POSSESSION AND EXORCISM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Pagan cultures surrounding the ancient Israelites appear to have been quite obsessed with the topics of possession and exorcism, with the exception of Judaism in the Middle East.  The Old Testament of the Bible (Hebrew Scriptures) contain few references to demon possession and none at all to exorcism.  In the few cases that can be found in these books of "evil spirits indwelling humans",  it was always God who specifically sent an evil or lying spirit to torment individuals, however, it is speculated that these scriptures did originally contain descriptions of interactions between people and demons which have been deleted from the text.  For example:

*  The account in Genesis 32 of Jacob wrestling with an unknown assailant by the riverside may once have referred to Jacob battling a river demon.

*  The story in Exodus 4 where God attempts to do away with Moses may originally have described Moses' battle with a demon.

*  The description of the smearing of lambs' blood on the door frame in Exodus 12 might have been derived from an ancient ritual in which blood was smeared in order to protect the household from demonic attack.  

These are of course simply suggestions and must remain conjecture as the topics of demonic spirit and/or exorcism are never directly referred to.

POSSESSION AND EXORCISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Conversely, in the Gospels and Acts, there are numerous references to reports of demonic possession and exorcisms performed by Jesus and his disciples and these references can lead us to make certain conclusions about the exorcism process during the times of the Scriptures:

Cause of possession:  In the Bible, victims of possession are never held responsible for their situation and there are no references in the Christian Scriptures that imply that possession has ocured as a result of sin in the victims life.

Animals may also become possessed:  Matthew 8:30 and parallel passages describe that demons can possess pigs.

Multiple possession:  Various passages refer to the possession of a single individual by multiple demons, for example Luke 8:30 which describes a man possessed by many demons, wherein the term "legion" was used.  This term refers to a unit of 6,000 soldiers.

Gifts of Demons:  Acts 16:16 tells of a woman who was given the power to foretell the future by her indwelling evil spirit, although this act would be an exception relating to a demon granting special powers as generally , in these passages, demons are shown to cause harm.

Illnesses and disorders generated by demons:  Luke 9:39 describes a case of epilepsy caused by a demon.  Luke 11:14 tells of a person who was unable to speak due to an indwelling demon.  Luke 13: 10-13 describes a woman with a hunched back which had been that way for almost twenty years due to an evil spirit.

Demonic speech:  Numerous passages in the Bible describe indwelling demons speaking to the exorcist, presumably by taking control of the individuals vocal chords.

Demonic strength:  Mark 5:4 describes the way in which a demonic spirit causes its victim to have superhuman strength, so that fetters and chains could not hold him.

Demons vary in wickedness:  Matthew 12:45 describes how a spirit left a person and returned with seven others who were all more wicked than the original.

Exorcisms were usually easy to perform:  With one exception, Jesus or an apostle simply ordered the evil spirit to depart and the demon immediately complied.

Some exorcisms require special preparation:  Jesus' disciples were unable to rid a boy of an evil spirit that apparently caused the child to be mute and epileptic.  Jesus explained that the only way to rid a person of this type of demon was through prior prayer and fasting and then cured the child.

Using items of clothing:  Acts 19:12 described how items of clothing or facecloths that once were used by Paul had magical powers and were used to cure people from suffering and rid them of evil spirits.

Only Christians can perform exorcisms:  Acts 19:13 describes how 7 non-Christians attempted to exorcise demons in the name of Jesus and Paul.  They failed and were all attacked and beaten by the demon-controlled man who ripped off their clothes.

Comanding in the name of Jesus:  After Jesus execution, exorcisms were performed in the name of Jesus.  Acts 16:16 described a slave girl who was possessed.  Paul exorcised a "spirit of divination" from her by commanding the spirit to leave "In the name of Jesus".  Acts 19:13 described how some itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to exorcise a demon saying "in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."  It is stated that they were unsucessful, apparently because they were not Christian believers.

Danger in exorcism:  In Acts 19:13, the demon possessed man exhibited superhuman strength, turning on 7 Jewish exorcists and beating them, expelling them from the house with their clothes ripped off.  Apparently once the evil spirit had recognised that the exorcists were not Christian; he refused to follow their commands.

The sick went to the exorcist:  The sick were brought to the apostles; rather than the apostles seeking out the sick.  With one exception they were all cured, whether suffering from physical illness or demon infestation.  No one in the Bible was referred to as having an exorcism ministry.

Return of demons:  Matthew 12:43 describes a demon who left a man, presumably because of an exorcism, later returning with seven other evil spirits to repossess the person.  This being the case, however, there are no references to any of the exorcisms performed by Jesus or his followers as having produced only temporary cures.

Ecorcism is dependent upon the victims faith:  Mark 9:18 Jesus explained to a man that all things are possible, including the exorcism of this mans son, to those who believe.

Reference:

J.F. Cogan, "Handbok about Demon Possession for Human Service Workers," at:  http://www.gelservice.com/hs.html