Post by Angela L. on Mar 27, 2009 5:51:15 GMT -6
I have no idea where I got this article..just one of the many untitled notepad files I have in my documents LOL...but I thought it might spark some discussion so here ya go...my apologies to whomever wrote it for not giving ya the credit.
Defining Demon Possession
A. The Problem: The Bible does not give an all inclusive
definition. All we can know is what we induce from a
careful study of all biblical references. The picture
presented in the NT is that the people readily
recognized demon possession, and was apparently
recognizable even by pagans (as in the case of the Syro-
Phoenician woman in Matt. 15).
B. The Biblical words: Three words are used:
(Note: The actual phrase "demon Possession" is not used
in the Bible. It first appears in Josephus near the end
of the First Century.)
1. "daimonion exon" (16 times) "one having a demon".
The word has the idea of one "bearing a demon within
oneself" with resultant physical and mental
suffering.
2. "daimonizomai" (13 times) "to be demonized". It has
the idea of control, influence, or dominion over the
victim, and it is a control that apparently cannot
be resisted by the person being demonized.
3. "Ochloumenous: "one tormented by evil (unclean)
spirits." It is used only in Acts 5:16. A root of
the word is used in Luke 6:18 "Those troubled by
evil spirits." It is also used in Greek literature.
The emphasis in this word seems to be on the torture
wrought by the evil spirit.
C. Definition:
1. In some way that we cannot totally explain, a demon
(or demons) possesses, inhabits, or controls a
person's body and faculties against the person's
will for its purpose of doing its will in the
material world, and to destroy and torment its host
physically, mentally, and spiritually.
2. Unger, an authority on demonology says: The chief
characteristic of demon possession is the automatic
projection of a new personality in the victim, the
inhabiting demon using the body of the possessed
individual as a vehicle for his own thought, words
and acts. (See DEMONS IN THE WORLD TODAY,
pp.102ff.).
3. Demon possession should not be confused with demon
influence. However, the original word
"daimonizomai" may refer to a variety or degrees of
demonical activity. Demon possession itself may
appear in degrees of severity. Being possessed by
more than one demon implies a deeper level of
possession. Some demons may also be more powerful
than others.
VI. Symptoms of Demon Possession
(The following symptoms are more properly the symptoms of
being demonized in keeping with the definition of the
original.)
A. Biblical Symptoms
1. Physical: blindness (Matt. 12:22-29), dumbness
(Matt.9:32), a crippled woman (Lk. 13:11-16).
While we can't be dogmatic, it may be that some of
these symptoms were psychosomatic, meaning that
there was no organic or material cause. We also
would not rule out the possibility that demons
could cause illnesses which would otherwise be
diagnosed as being caused by chemical imbalances or
from such sources as bacteria or viruses.
2. Supernatural. Mark 1:24. The demon knew Christ's
true identity. The same demon threw his subject to
the ground. See also the account in Matt. 8 where
the victim had extra-ordinary strength and was made
to break chains, etc. In Acts 16, we have an
account of a girl with apparent psychic ability.
3. Antisocial behavior. Self-inflicted wounds,
nakedness, screaming.
4. Mental or emotional: depression, mental illness.
The boy in Matt. 17:15ff. is described in the
original text as being "moonstruck" or literally
insane. The symptoms were so like epilepsy some
english translations translate it epilepsy. When
Jesus commanded the demon to leave, the boy went
into convulsions apparently caused by the demon.
5. Note: An observation from the New Testament data:
demon possession is almost always linked to
physical and mental symptoms rather than causing
the victim to perform sinful deeds.
B. The Catholic Church recognizes 4 characteristics of
demon possession:
1. Knowledge of a language previously unknown by the
victim.
2. Knowledge of hidden or secret things.
3. Demonstration of superhuman strength.
4. An aversion to the things of God.
C. It should be noted that not all of the symptoms need to
be present for it to be demon possession. In Luke 13:
a demon kept a woman in a crippled condition for 18
years. She apparently had none of the other symptoms.
In the strict sense of the term, she also may not have
been actually possessed by the demon, but under its
bondage.
Defining Demon Possession
A. The Problem: The Bible does not give an all inclusive
definition. All we can know is what we induce from a
careful study of all biblical references. The picture
presented in the NT is that the people readily
recognized demon possession, and was apparently
recognizable even by pagans (as in the case of the Syro-
Phoenician woman in Matt. 15).
B. The Biblical words: Three words are used:
(Note: The actual phrase "demon Possession" is not used
in the Bible. It first appears in Josephus near the end
of the First Century.)
1. "daimonion exon" (16 times) "one having a demon".
The word has the idea of one "bearing a demon within
oneself" with resultant physical and mental
suffering.
2. "daimonizomai" (13 times) "to be demonized". It has
the idea of control, influence, or dominion over the
victim, and it is a control that apparently cannot
be resisted by the person being demonized.
3. "Ochloumenous: "one tormented by evil (unclean)
spirits." It is used only in Acts 5:16. A root of
the word is used in Luke 6:18 "Those troubled by
evil spirits." It is also used in Greek literature.
The emphasis in this word seems to be on the torture
wrought by the evil spirit.
C. Definition:
1. In some way that we cannot totally explain, a demon
(or demons) possesses, inhabits, or controls a
person's body and faculties against the person's
will for its purpose of doing its will in the
material world, and to destroy and torment its host
physically, mentally, and spiritually.
2. Unger, an authority on demonology says: The chief
characteristic of demon possession is the automatic
projection of a new personality in the victim, the
inhabiting demon using the body of the possessed
individual as a vehicle for his own thought, words
and acts. (See DEMONS IN THE WORLD TODAY,
pp.102ff.).
3. Demon possession should not be confused with demon
influence. However, the original word
"daimonizomai" may refer to a variety or degrees of
demonical activity. Demon possession itself may
appear in degrees of severity. Being possessed by
more than one demon implies a deeper level of
possession. Some demons may also be more powerful
than others.
VI. Symptoms of Demon Possession
(The following symptoms are more properly the symptoms of
being demonized in keeping with the definition of the
original.)
A. Biblical Symptoms
1. Physical: blindness (Matt. 12:22-29), dumbness
(Matt.9:32), a crippled woman (Lk. 13:11-16).
While we can't be dogmatic, it may be that some of
these symptoms were psychosomatic, meaning that
there was no organic or material cause. We also
would not rule out the possibility that demons
could cause illnesses which would otherwise be
diagnosed as being caused by chemical imbalances or
from such sources as bacteria or viruses.
2. Supernatural. Mark 1:24. The demon knew Christ's
true identity. The same demon threw his subject to
the ground. See also the account in Matt. 8 where
the victim had extra-ordinary strength and was made
to break chains, etc. In Acts 16, we have an
account of a girl with apparent psychic ability.
3. Antisocial behavior. Self-inflicted wounds,
nakedness, screaming.
4. Mental or emotional: depression, mental illness.
The boy in Matt. 17:15ff. is described in the
original text as being "moonstruck" or literally
insane. The symptoms were so like epilepsy some
english translations translate it epilepsy. When
Jesus commanded the demon to leave, the boy went
into convulsions apparently caused by the demon.
5. Note: An observation from the New Testament data:
demon possession is almost always linked to
physical and mental symptoms rather than causing
the victim to perform sinful deeds.
B. The Catholic Church recognizes 4 characteristics of
demon possession:
1. Knowledge of a language previously unknown by the
victim.
2. Knowledge of hidden or secret things.
3. Demonstration of superhuman strength.
4. An aversion to the things of God.
C. It should be noted that not all of the symptoms need to
be present for it to be demon possession. In Luke 13:
a demon kept a woman in a crippled condition for 18
years. She apparently had none of the other symptoms.
In the strict sense of the term, she also may not have
been actually possessed by the demon, but under its
bondage.