and diseases as some would have us to imagine. In fact, they are clearly separate in lists when referenced. For example, instructions to His appointed messengers during His ministry: “[1] Heal the sick, [2] raise the dead, [3] cleanse the lepers, [4] cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Jesus Himself, both it is said, healed and cast out “demons”: “And [1] he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and [2] cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew Him” (Matthew 1:34).

In Mark 1:31, Jesus causes Peter's mother to recover from a fever. No mention of her having demons. To say that that only meant that she and Peter didn't believe in demon possession is ludicrous especially since Peter is one of the twelve was given authority to “cast them out.” Those obsessed with demons are mentioned separately from those that were sick (v. 32). Jesus heals many that were sick and in addition casts out many demons (v. 34).

The cleansing of the leper is mentioned in Mark 1:40,41 and the leprosy leaves the patient (v. 42). No “demon.” Nothing is said about demons when He heals the one sick with palsy (Mark 2:5). He restores a withered hand (Mark 3:5). No demon. Jesus heals many (3:10) with plagues who want to just touch Him. No demon. But separately, the unclean spirits fall down before Him and cry out, “Thou are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11).

In Mark 1:32-34 there are two categories that Jesus healed: (1) those brought that had divers sickness and (2) those “possessed with demons.” And the first category was “healed” and the second, the demons, were “cast out” with the command not to speak.

Luke records in 9:1 that Jesus “(1) gave them [apostles] power and authority over all demons, and (2) to cure diseases (compare with Mark 6:13). According to Luke's account in 4:40 all that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. But verse 41 adds, “And demons out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”

SUMMATION. Spirit possession meant (1) the patient “had” an unclean spirit and (2) the individual was vexed by that spirit. The healing of the people in the New Testament had the purpose of glorying God's power through Christ. The Biblical text told the truth of what existed and what Jesus did. The text purposely distinguishes between the healing of the naturally sick and those that were vexed by the demons.

-- Gaylon West

Checked by: Janie R. Ward; Mary L. West