What Does the Bible Say About Demonology?
What Are Demons According to the Bible?
Demons are often thought of as malevolent beings who oppose God and seek to harm His people. In the Bible, demons are described as evil spirits with the power to cause destruction and suffering (see Matthew 12:43-45; Ephesians 6:11-12; Luke 9:37-42).
Where did demons come from originally?
The origin of demons is not entirely clear in Scripture, but there are two main theories:
Fallen Angels: Some believe demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God alongside Satan.
Disembodied Spirits of the Nephilim: Others think they are the spirits of the Nephilim, the offspring of angels and humans from Genesis 6.
What Is an Example of a Demonic Activity?
Demons work in subtle and deceptive ways, often disguising themselves to mislead and tempt people (2 Corinthians 11:14). Here are some ways they act, as outlined by Erwin Lutzer:
Disguising Themselves: Demons may appear as something good, requiring us to “test the spirits” to avoid deception (1 John 4:1).
Blinding the Minds of Unbelievers: They work to keep people from understanding or accepting the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4; Matthew 13:19).
Controlling Bodies: Demons can manipulate the bodies of both humans and animals (Mark 9:22; Leviticus 17:7; Mark 5:13).
Causing Physical Afflictions: In the Bible, demons cause pain and symptoms that look like physical illnesses (Luke 11:14; Matthew 17:14-18).
Lutzer categorizes demonic attacks as:
Obsession or Oppression: Affecting the mind
Affliction: Affecting the body
Possession: Controlling the will or being
What Does the Bible Say About Demons?
The Bible refers to people being “demonized” rather than “demon-possessed.” Here are some examples:
Matthew 4:24: Jesus healed many who were oppressed by demons.
Mark 5:1-20: Jesus healed the Gadarene demoniac.
Mark 9:17-29: Jesus healed a demonized boy.
Acts 16:16-18: A slave girl with a spirit of divination encountered Paul and Silas.
What Is the Meaning of Mark 9:14–27
In Mark 9:14-29, John MacArthur discusses how demonic control can lead to severe symptoms that affect the mind and body. He highlights a boy who was deaf and mute due to demonic control, experiencing violent seizures that endangered his life. MacArthur emphasizes that while Satan has the power to harm physically, Jesus’ response—“Bring him to me”—shows His deep compassion for human suffering.
This account teaches that Jesus’ power is accessible through faith and that dependence on Him is essential.
Do Christians Need Deliverance?
Stephen Wellum argues that Christians cannot be possessed by demons. Christians have been transferred from darkness to light and are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:1-3). Salvation marks a complete transfer from being under Satan’s dominion to being in Christ, making it impossible for a Christian to be possessed by a demonic spirit.
However, Christians can still be attacked and influenced by demons. The Bible instructs believers to be vigilant against Satan’s schemes, using the armor of God to resist (Ephesians 6:12; James 4:7). While Satan can attack believers, possession is not possible for those who are in Christ.
What Do Christians Believe About Eorcism?
In the Old Testament, exorcism was seen in cases like King Saul’s, where David’s music would drive away an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-23). In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, such as when Jesus permitted exorcisms by His followers (Matthew 12:27; Acts 19:13).
John Piper recounts an experience with a demonized girl where prayer and worship led to her release. He advises caution in dealing with demonic activity, focusing on prayer and the Word of God rather than assuming all struggles stem from demonic influence.
The Bible does not prescribe a specific formula for exorcism for Christians. Instead, the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and the Word of God empower believers in spiritual warfare. Today, evangelism and discipleship through Scripture are seen as the primary ways to counteract demonic influence, emphasizing the victory Christians have in Christ.
In summary, while demons are real and active, Christians are equipped with spiritual armor and the promise of Christ’s victory, allowing us to face spiritual warfare with confidence.
The above was crafted with the help of AI from my original research document. —Joel Settecase